Hi there
I was riding in london on the bsa. A bmw car coming the other way decided to turn across in front of me.
i smashed into the car and flew over the bonnet.

now as i understand it, with a modern bikes the guy comes an looks and asseses it based on modern bike stuff. easy for them. they take it and fix it or bin it.

but what about my bsa??

who can asses it? the forks are probably bent, the oil tank got caved in. i cannot yet tell if the frame is bent. what if it is bent?
do i give the insurnce company the cost of a new frame based on ebay research??

and also i would do te repairs myself

so with a classic bike, would one simply add up the cost of all the parts and submit that to the insurance company?

what about the time it takes to source a replacement frame and v5??

Quote:


"now as i understand it, with a modern bikes the guy comes an looks and asseses it based on modern bike stuff. easy for them. they take it and fix it or bin it."


Very glad to hear your are not seriously hurt.

Sounds like the very classic motorcycle accident with a car turning in front of you.....sorry.

I have no idea how insurance companies work out claims on your side of the pond, however I suggest that you make a case that your bike is un-repairable, and that you will take a cash settlement for enough to replace your machine with a vehicle in at least as good a condition as yours was, and that you keep your old vehicle as salvage. Find an exemplar replacement machine that meets your standards and ask for monies enough for purchase.

Had it been a modern bike with a bent frame, body work damage and bent front end, the insurance company would most likely replace it vs repair as labor and parts costs are so high. Your offer to settle for cash and salvage could get the claim off their desk quickly.

Good Luck

email (option): teladelujo@ msn.com

You find that they are all too ready to write it off and let you buy the salvage, which is ok, however the fun arises when you come to register it or insure it again, usually they want them reframing even if the frame isn't damaged, so try your best not to have it written off if you can.

email (option): davmax@ntlworld.com

Hi Maxwell..What happens here depends on your insurance company to an extent but the law comes into play as well...

Your insurance company may insist the bike goes to a repairer approved by them for assessment before paying out...Damage is categorised A,B,C,D....A and B are right offs, or 'beyond economic repair' and seriously structurally damaged...In that case you will be paid by the insurance company based on either theirs, or the previously agreed value...

You are not allowed to put category A and B right offs back on the road and you won't get the salvage...The bike will be scrapped.
Once they have paid out the bike is no longer your property, but theirs, and you have no further say in the matter...

Category C and D can be put back on the road (I think C may require a Ministry check of the repair work, but D doesn't. Cat C is also recorded in the logbook I believe) and you should be able to get the bike back along with a reduced payout...However, this depends on the policy of the individual company...

Hope that yours is one that a) leaves you to get three quotes from suitable bike shops for repair work and that b)you can find ones that will look kindly on your desire to keep the bike and minimise the quote so you end up in category C or D....

In the first instance just ring your insurance company to find out their policy in this situation if you plan to claim on your own fully comp policy...Don't claim and don't give them the bike if you think it will be written off...You really have to decide what you want the most..

If the other driver is proven to be at fault it will be your company seeking redress from his company (assuming you are fully comp) as they will pay out initially...I think in either case it will be your company paying you...

If you are third party fire and theft it will be his company who will do the paying and their policies will then apply...Nothing changes with category A and B though....

If you are TPF&T and not claiming off your company it might be best to keep your head below the parapet, take the hit and not claim off his company, but keep your bike...

I haven't had a claim for some years but I believe this is the current system ...but do double check my facts...You can look up insurance damage categories on the internet, just Google it...

Generally I don't think your old bike will be treated that differently to a newer bike unless you can prove it is 'of particular historic interest' ie Fred Bloggses 19canteen TT winner....You can argue your corner based on the Historic Vehicle status but I'm unsure whether that alone will do it...

Insurance companies can apply any rules they choose as long as they don't conflict with the law...It's one of the things I particularly resent..They apply the rules however illogically but you can't reason with them or illicit any change..

The main thing to bear in mind is that if you don't claim and therefore the bike doesn't enter the system and get 'categorised' you can just repair it quietly at your leisure...a bit like if you'd just run into a ditch one evening and then taken the bike home.

My own personal advice?...Unless you have a high agreed value on the bike and are sure it only has light to moderate damage, and also bearing in mind that you weren't injured...if you want to keep the bike then keep away from the insurance company ..Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

yea my leg got trashed.

this bike i want to keep


i have explained to the companies (mine and theirs) that the bike is one i made myself and its vintage and I would carry out any repairs myself.
its the early stages at the moment, but i had a chat with his insurance company, and the guy said, that they were not going to dispute liability, and that i just had to submit my repair costs to them.

I want to keep the bike at all costs. because i made it from bits and its got centimental value and stuff. '
i will find out what their policy is regarding the damage.

seems strange that they would be prepared to take an old classic and write it off and scrap it. almost sick ha ha .

OUCH!!!!!!!!!! I have agreed value on my bike, however, it would pain me to accept the payout and lose my bike. Here in the State of Maine USA, I could buy my bike back from the insurance company and re-register it, but it may be with a salvaged title which affects the value of the bike. But if there's there's no intention to ever sell it then it's not a problem. I wish you a speedy recovery!

James

email (option): jamescusteau@yahoo.com

Really, the damage doesn't look too bad. The headlight will need to be replaced, maybe you could upgrade to a higher output generator and brighter version headlamp bulb for better visibility? May help avoid the situation happening again. Those forks don't look too bent and the damage to the oil tank looks quite minimal. Appears that you got off fairly easily all things considered. A friend of mine was killed a few years ago in exactly the same situation, his freshly home built "bad ass bar hopper Beeza" without front brake slammed directly into the side of a minivan that turned across his path. Without front brake, he never had a chance to slow down, perhaps he might still be otherwise here but that we will never know.

Vincent,

I think this is a 'before' picture..........

Regards,

Sven

email (option): snvosselman@gmail.com

Maxwell, make sure you claim for your injuries and any riding gear as well. That leg looks painfull. I hope it all goes ok for you.

Sorry to see your accident, some good advice on the bike claim in this thread.
After a similar accident over 30 yrs ago where i was compensated for a bike & injuries to my leg, i only recently realise that i seriously underestimated the importance of assessing the long term effects of it. regardless of the bikes condition you should prioritize the damage to your leg as all these bumps early in life affect how you manage simple things like stairs later in life & although i hope you have no serious long term damage, its absolutely imperative that you get a full professional medical assessment of the possibility of longer term problems with knee joint etc.
Its best achieved by an appointment with a Harley Street specialist for a consultation. you can claim back the cost of that also. don't settle early, you are likely entitled to more money than you may think when it comes to the longer term health affect side of it, some friends have incorporated a clause in the payout entitling them to go back to the insurer later in life if they develop further symptoms, Arthritis ETC in that limb as a direct result.

thanks for the advices
cheers nice one

I think that was passed into legislation that no settlement is final and you have the right to go back for more if the need arises. I'm not sure if it was passed, but they certainly were trying to get the law passed much to the consternation of the insurance companies!

email (option): davmax@ntlworld.com

Maxwell, you could simply approach the other driver directly and ask for a settlement (I assume you have his details).

Remember that he might be facing a dangerous driving charge.

This situation happened to me a few years back when a driver ran into the back of my bike near Tower Bridge, London. I had a helmet camera recording, and I explained that I caught the whole thing (some of it through my rear view mirror).

He paid up, cash. Not a very large amount, but he preferred that than losing his no claims bonus and facing a possible prosecution.

You might want to consider this.

email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine.com

I am not sure it would work

i recall at the scene, as usually happens, a bunch of civillians seemed to run over and take the drivers side, including the drivers shreiking wife.

the pedestrians said i was going too fast. I think the guy thinks its my fault that he turned his car into my pathway!!

but i had only travelled 250 feet from stationary at lights.

and if i was going so fast, why drive across the road in front of me??? ha ha ha

frames bent on bike

mabe they write it off, and i change the frame
we'll see what happens

email (option): hutman80@hotmail.com