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Ok, so some of you might have noticed yesterday that I posted about the Mrs being involved in a motorbike collision, it's now advancing and I need a bit of advise so I don't get too badly battered financially.
She was stationary at red lights with the brakes applied when she was rear ended by a car. Knocked to the ground and sustained a few cuts and bruises. We have the drivers details and obviously he's admitted fault.
The bike has been back to Yamaha and they think it's probably a write off due to frame damage. Yamaha offered her the services of a claim management company that have said will provide a loan bike and fight her corner, adding their costs to the claim no doubt.
Has she done right in authorising them to continue? Do we still need to tell our insurance? I assume yes, but don't want them adding to the premium or it affecting the other 5 policies we have with other insurers.
Also, should she claim for personal injury? She's not badly hurt but has got a badly swollen ankle and cuts and bruises, nothing life changing though. Seems a bit petty to claim for them really.
3rdly - The bike was insured for £1400, but had literally just been serviced (1/2 hr before), was in mint condition and very low mileage. I can't find another for anywhere near the same price and condition, mostly £300-£400 dearer. Will we only get the £1400 or will we be able to argue the difference somehow? Our own insurance policy has legal assist, but as we're using the claims management company, will they fight as hard?
Bloody annoying and confusing at the moment. She was quite shaken up when making the decisions yesterday.
we opted not to use one, and to handle it ourself through our insurers. Different circumstance, reversed into in supermarket car park and seen / reported by witness so also no question of liability being disputed. Our thinking was based on some small print I read and then researched about if any part of the claim was subsequently disputed we would support the claims management company (CMC) including in court if necessary to recover the money. The issue being that if they can't recover them all, then we could be held liable.
You might then think under what circumstances would that be disputed - and that's where the google revealed that some CMCs had a business model of charging excessive sums for the 'courtesy' car which was actually a hire car - lending you a car for 2 weeks that on market rates would cost maybe £200 and charging several times that. Then the other ins co *might* refuse to pay because there is an obligation to not be worse off, but equally to minimise the losses.
Was some years ago, and that 'scam' may have been tightened but a quick google finds this (from 2010)
It was more hassle taking the car to local repairers and getting quotes but in the end we had peace of mind.
I can't assist you on the personal injury side of things but I have had several experiences with write offs ( 😆 ).
The claims assesor will use selling websites to asses the value of the ped and then ring you to see what you reckon. When he does that just keep shtum about what you think the ped is worth and let him tell you, then say thanks very much that'll do fine. In short, No you won't just get back what you insured it for, that's always an estimate, you will usually receive what it's market value is. I've usually found them to be very fair surprisingly.
Re claiming or not through your insurance - there are others better able to advise on this but my understanding is even if you don't make a claim you must declare the accident and your premium might well change as a result. Sorry.
And yes, she should honestly declare the injuries and other damages caused to kit and equipment, etc. Don't embellish, don't underdo it, and then let the insurance cos deal with it.
Not telling your insurance could invalidate it, even if you're not making a claim. Check the policy terms.
Your insurance company [i]is[/i] a claim management company in this regard. You've paid your premium, now their job is to sort out your situation. You'd risk invalidating future insurance if you fail to declare a written-off vehicle.
The CMC will be looking to make even more money out of the situation, and as noted above, his insurers may push back and cause you hassle if they inflate aspects of the claim or try to add fees etc.
3rdly - The bike was insured for £1400, but had literally just been serviced (1/2 hr before), was in mint condition and very low mileage. I can't find another for anywhere near the same price and condition, mostly £300-£400 dearer. Will we only get the £1400 or will we be able to argue the difference somehow? Our own insurance policy has legal assist, but as we're using the claims management company, will they fight as hard?
If that was an "agreed value" then I don't know how it works, never had one.
If it's what they say is market value then argue it. Don't rely only on dealers prices as they will say that you're not a dealer, yes it's nonsense but just don't give them anything to argue with. Get on eBay now and watch all the ones that are ending soon. Get on all the bike sale sites (I don't know them) and compile a list of that model in similar condition and work out the average price. Argue hard and put in high ball figures as they will try to low ball you.
If you told them it was worth £1400 when you got the quote don't worry, it doesn't really mean anything.
Claim management; I've never used one but to be honest I'd rather do it myself. With the sheer mind boggling incompetence (not to mention blatant BS) I've seen from insurance companies I'd say it's better to be involved so that any "inaccuracies" can be picked up sooner rather than later and aren't allowed to snowball.
Certainly make a claim for personal injury. She is injured. Got to be worth a couple of thousand at least
don't use a claims management co - go thru your insurers. Its an open and shut case
don't use a claims management co - go thru your insurers. Its an open and shut case
Hope they ticked the legal assistance box.
Open and shut case means nothing.
2 years later and we are still fighting against the French man who drove into me dads motorbike head on on the wrong side of the road... With 3 videos and several witnesses.
There is no defence in the UK for a collision like this. Its as close to strict liability as we have
Have you tried it?
Doesn't take much to drag it out.
Yo are using a claims management company with no connection to your insurer, I would be slightly concerned
Yes we have legal assit's on our own policy, I have no interest in pulling the wool over anyone's eyes so will be fully honest with the dealings.
The CMC sort of got involved without her really understanding what was happening, Yamaha phoned them whilst she was having the bike assessed.
She does have some personal injury but just a twisted ankle and some cuts/bruises, don't really want this dragging out the claim as the bike is a writeoff, although the CMC are dropping off a loaner apparently.
the loaner will become the problem. The CMC will be charging the other party an absolute fortune per day of hire and the other party will quibble it as the cost of that will probably be more than any other cost.
When my car was damaged whilst it was in for repair I had a loan car for 2-3 weeks at something like £100 a day. it was this bit the other insurance company disputes and was threatening to go to court over, luckily it was our only car so we has justification for needing it.
I would say go through your own insurance, probably too late now anyway. it's going to effect your premiums anyway and it's why you pay them. A claims managment has to make there money somehow as they aren't getting your premium.
Even claims management companies through your insurers can be an arseache. I certainly wouldnt entertain an independent.
As above it will affect any policy your wife drives under and there is nothing you can do about it either 🙁
As I say every time there's a thread like this, work out how much it'll add to your premiums and add that to the claim. They will pay it in my experience, as it's a legitimate expense caused purely by her being hit by their customer.