Got hit on the motorcycle, insurance advice needed.

[Fear No Evil]

Was stopped waiting to take a right turn on the Harley when a young man rolled into me from behind. It was very slow, 2-3 mph and I left off the clutch right before he hit, but enough to break my LED tail light. Wife and I were on the bike, no harm to either of us. It was around midnight, he didn't seem drunk or anything and he was very cooperative and just said he wasn't paying attention because his friends in the car were distracting him... so I didn't call the cops even if they would have come for such a minor argument. Got his tag info, and took a picture of his drivers license since he said he did not have insurance info on him and its his mother in law's car.

Spoke with him today (2 days later) after inspecting my bike and told him he had actually bent my turn signals in the back, as well as slightly buckled the rear fender. Told him it would likely be ~1,000 or more, but offered to get estimates and not report it. I think he was a little shocked at the cost (Its a harley!) so he said he would talk to his parents about the insurance since it was their car. He called me back 2 hours later and gave me their full insurance info and said I should work through the insurance company.

So far so good, but I'm looking for some advice. Should I call my agent, or my insurance, and report it to them, or just do it through their insurance company? I'll obviously have the bike thoroughly checked over to make sure there is nothing else wrong but as I said it was quite minor. I'm interested in protecting myself as much as possible, but not screwing over the other person (I'm not going to claim my neck hurts, etc.). Any advice as to how to handle it? My gut says just work through their insurance, but then I don't seem to have anyone looking after me.. but reporting it to my insurance seems like it could impact my coverage as well even though the other person was completely at fault.

 

[NutBucket]

Just go through their insurance. No need to talk to your own. Should be pretty cut and dry as there's no question of fault.

 

[summit]

Call your insurance company.

 

[simonizor]

Call your insurance company.

This. Any accident that you're going to be collecting money for needs to be turned in to your insurance company. They will do all of the work for you; that's what you pay them for.

 

[thescreensavers]

Yea, I dont care how small it is, cops are being called. I think you were not too smart not calling them.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Yea, I dont care how small it is, cops are being called. I think you were not too smart not calling them.

Depends where you are, if no one is injured and traffic is not being obstructed they wont come out.

 

[simonizor]

Yea, I dont care how small it is, cops are being called. I think you were not too smart not calling them.

This also. You're very lucky that the guy has cooperated so well. If he hadn't; you'd be up shit creek (in court trying to sue him) with a twig for a paddle (the picture of his drivers license and tag info that you got from him). You should always call the cops if you plan on repairing the damage so they can set in stone who was at fault.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

This. Any accident that you're going to be collecting money for needs to be turned in to your insurance company. They will do all of the work for you; that's what you pay them for.

I don't see why you would need to. I just got the claim number from the person that backed into me and took it to the bodyshop of my choice. They took care of the rest.

 

[NutBucket]

Someone hit me about 7 years ago...maybe $1200 worth of damage but no injuries. Anyway, some cops were nearby and came over when they realized what had happened. They took a quick look, told us to exchange information and proceeded to leave.

I had no trouble dealing with their insurance company. I never called mine.

 

[simonizor]

I don't see why you would need to. I just got the claim number from the person that backed into me and took it to the bodyshop of my choice. They took care of the rest.

Your insurance needs to know about all accidents that you are in and will be collecting on, regardless of who is at fault, how much it cost, etc. If you don't report accidents to them, they will not be happy with you. Call them and ask whether or not they should get involved. Their policy might say something like over a certain amount and you have to report it within X hours, but they will more than likely tell you that you should report any accident that you will be collecting on.

Also, it is your insurance company's job to collect the money from the other insurance company for you. That is what you pay them for. They are basically mediators between you and the other insurance company.

I had an accident about 3 years ago where the guy pulled out from a yield sign and I t-boned him (I had the right of way with no stop sign, etc). His insurance company tried to claim that I was traveling too fast and didn't try to stop. My company fought them and got my vehicle completely covered, including the deductible.

 

[Mermaidman]

Make sure you get the VIN. And always report the incident to the police in the future. (What would you do if the other driver denies everything?)

I almost got burned when someone rear-ended me and I did not call the police. I obtained all the info, except VIN, from the driver, and took photos, but his insurance refused to do anything without a VIN. The driver who hit me wouldn't return my calls, but luckily I knew where he worked (from his uniform), so I tracked down his car and got the VIN myself. After that, his insurance processed the claim without any trouble. I never did contact my insurance.

 

[arcenite]

Sounds to me like you saved the kid some legal trouble. :thumbsup:

 

[boomerang]

So, first the car belonged to his in-laws and later it belonged to his own parents? What I'm asking is, did his story change or did you just relate it wrong here?

 

[HarryLui]

I had no trouble dealing with their insurance company. I never called mine.

This. I called my insurance company, they did not care, and told me to contact the party at fault's insurance. Twice now, and twice I got my $$$ no problem.

Oh, whatever you do, DO NOT accept the first offer. It'll be low and it'll be insulting.

 

[hdfxst]

I had a little more serious accident that involved a drunk driver.I never spoke with her or her insurance company,my ins company took care of everything from the bike to the clothes i had on.Let your insurance do the work it's what you pay them for

 

[SithSolo1]

So, first the car belonged to his in-laws and later it belonged to his own parents? What I'm asking is, did his story change or did you just relate it wrong here?

He probably meant stepmother and not mother-in-law, at least that would make more sense. I dunno why a young man would be out in his mother-in-law's car with a group of friends.

 

[NutBucket]

I had a little more serious accident that involved a drunk driver.I never spoke with her or her insurance company,my ins company took care of everything from the bike to the clothes i had on.Let your insurance do the work it's what you pay them for

There's a big difference between a major incident and a harmless fender-bender.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Well if this thread as taught anything its that there is no right answer here. I'll probably call my agent tomorrow and ask her advice.

 

[Zap]

This. I called my insurance company, they did not care, and told me to contact the party at fault's insurance.

When I got a nasty ding in my door, my insurance also told me to let their insurance deal with it.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Yea, I dont care how small it is, cops are being called. I think you were not too smart not calling them.

Really? You'd call the cops for this unbelievably minor accident? Would you call the cops if someone accidentally opened their door into the side of your car in a parking lot? Where exactly do you draw the line, because your statement seems a bit idiotic and wasteful.

 

[Mermaidman]

Really? You'd call the cops for this unbelievably minor accident? Would you call the cops if someone accidentally opened their door into the side of your car in a parking lot? Where exactly do you draw the line, because your statement seems a bit idiotic and wasteful.

In my state, the law requires all incidents causing at least $1,000 damage to be reported. I cannot recall if the drivers handbook specifies when the incident has to be reported (i.e. immediately or days later or ?). I was unaware of this rule when my car was rear-ended.

 

[Mike Gayner]

In my state, the law requires all incidents causing at least $1,000 damage to be reported. I cannot recall if the drivers handbook specifies when the incident has to be reported (i.e. immediately or days later or ?). I was unaware of this rule when my car was rear-ended.

Are you sure about that? That doesn't seem right to me - the government compelling you to report incidents over an arbitrary amount, precluding the option of a mutual settlement between two private parties. Also, how do you know how much damage is caused at the scene of an accident? Sometimes very costly repairs look very minor at the time.

 

[roguerower]

$1000 to fix a tail light and some turn signals? WTF? I know Harleys are ridiculous, but come on! Now if they fucked up some sort of after-market exhaust system that might be a different story, but holy shit man, how can you get charged a grand for a couple of lights and a fender? Did the little tap bend your subframe somehow?

Oh, and to stay on topic, call the insurance company.

 

[Fear No Evil]

$1000 to fix a tail light and some turn signals? WTF? I know Harleys are ridiculous, but come on! Now if they fucked up some sort of after-market exhaust system that might be a different story, but holy shit man, how can you get charged a grand for a couple of lights and a fender? Did the little tap bend your subframe somehow?

Oh, and to stay on topic, call the insurance company.

Well, I'm GUESSING on the cost at this point. But the taillight itself is ~150 (LED). Then add the turn signal bar below it which is bent.. probably ~300 or so if its even available for my bike anymore. Then the entire rear fender will have to be pulled off and body work done to remove the dent, and repaint since paint is coming off where it buckled. Either way, its not $100. My mechanic looked at it quick and said $900 at least, he will probably be on the low side. I suspect I'll get quotes for more than that.

Hell, I tried to buy a fuel hose for my Harley the other day, they wanted $26 for a 12" fuel hose.

 

[Fear No Evil]

$1000 to fix a tail light and some turn signals? WTF? I know Harleys are ridiculous, but come on! Now if they fucked up some sort of after-market exhaust system that might be a different story, but holy shit man, how can you get charged a grand for a couple of lights and a fender? Did the little tap bend your subframe somehow?

Oh, and to stay on topic, call the insurance company.

Oh, and you didn't stay on topic.. WHICH ONE? Mine or theirs?