| Author | Message | ||
     Offthporch |
I was coming home from class on a 4-lane city street(35mph limit) admittedly going about 40. After I crossed thru an intersection a van going the opposite direction pulled out (from behind a tractor trailer) in front of me crossing the double yellow. As timing goes I only had time to lock my brakes for about 10 feet. Luckily I hit the front quarter panel (instead of side), bounced off the windshield of the van and continued flying thru the air down the road. After realizing what happened and sitting in the road 30-40 feet from my bike, I got out of the road and laid on the sidewalk. Because I was wearing a full faced lid, a leather racing jacket, jeans, and work boots, I escaped with only bruises and scrapes (under my jacket). Anyways, to the point, the forks are totally bent, top fairing (bars forward) trashed, side of frame (front of knee) dented(from falling back to the pavement), motor mounts broken (as motor not in same location-dropped down), and possibly other tweaks in the frame (also scratches down the rear section). The other drivers insurance claimed liability and I am waiting on my '06 XB12R to be towed to Carolina H-D. Was wondering if anybody knew if they would total it out or not? Also, How do insurance companies determine value if it is totaled? Thanks for any help. Tim | ||
| Birdy |
I think if the frame's bent it's toast. Different states different laws. Here it's 75% value before they total a car. I got smacked in my brand new Civic and it did over $10,000.00 and they didn't total it. But if you frame and fork along with the other damage I'd think it'd be totaled. Labor alone will be out of sight changing a frame. BUT like I said different state different laws. BTW glad you are OK if not some what beat up. Better to total the bike than YOU! Birdy | ||
| Bad_karma |
Tim How did you fair? Joe | ||
| Jackbequick |
Good to hear that you're on the winning side as far as injuries. You're now officially older and smarter. If you're like me, the experience will stay in the back of your mind as you ride and contribute to a lifetime of safe and happy motorcycling. As for the question, beyond the variations as to what value it will be totaled out at, there are further considerations from one insurance company to another and one state to another. In some states there are restrictions on relicensing a vehicle that has been totaled. It can be not worth the trouble to even try to do it sometimes. Then there is sometimes an option for the owner to "buy back" the totaled bike from the insurance company at time of settlement. The insurance company will sell the bike to a salvager and will sometimes give you the option of buying the bike for the value that they expect to get for it as salvage. When a buy back happens, they would deduct the salvage value from the settlement due to you and you'd own the wrecked bike. In some states you'll own a wrecked bike with a current title and registration, in others you'll have an unregistered wrecked vehicle, and it may even be that it will be difficult to re-register because it was wrecked. Then the decision comes into play as to whether or not you want to try to rebuild and re-register the bike yourself or to simply part it out. Parting out some bikes can produce a nice profit depending on how the numbers play out. Of course any loans have to be paid off and sometimes the numbers will not crunch out from that viewpoint. Good luck with all that. Jack | ||
| Offthporch |
Joe The accident happened on 11/5/07 and liability was finally claimed 24 days later on 11/29/07. The adjuster agreed to pay $15 a day for "loss of use" coming up to $360. I am now in a rental car. He agreed to pay $450 for my gear ($150-helmet, $50-gloves, $250-jacket). I've gotten together my ER bill($1600) my orthopedic bill($150), and my 4 days missed from work(4*9*15=$540) which has not been settled yet but will be as soon as i am released from the chiropractor(15*140=$2100). I am hoping he will be fair in repaying me in these bills. The bike i am still waiting to hear about, hence the reason for the post. Overall I feel like all my injuries are pretty much healed and am thankful that it wasn't any worse. Thanks for all the good information and concern guys. Tim |
