insurance question

[Wiltshire7]

After my accident i told my insurance company my leathers were trashed. how likely r they to inspect them? they have told me to keep hold of the leathers and anything else incase the 3rd party's insurance wanna check em out.

how often do they do this? has anyone else had theirs checked up?
how damaged do they have to be? mine arnt trashed at all, but they r damaged, that should be covered shouldnt it?

also, i cant prove how much i paid for em, so i told em a high 'guestimate'. will they take my word for it?

[Ed]

Remember, you're asking them to pay for damage, so they might want to see them, it depends on whether they think you're taking the michael. I couldn't claim on a third party's policy (as it was my fault :oops: ) but I discovered to my cost that my leathers weren't included in my bike policy. So I've now extended the house contents cover to include items away from the house.

As re damaged but not trashed - well, would you want to wear them again - I mean, damaged leathers aren't safe, are they? You're entitled to be put back in the position you were in before, so I don't see why you shouldn't claim for new ones. They might want to deduct an amount for wear and tear though.

Guesstimate - they're entitled to proof of loss - ie of the amount claimed. If you can't then I guess the insurer will horsetrade as long as it's reasonable.

[creamerybutter]

I my case the third parties insures just asked how old they were and what they cost new and based the pay out on that but it probably depends on the insurers.

[Wiltshire7]

hm, ok. thanks for the info.

if anyone else has had experience in this then please let me know.

idealy id wanna gett he money for new ones and then keep my old ones. but if i have to i guess i could say the nurses had to cut em off me. they did want to, but i told em not to unless they had no choice.

[creamerybutter]

They won't keep yours if they do pay out, if yours are damaged at all you should be able to cliam something.

[thebulletproofpoet]

I had a similar situation following a no-fault spill.

The medics wanted to cut the leathers off me and I managed to convince them to cut the seams. I claimed for the leathers citing make, range etc and got a cash payout for the leathers and for a new lid.

I threw out old lid (does anyone know if these can be recycled as I am abit of a hippy and hate to think of a landfill full of lids) but got the leathers restictched. :D Spare cash (for replacement leathers) went on a holiday :wink:

[Biker Biggles]

If they are damaged you can claim,they dont have to be "trashed".Same thing with gloves,boots and your helmet doesnt need any visible damage.If you knock a lid you are supposed to replace it.In my experience they dont check the items,but you should keep them.they haggle over prices months later and if you then tell them "I still have the items"thats usually enough for them to pay up.

[Wiltshire7]

usual deal with insurance people then. they dont wanna pay the proper amount out and force u to be forceful with them.

i can do that, but i just wish they would pay the proper amount to start with.

god i hate insurance.

[OnFire]

Some photos and receipts should do it. They will look at how much they cost new, and make deductions for how old they are and general condition.

Not often they will ask you to send them in unless the claims handler fancys some free leathers cos after all what is an insurance company going to do with them afterwards. Its more of a hassle to them to send them in.

[Wiltshire7]

well i over estimated on the values as i guessed they would knock them down. maybe ill be lucky, but i doubt it.

i dont have any receipts unfortunatly, i might try and get a quote from a shop though if they want a receipt.

[hall13uk]

well i over estimated on the values as i guessed they would knock them down. maybe ill be lucky, but i doubt it.

i dont have any receipts unfortunatly, i might try and get a quote from a shop though if they want a receipt.
dont you know anyone in a bike shop that can give you a moody receipt.
thats what i did when i came off my moped it work a treat :wink: .
got full price refund then went back to that shop and brought my new gear there. (you scratch my back etc etc)

[Wiltshire7]

thats a good idea. i guess the worst they can do is say no.

ill give it a go, ill ask for a receipt showing i paid 10k for my jacket :D

[Biker Biggles]

You dont have to have reciepts.If you make a list of all damaged gear and go to J&S at Watford and price up replacements that will do.As long as you go for "like for like"they shouldnt quibble too much.What they wont wear is a claim for new Dianese stuff when you had budget Akitos :!:

[Juju]

I deal with this stuff all the time.

different insurers deal in different ways. My first insurer, a very small specialist insurer, would insist on the damaged stuff being sent in. And anyone who wanted their helmet back for "sentimental" reasons (ie it wasnt really damaged, they just wanted £400 notes for it) used to get them sent back, with the straps cut out so they couldnt be reused!

And the condition of leathers and boots would be inspected and reductions made for wear and tear.

I also have a big handful of brocures and when I get claims for helmets, I can always check by the graphics as to how old the helmet is. You ain't getting the cash for a brand new Troy Corser race rep lid in this years colours by sending me a moody receipt dated a few months ago for a 3 year old helmet!

But the insurers I work for now are much cooler, and will just make an offer usually based on a like for like replacement, and they dont want your rank and manky old kit sent in and cluttering up their nice offices!

[Quiff Wichard]

I had an "off" 20 mins after buying my SV-

ended up better off cos I got all new tank and full bodywork and a blue DB screen.

in terms of gear- I claimed for EVERyTHING- - ! gloves /boots/trs and jacket...and lid..and got the lot and they didnt inspect anything....

there were some scuffs but wasnt damaged- however, had been in an impact ?? so u never know-

In terms of my old lid and the Q of wot do with one! ..?????????
I gave it to the local st john ambulance and they wrote in indelible INK on it accident damaged-training.. and they use it for educating trainess how to approach biker accidents etc....so that can only be a good thing ..!!

( as an aside- I saw on my test that my examiner had sticker on his helmet saying DO NOT REMOVE in an accident)

oh my uv is a solicitor and he said you can claim up to £500 for "embarrassement" if it is not your fault--

but I was too embarrased to claim that !