How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Hi, my friend has recently had an accident on hes sv.
Basically he was going ahead at the traffic lights and an oncoming car was turning right(hes left) The car pulled in too much and made my friend panic which made him slam hes front brakes and the front wheel locked. There is quite abit of damage to the bike but there was no collision with the car.

How would insurance look at this situation whos at fault?

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

it can only be his fault, as there was no contact with the other vehicle then technically the other vehicle wasn't involved in the accident at all.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Cobblers, there doesn't have to be an impact for the other vehicle to be involved or the driver to be held at fault. Proving it however is another matter. Are there any witnesses, did the other driver stop, did he get any details?

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

He said the car had came into hes lane so he braked and slightly swerved at the same time!
Yeah the driver had hes friend next to him, they have exchanged details and the driver has agreed to pay %50 of the damage but what results can he get if he goes onto make a claim from insurance?

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Sounds like an admission of guilt to me. Why would you offer to pay 50% of someone elses damage if it wasn't your fault?

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

best people to talk to is insurance company. they know best and get their opinions.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Agree!

They're absolute swines, you're better speaking to a motorbike solicitor like white dalton or whoever's recommended.
To be honest if your mate admitted he panicked and slammed on the brakes and the other guy's saying sorry and offering money toward repair, I think a split (be it 50/50 or otherwise) with no need to involve the insurance companies is the best way forward. But that's just from how it sounds , depends if I've perceived it right and how the other bloke is about it all.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Just be aware there is no halfway ground here. Either deal directly with the other driver, accept their offer of 50% and pay the rest yourself, or go to the insurance companies, hope they pick up the bill, and spend the next few years paying it back via increased premiums. If your mate is a new rider, and the bike can be fixed up reasonably well I'd seriously consider the former....

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Because you're stupidly honest and think your positioning was part at fault for the accident and the other chaps bionic arm on the brake lever also at fault :)

Only kidding it's a good point, but it doesn't mean he'll be viewed 100% at fault if it went to insurance...or even 1%

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

I know... it's the kind of thing I'd be stupid enough to do. But being completely cynical I think that's how an insurance company would see the offer.

If they did view it as a 50/50 fault surely there would be no paying for half of the damage? If one person is at fault their policy pays for all damage, if it's 50/50 each party pays for their own.... right?

(BTW the OP should know I have no experience with insurance like this... just speculating).

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

probably no more than the driver has offered, and he would probably lose his no claims bonus, no independant witnesses, if the other driver has offered to pay 50% then I think he should take it and perhaps get some advanced training so he wouldn't find himself in the same position again.

Daryl.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

i think you took this the wrong way, i didn't mean that the driver couldn't be at fault (cos he probably was with the sorry mate i didn't see you scenario) but as there was no actual collision then surely the drivers insurance isn't going to pay out for damage to someone elses vehicle when it wasn't caused by their insured vehicle. insurance companies are not usually very forthcoming when paying out and will try everything they can to avoid paying.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

They decided not to take it to insurance mainly because my friend doesnt want to take chances with insurance as its still hes first year riding. The guy is happy to pay half the damage.

Now my friend is upset that he didnt collide with the car because he could have then made a claim probably an accident claim too and got a load of cash, Im telling him hes lucky to still be alive! What do you guys think?

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Wanting to injure himself to get compensation doesnt sound like someone anyone would want on the road. But hope he didnt mean it like that hope he gets it sorted and learns from it.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

taking the other guys offer seems like the best idea to me.

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Completely agree, same happened to me, I thought it was my fault so let the driver go, a few years later I asked an insurance company and they said he was at fault because he broke the law and there doesn't need to be an impact to be your fault, there's a couple of motorcycle solicitors on here if they haven;t already answered, sorry not read the whole post. :rolleyes:

Re: How does Insurance look at bike accidents?
 

Yes get him to call IAM or ROSPA.