TPFT and Smokey Bike

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by kwak zzr

its your driving/riding history you have to tell them.

They ask you if you've had an accident in the past 5 years surely that's open to interpretation. I interpret it to mean claims (or surely it wouldn't be any of their business). Any way speirsy if they ask you specifically about this accident and why you hadn't reported it just tell them it wasn't an accident it was a cleverly devised plan to warm your hands, no other road users were involved and you didn't need to claim...

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Wouldn't that be tempting people who have only insured their bikes TPFT to "let" the bike catch fire after a spill? I would have thought the insurance companies would be wise to that.

Normally I would say let the insurance run, as I did after we broke the Sv, but as you've informed them of the total loss I don't know. Why not ask the insurers? Best to know now, than find out your new policy is void if, god forbid, you need to claim again.

correct,

but then whats the point of having the fire part of the policy, they could claim it was arson everytime by you...?

Originally Posted by 454697819

correct,

but then whats the point of having the fire part of the policy, they could claim it was arson everytime by you...?

Well bikes can catch fire without having crashed. Ducatis have a bit of a reputation for it because of the open airbox and quick release fuel lines, plus irrefutable arson by a 3rd party.

[SoulKiss]

The thing too look at with respects to the fire claim is what would the damage have been if it HAD NOT caught Fire ?

Seems to me that the entire rear end, so the swing arm, tyres, etc would have been fine.

Chances are the engine would have been fine.

I dont know what the mechanical rather than fire damage to the front was, but if it was a lowside then to rest under armco then damage could have been minimal.

Having lowsided AND high-sided my SV in the past, the damage was not that bad, Jambo did similar to his ZX6 in Spain and was able to ride it home.

It seems to me that most of the damage was through fire, so I would at least attempt to make a claim - they can only say no, you are not covered.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

It seems to me that most of the damage was through fire, so I would at least attempt to make a claim - they can only say no, you are not covered.

Wouldn't they value the bike after the crash but before the fire. So front end damage, some plastics and obviously tank as that split before the fire. So what would that value be? £500 quid generously. Take off Mr speirs excess plus increased premiums for a few years. Wouldn't be any profit and most probably a loss.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Wouldn't they value the bike after the crash but before the fire. So front end damage, some plastics and obviously tank as that split before the fire. So what would that value be? £500 quid generously. Take off Mr speirs excess plus increased premiums for a few years. Wouldn't be any profit and most probably a loss.

True, there is that

[Mr Speirs]

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

It seems to me that most of the damage was through fire, so I would at least attempt to make a claim - they can only say no, you are not covered.

And 'No you are not covered' was the reply.
I called them on the monday to report the accident and asked them a few questions about claiming etc and they said that I wouldn't be covered under the fire part of the policy.

Right so I think I need to phone bennetts to make sure my insurance is still running.
Basically at the minute the bike has been scrapped. I couldn't leave it any longer as after just 5 days it cost me £218.50 for recovery, storage and scrappage. Had to give them my logbook. So it doesn't exsist anymore.

Originally Posted by Dave20046

They ask you if you've had an accident in the past 5 years surely that's open to interpretation. I interpret it to mean claims (or surely it wouldn't be any of their business).

It is open to interpretation, just be aware that if they catch you lying your policy is invalidated, you get no refund, and they may press fraud charges (although not very likely).

There is a difference between I fell off, no damage so didn't bother reporting it (no record of accident exists) and bike was written off when I crashed into a plod car at 120 (there will probably be a record for that!).

[Stu]

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

How can they prove it's Arson after the fuel has leaked out and the bikes slid along the road, but getting a bike away from a crash scene and disposing of it would be too difficult.

I'm not for one moment advocating either of those courses of action Stu, just saying that if fire after a crash meant it was covered I would expect there to be many more claims on TPFT, and insurance companies ain't that naive.

Copy of my Insurance book. They will argue that the fire damage was to a worthless bike that had been crashed.

Yup I also dug out a couple of my old policy booklets too & they have very similar wording - i.e. they cover Fire without any exclusion as to how it started.
You raise a very good point & helps me explain better what Iwas going to say anyway.
Britney you need to make sure you only claim for fire damage not accident damage.
So accident damage would be a dent & rupture to the tank and scratches down the side.
All te other fire damage you should claim for.
Just because I bike has been crashed, does very much not mean that it is worthless!

I think you will find that fire after an accident is pretty rare that is why ins. co.s are willing to cover te risk for not much more than TPO cover which is a completely different class of cover.

Disposing of a bike after a crash and reporting it stolen would not always be very difficult. Just as opening the petrol tank & dropping a match. The reason people don't do either is they could go to prison!

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Stu

I also feel very strongly that you should receive a full payout Britney.

I'd say not. If you want cover for an accident that's your own fault, pay for FC cover!

Originally Posted by petevtwin650

Wouldn't they value the bike after the crash but before the fire. So front end damage, some plastics and obviously tank as that split before the fire. So what would that value be? £500 quid generously. Take off Mr speirs excess plus increased premiums for a few years. Wouldn't be any profit and most probably a loss.

Yup, the bike before the fire was worth nothing. I would imagine they would consider the value to include all the bent bits at suzuki prices.