Motorcycle accident - repair quality?

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


Because of the high value of salvage on certain models, many bikes are being written off for comparitively minor damage.
Not that many years ago, the damage had to exceed a minimum of 80% of the value of the bike. Nowadays, that figure is more like 60%.

This means that repair rather than replace is often the preferred option. Even if it only saves a few bob.

If you insist, in this instance, on having new panels, the Insurers could decide write your bike off rather than repair it.

I undertook an insurance repair recently on an FJR1300. The customer was adamant that he wanted to keep his bike. The Assessor thought otherwise.
After a bit of an argument on my part with the Assessor, we came to a compromise. Whereby I repaired certain components as opposed to replacing them.
This included polishing out scratches from the headlight unit, & repainting a scuffed centre stand etc.
All in all repairing the components reduced the estimate by some £700, & I still had to argue with the To55er to get an increase in labour time to allow for the repairs.

Also, one doesn't get the option to buy the bike back as often nowadays. I estimated a 2006 ZX636 recently. The parts alone came to well over £3000. Again the customer wished to keep his bike. Yet the insurance company wanted 45% of book value for the salvage, which was around £1900. It gives you an idea of how much the salvage is worth on certain models.


Cheers.

[Nobbylad]

I'd be pushing for proof that they've had the frame checked for straightness i.e. some form of certificate or such.

I would do the following.

Instruct the garage to stop repairs, over the phone and then by writing.

Write to them explaining that you are not happy with the estimate for the damage as you believe that the bike may be damaged further than they are saying.

(looking at the other side I would expect the subframe to be bent and the can hanger etc)

If you are fully comp get your company involved to move the bike to your prefered garage for a second opinion and let them sort it out that way.

If your not comp get the bike moved to a different garage and have it re assesed, as at the end of the day the Renaults insurers will be looking after them, where as you need your company to look after you, they will then claim back off the other insurance.

things to note.

Dont budge from your opinion, acceptance now may see you screwed int he future
WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN... if you have a call take names, times and a brief description of the call, if anything was agreed WRITE TO THEM with the content, stating you believe this to be a fair and honest script from the conversation, if they dissagree to contact you within 7 days.
keep a track of all costs.

It is my humble opinion that following that prang you would be looking at a bent subframe, out of true swing arm at least enough to warrant a strip down and full assessment.

Stay calm and be firm,

best of luck

Originally Posted by sauluk

What does your can sound like?

My can sounds sweet but I've been told by that Maicron have gone bust so they will put a scorpion exhaust instead which looks exactly the same (apparently)

Originally Posted by Graciepants

As far as I know true
Tort law is putting things back as if nothing had ever happened and contract is making is as if the contract had been fulfilled, but that doesnt mean they have to give you a new one to replace an old one, its just putting it in the same condition, so they deem the panels as cosmetic and can just sand it down and respray, then its putting it back to as if it never happened

Ok so, should I ring them and say that it wasn't my fault so by law it should be replaced to match the pre-accident condition and not refurbished because that's essentially what they're doing....

Originally Posted by Nobbylad

I'd be pushing for proof that they've had the frame checked for straightness i.e. some form of certificate or such.

I would love to do that but they won't possibly have a certificate for that would they? they would probably just say "yea we've checked it - it's fine."

Ultimately it's your bike and not the 3rd party's insurance company's, so you have last say as to what happens to it. Even if the other driver's insurance company deems it to be an uneconomical repair you have the power in law to demand that it be repaired to pre-accident condition, and as the panels weren't previously repaired, they shouldn't have t be this time - your bike, your choice. If I was buying a bike and spotted repaired panels (which you will, no matter how good they say they are) I'd chip the price right down as it would obviously be a repaired damaged bike, and no-one wants to pay top whack for one of those. If it's been repaired and painted it's worth less than one with replacement panels fitted, so you lose out financially at resale time.

A mate's mum has just had her immaculate 1986 Escort Ghia repaired after someone ran into the back of it - should have been written off purely for a replacment bumper, but she got a new rear panel and tailgate fitted. It takes a while and it takes a fight, but they cannot refuse you.

I will warn you of one thing; make sure that storage costs are met by the other guy's insurance company throughout, because they can rack up to a level where they are worth more than the bike is.

As an aside; I've seen Sudden Impact's work and they are excellent, but it's still a repair where a replacement should be done

[Messie]

On another note though, I think Sudden Impact are ace. They fixed my RSV up beautifully; the work was excellent and the bike came back to me better than it was before the accident. They collected it from me, and returned it, at a time and place of my choice.
As an insurance job I cannot fault them.

Originally Posted by Graciepants

As far as I know true
Tort law is putting things back as if nothing had ever happened and contract is making is as if the contract had been fulfilled, but that doesnt mean they have to give you a new one to replace an old one, its just putting it in the same condition, so they deem the panels as cosmetic and can just sand it down and respray, then its putting it back to as if it never happened

Yep and where I'm coming from is given they can't repair the existing one so that it would have the same integrity / quality / safety then they'd have to replace with the only other real option... new. They could try the second hand route but then you really don't know what you're getting. You can only try and this only works in the OP's favour.

I am a new member here so please be gentle but i find this thread intriguing, The key here is the word "ESTIMATE", What is estimated for isnt neccesarily what will be carried out ...... Repairers often Under estimate to get the borderline repairs authorised by insurers and once theyre all okayed they will then go back to the insurer and say "We've had a go at repairing such and such but it wont repair properly so we will have to renew it", Ask for the engineers Full Audatex Report (if thats the system they are using for estimating) and it will tell you exactly what is and what isnt being carried out down to the last nut and bolt. Remember though, There is a difference between a Quotation and an ESTIMATE. I deal with estimates and insurance companies on a daily basis and albeit dealing with car repairs the basics are still the same, This is something that i come across a lot of.

As for the law, The bit regarding being placed in a position equal to pre accident it generally applies to the supply of a replacement like for like vehicle not whatever bike the repairer issues reason being is that you buy a particular bike for a specific reason, Because it fits your lifestyle and may serve a specific purpose legally you dont have to accept anything less. With regards the replacement of panels or repair quality, I'm sure that any reputable repairer wouldn't attempt to repair a panel or cut corners if they didn't think they could do so to a high standard as they have a reputation to uphold. Rather than shout and scream i would advise that you raise your concerns calmly with the third party insurer and suggest that a completely independant engineer inspects the bike both pre and post repair at the expense of the other party

Thanks buddy, I got my bike back last week and I was extremely pleased with the job Sudden Impact did.

I'm sure that it is worth a lot more now than it was before the collision.

They resprayed every last inch of the paint work beautifully and it looks like a brand new machine.

I will upload some pictures when I get a chance.

Glad you got sorted, sounds like you had a right result in the end ......... Make sure you give the repairers credit where credit is due as it often goes a long way (body repair can be a thankless task)