Sorry for the delay in posting pictures of my gear after being involved in my accident last week. I will have pics up as soon as I get up to my father's to pick it all up. The other issue I'm having (other than a minor broken pinky :goofy: ) is with my insurance company....I will state names.
No offense to anyone who works for or represents Liberty Mutual but the motorcycle policy they have can kiss my a$$. The full coverage with 500 dollar deductible policy that I had is seriously faulted in the following ways.
1) Since GA does not have a law requiring insurance companies to cover gear, my life, helmet Liberty chooses to dodge that protection. So if I would have died, my family would have gotten a whopping $0 from the company.
2) They do not believe the gear is "totaled" and requires detailed photos to confirm that they are not reuseable :angry:
3) If I had a passenger, only they would have been fully covered.
4) They valued my bike in the mint condition it was, at $2800. This means that Liberty is paying me $2300 total for my accident... :huh:
Mint 4th, Unobtanium Remus Viper High Mount, new chain and sprockets, LP tank bra, my techmount, tank bag, everything in it (including a BB Bold which cost 400 to replace), all for $2800?!?! Where do I even go from here? I was thinking 3000-3200 for the the value as most in my area that are minty with high mount are going for 3400+. Ugh I'm just irate about all of this, I needed this vent.
fight them to the teeth man. If they think the gear is salvageable, then get proof from the manufacturer that it isn't. Insurance companies aren't going to want to give away more than they have to. If you fight it, they'll probably give in. another grand or so is probably cheaper than court.
I have never come out on the losing end of an insurance dea but I DID have to fight for the reward. As mentioned above, get written confirmation that things like gear or mods are not salvagable. No shop in it's right mind will say a crashed or even dropped helmet is servicable. I'm sure they will write off your other gear as well. I came out WAY ahead on what looked like a raw deal on a totaled car. I told the insurance company I would accept a check (minus deductable) for a similarly equiped vehicle and they were welcome to check any internet site that listed them for sale. Their original offer of $6200 more than doubled on their next call. Just send them to CycleTrader and try to find a similar one for $2800. Stand your ground and be prepared with docs for your gear and anything else you lost. :warranty:
oh, liberty mutual.
good to know they screw their own customers as well as the ones their "clients" hit.
i had to deal with them with my vfr wreck in florida.
Get receipts and DEMAND that they replace your bike. If they want to give you 2800 for your bike, tell them to find the bike in that condition for 2800. Before that go onto c/l and ebay and print off what they are going for.
YOu will need it. also do the same for every piece of gear you had on. I've always been compensated for gear both here and in florida.
I've had a little experience dealing with the insurance companies. After having seen your bike they aren't even in the ballpark at $2800, that bike was pristine! Like Kevin said, tell them to find you another in that condition for that price. Tell them flat out $2800 won't work. Refuse to settle, if the claim goes unsettled for long enough someone will be getting their butt chewed for not getting it taken care of. They are just low balling you to see if you will take less. Read your policy good and see if gear is covered. If it is demand that they replace it and anything else (parts, personal items.) Just gotta play hardball with these guys sometimes to get what you want. And like Kevin also said print other bikes off from c/l, e-bay, and cycle trader is another good one. That's what I did and I came out way ahead.
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway? suffice it to say I am glad your here to tell the story - but you dont need to share photos of your gear, unless you want to report that the gear was unacceptable? That would be usefull, if it performed its job and you escaped harm than thats good!
I say we all get over to an MSF class and get in some rider training cause this is the 4th post about somdody going down since it started to be nice weather! Right were we left off in Autumn as a group, we were heading for a bad batch of riding accidents then too, sorry to say winter simply delayed the aftermath! I was hoping it would put a stop to it for a good long while! This time of year we have to be extra careful! Sure it seems nice and it feels good but the roads are full of gravel, slippery salt and perhaps ice in the shade! Gotta take it easy getting back into riding till there is a good melt and the road sweeping crews have a chance to pick up the winter mess.
State budgets as they are with this economy suggests the road conditions are not going to be at thier best!
maybe the number of active forum members is just getting higher?
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 17 March 2010 - 01:01 PM, said:
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway? suffice it to say I am glad your here to tell the story - but you dont need to share photos of your gear, unless you want to report that the gear was unacceptable? That would be usefull, if it performed its job and you escaped harm than thats good!
I say we all get over to an MSF class and get in some rider training cause this is the 4th post about somdody going down since it started to be nice weather! Right were we left off in Autumn as a group, we were heading for a bad batch of riding accidents then too, sorry to say winter simply delayed the aftermath! I was hoping it would put a stop to it for a good long while! This time of year we have to be extra careful! Sure it seems nice and it feels good but the roads are full of gravel, slippery salt and perhaps ice in the shade! Gotta take it easy getting back into riding till there is a good melt and the road sweeping crews have a chance to pick up the winter mess.
State budgets as they are with this economy suggests the road conditions are not going to be at thier best!
Good luck with the Insurance Fight, One ? in regards to gear, In GA is there a Helmet Law? If like here in WA, then it should be covered, because you could not ride Legal without it, so it would be considered part of the loss? Hope it helps :fing02: I also had the same experience with my insurance co when a moron backed into me last year, my ins co was going to take care of the issue, & give me about 2300. I then went to the Morons ins & just had them give me 3k. Parts cost me about 1k so I made out :cheerleader: Just FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS :wheel:
I know it is hard (been there, done that) but you must get the emotion out of this.
You and the insurance company entered into a legal agreement, complete with clauses.
Now you want to draw on that, they will seek for ways to honor the agreement with lowest costs to themselves.
Unless I'm mistaken, they need your agreement to their offer, an offer that they ask you in a way to check if is meets your expectation.
OK,
the bike
what does the policy say on how the value is determined? List minus a deductable for its age? $ needed to aqcuire a bike in the condition it was prior to the accident? If the latter, collect recent pictures, statement from the dealer (if it was serviced there), or seek the internet and print out prices from similar bikes and accessories (if they are included in the policy). put all in a nice binder, put a honda sticker on top :rolleyes: and FEDEX that to their claims adjuster.
It is a business transaction.
Helmet/Gear.
Shoei do a inspection service check the FAQ on your helmet mfr for statements on crash damage.
Does Shoei offer any type of impact inspection service?
Yes, Shoei offers a free impact inspection service for any Shoei helmet.* To have your helmet inspected, please send it to;
Shoei Helmets
3002 Dow Ave
Suite 128
Tustin, CA 92780
Attn: Inspections
Be sure to include a letter with a brief description of the issue with the helmet, as well as a daytime phone number and return address. Once we receive the helmet it will take 1-3 business days to complete the inspection. Upon completion the helmet is returned to you with a letter stating the findings of our inspection. Your helmet is returned to you if it passes the inspection or not. There is no charge for the inspection, and the UPS Ground return shipping is free. To see a video on how to pack your helmet for shipping, click here.
*For USA and Canada residents only.
so they want pictures of damaged gear? give it to them, including receipts/quotes. If they reimburse only part because of age, that you could consider as fair (unless your policy states that they will pay new value).
Me too, didnot read the fine print of my policy untill I needed it. Not telling you this to get you angry, but to prompt everyone to read them in the next week or so and understand what is in the contract :warranty:
I was "lucky" that the other parties insurance company was made aware that their client lied against the policie on what happened and they knew I had insurance cover for legal fees if this settlement had to go to court.
So go through a few rounds of offer/counter off and let us know how you got on. good luck
Sorry to hear about the problems you're having with the insurance company. Must feel like a real betrayal - you pay insurance for years hoping you never need it, then when you do they try to screw you. :angry:
I think this thread is a great reminder to us all to check our coverages. I believe my insurer covers the 1st $1k of accessories & mods automatically, tho I'm not sure if that also covers riding gear.
Ouch, that stinks that an insurance company doesn't want to pay out money after taking it from you willingly all this time. But it's the way they work.
It makes me feel better about my decision to never carry collision insurance and riding an older bike. I opt to instead just go with liability and medical insurance and take the risk of having to replace my bike/gear myself if I mess up and dump it. With the money one spends on full insurance is it worth it all when you total your bike and they will only give you $2300? It's like gambling against the house and the house always wins. And you are betting that you are an even worse rider than the insurance company thinks you are.
The age-old insurance debate: :beatdeadhorse:
Still, it sucks to have to fight these guys for every dollar they owe you by the letter of the policy they sold you and you paid for.
It's a good idea to keep full receipts for everything you ever buy for the bike: Farkles, replacements, all work done too so you can prove the bike was in top condition. Using completed ebay auctions as a valuation tool for similar bikes is helpful but only if you can prove the bike you have (had) was up to those same standards. Also, receipts for all your gear is a good idea too to prove how old it is and how much it cost new. Most cycle places will be happy to give you a quote for that same item/part number or you can print out prices from a web site. I do all of this even though I don't carry full insurance because it comes in handy when you are fighting the other guy's insurance company. Most of the time they will not just roll over and pay unless they are afraid you might sue for something worse -like huge medical settlement. It's a good idea to go to chiropractor and get them good and scared of that and they'll be much more likely to sign off on a better deal on the gear/bike to put that scary thought to bed. When you are negotiating any deal it is best to be negotiating from a position of strength.
They guy who said to send the helmet to Shoei is spot on. If they approve it then it's good to go -if not then they have to buy you a new helmet.
In any case, sorry to hear about any crash and insurance problems. Too bad that regardless of if they pay up or not you can count on your premium going up in most cases. Insurance companies aren't in the business of giving away money. That is the business of charities like St. Vinnies, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross.
I can tell that you need to vent some more so being the good friend that I am I will meet you at Taco Mac this weekend for some wings and a few room temperture beers.
[image: View Post]97VFR750, on 16 March 2010 - 09:35 PM, said:
2) They do not believe the gear is "totaled" and requires detailed photos to confirm that they are not reuseable :angry:
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 17 March 2010 - 07:01 AM, said:
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway?
I hit a patch of sand covering an entire corner coming home from a night shift at work and wrote off my Katana in Oct of 08. My Insurance company (Kingsway) required a quote from a bike shop for the gear I was claiming AND required me to mail it to them when it was all said and done before they would issue a payment. They did let me keep my scratched up Helmet as a memento but only paid out 50% of it's value.
And to add insult to injury, the tow company called today and are charging me 100 dollars for the tow, 160 for "abandonment" and 15 dollars a day inconvenience rate for as long as it sits there. Great...
Oh yeah, there's nothing wrong with that gear. Just a run through the washer... :unsure: :mellow:
Nice to be in such friendly company. Try sticking the insurance with the tow bill, and call them on their stupid abandonment charge. If they didn't contact you and tell you that you need to get the bike off of their property and weren't told upfront about it, then fight it.
You pay thousands of dollars and they try to flake when you need them.
Typical insurance company. :angry:
I'm with Serenity VFR.I bought a CBR954 about 5 years ago, they wanted about $2,000 a year to insure a bike I paid $7,000 for. I went liability only on both bikes, and saved enough since to buy another bike in that time. Of course this only works if you don't crash often.
Anyway, keep up the fight with the bastages. :warranty:
There is no way Shoei is going to sign off on that helmet for putting it back on the road. The insurance company shouldn't have to make you send it in for that but they probably will anyhow.
Time to jump on Craigslist and find a used bike (luckily VFR's are going for CHEAP these days so it won't break the bank to find a nice new one. As for new gear, NewEnough.com is your friend. I'm on their "deal" mailing list and I'm constantly amazed at some of the crazy deals they have every once in a while. Dudes are practically giving stuff away to move it out. You just need to act quick or it's gone when you go to buy it. I end up buying crap I don't need just because it is so cheap. I've got a complete extra set of gear right now (at least).
As for that bike, I'm not even sure if it is worth buying back from the insurance company to get your farkles back -even for $500 or less.
Wow! Your gear was trashed! Can you imagine what one of the t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers riders would look like after the off you took? Raw hamburger.
[image: View Post]97VFR750, on 17 March 2010 - 10:32 PM, said:
And to add insult to injury, the tow company called today and are charging me 100 dollars for the tow, 160 for "abandonment" and 15 dollars a day inconvenience rate for as long as it sits there. Great...
:pissed:
Vince
Maybe it's different down there but up here My insurance company paid for the tow and any storage fee's as part of the claim, they were after me the next day to give permission to get the bike released from the guy that towed me ASAP so they could get the bike to one of their lot's and stop having to pay any more storage fee's.
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 17 March 2010 - 07:01 AM, said:
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway? suffice it to say I am glad your here to tell the story - but you dont need to share photos of your gear, unless you want to report that the gear was unacceptable? That would be usefull, if it performed its job and you escaped harm than thats good!
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 17 March 2010 - 05:01 AM, said:
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway? suffice it to say I am glad your here to tell the story - but you dont need to share photos of your gear, unless you want to report that the gear was unacceptable? That would be usefull, if it performed its job and you escaped harm than thats good!
Everyone should. It�s one of the few ways of evaluating if the gear performs as advertised. Gear companies are not really held accountable for any sort of hype they produce touting their advanced fabrics. If you were thinking of buying a particular jacket and there happen to be some person that had crashed in that same model jacket wouldn�t you like the little extra piece of data of how that jacket held up in that particular crash before forking over your cash? I�ve seen pictures of mesh pants that are completely shredded after slow speed falls and I�ve seen pictures of cycleport Kevlar mesh pants after fast get offs. Then made my purchase
I think posts like this can be of real value. If they convince just one person to go ATGATT, it's worthwhile. I know there are still some on this site who ride half-ATGATT. This might convince them to stop rolling the dice and start protecting those hands, legs, and derriers. Just sayin'.
[image: View Post]swimmer, on 18 March 2010 - 06:27 PM, said:
Everyone should. It�s one of the few ways of evaluating if the gear performs as advertised. Gear companies are not really held accountable for any sort of hype they produce touting their advanced fabrics. If you were thinking of buying a particular jacket and there happen to be some person that had crashed in that same model jacket wouldn�t you like the little extra piece of data of how that jacket held up in that particular crash before forking over your cash? I�ve seen pictures of mesh pants that are completely shredded after slow speed falls and I�ve seen pictures of cycleport Kevlar mesh pants after fast get offs. Then made my purchase
+1
I like to look at all the rashed/ripped/crashed gear I can. And I have. These pics should be spread around as educational material.
Pics like these are why I bought the Aerostich Roadcrafter. Call me a Kool-aid drinker. The things are TOUGH. I've seen my share of "mesh" gear where the wearer might have as well been wearing a pair of fishnet stockings for all the good it did them when it shredded and the armor went bu-bye!. I'd rather be hot! I have never seen a 'stich suit that has totally torn apart and exposed the rider below. I'm not saying that it hasn't happened but if it has I'd like a link so I could see it. The suits usually are still serviceable (if a bit ugly and might leak water).
The same goes for boots. I learned my lesson the hard way that work boots, even heavy combat boots offer almost zero protection from impact. Sure, if they stay on they'll protect against abrasion -but impact... When that big hammer of a bike comes down on your fragile leggy and footy parts you sing a different tune about real moto-specific boots. Been there, done that -got the titanium implants to show for it.
Look at that Shoei helmet in the pics. Yup, why anyone would ride with a 1/2 or 3/4 helmet is beyond me. Perhaps they don't like their faces? And some go totally without one.
:beatdeadhorse:
It's a free world.
I think that pictures of this rashed gear also drives home the point to others as an object lesson to those who think their skin is so tough that they don't need proper gear. I'm the last person in the world to ask for more laws. I think education -this kind of education is all that is needed. We need more of it.
[image: View Post]Knife, on 18 March 2010 - 07:37 PM, said:
I think posts like this can be of real value. If they convince just one person to go ATGATT, it's worthwhile. I know there are still some on this site who ride half-ATGATT. This might convince them to stop rolling the dice and start protecting those hands, legs, and derriers. Just sayin'.
I agree wearing the correct gear makes good sense,however I just got back from a 2 mile run to the store and I not going to full leathers.
[image: View Post]silkysmooth, on 18 March 2010 - 06:44 PM, said:
I agree wearing the correct gear makes good sense,however I just got back from a 2 mile run to the store and I not going to full leathers.
Sometimes you have to live a little.
It take 15 seconds to pull on a 'stich and 15 seconds to pull it off on the other side. It takes me much longer to put on my helmet or gloves each -am I going to go without those too?
If I'm running around town (no expressways or tollways -just surface streets in the city) I'll wear just a leather jacket that used to be the top of one of my race leathers. I might even wear my redwings. Jeans will do fine for bicycle speeds. But so that's most of my contribution to "living a little." Unless I'm just riding around the alley and maybe around the block to check out the bike or warm it up. Then I'll wear nothing but squidware and my hat turned around backwards. 5 minutes at 15-20 MPH isn't likely to kill you. I've crashed bicycles harder than that.
Ditch the work boots and get some good moto-specific boots. I don't like the low styles they have nowadays, I prefer the full calf protection that a high boot offers.
Those laces are a big problem if they ever hook on your shifter or brake.
Check out newenough.com's closeout section or motorcyclecloseouts.com for some good deals.
Running shoes and the like routinely get torn right off your feet the instant the shoes contact the pavement, leaving the hapless rider looking like "Shoeless Joe".
I read a true account of a SCOOTER rider going down to the corner store for a jug of milk.
He was wearing a helmet, a t-shirt, shorts and flipflops. After all, it's just a scooter, right? And the store is only a few blocks, right?
He got cut off by a car in an intersection, went down at ONLY 30 MPH and slid.
He never hit anything solid, didn't break anything, didn't have a head injury nor any internal organ damage nor internal bleeding. Nothing.
He only had roadrash. LOTS and LOTS of roadrash. Like over 70% of his body.
He died in Intensive Care a week or so later of infection.
Remember the skin is the largest organ of the body, and it's primary job is to keep out bacteria. Can't do that when you've been skinned like a Mink. :(
Holy mashed gear batman!! Good thing you were wearing it, well done.
Maybe you can sell it or offer it back to the manufacturers so they can use it to make their new stuff even better. Hard to simulate a test any better than your unfortunate incident.
As for injuries, here is whats left of what was really, nothing. Minor lacerations on right and left hand, I jammed all 5 fingers and sprained my wrist. I also broke the tip of my pinky resulting in what looks to be the departure of my fingernail... :owned:
As for all the comments, thanks for the support. I too know what would have happened if I was wearing any less, and it shakes me up. Its not something every motorcycle rider experiences in their life (thank God). But I now empathize with BR and everyone else I have met on this forum who have gone down just as hard and suffered much more severe injuries...which is why I HAVEN'T always but from now on WILL ALWAYS be ATGATT!!!!!
I personally enjoy saunas/steam rooms I don't mind sweating as I do see riding as an exercise. When I do move out of Atlanta I will get another bike and I will have the right gear :fing02:
After everything is considered, I am grateful to be here to share this monumental moment of enlightenment with you friends. As of right now I will follow up with the final deal with Liberty Mutual then probably lurk for a bit until I pick up another VFR. :wheel: Any other questions just ask.
[image: View Post]ECX585, on 18 March 2010 - 12:42 AM, said:
the before and after pics of the bike brought tears to my eyes!
+1 Man Glad you had your protective gear on.The gloves and helmet especially. Any idea how much asphalt you clean up? Lookslike miles of it but am sure it was just 15, 20 feet. For me any way thanks forthe pix, not for the gore, just a sober reminder how fast it can all go bad.
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 17 March 2010 - 08:01 AM, said:
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway? suffice it to say I am glad your here to tell the story - but you dont need to share photos of your gear, unless you want to report that the gear was unacceptable? That would be usefull, if it performed its job and you escaped harm than thats good!
I say we all get over to an MSF class and get in some rider training cause this is the 4th post about somdody going down since it started to be nice weather! Right were we left off in Autumn as a group, we were heading for a bad batch of riding accidents then too, sorry to say winter simply delayed the aftermath! I was hoping it would put a stop to it for a good long while! This time of year we have to be extra careful! Sure it seems nice and it feels good but the roads are full of gravel, slippery salt and perhaps ice in the shade! Gotta take it easy getting back into riding till there is a good melt and the road sweeping crews have a chance to pick up the winter mess.
State budgets as they are with this economy suggests the road conditions are not going to be at thier best!
If it is useful to report when gear performs unacceptably, why is it not equally as useful to report when it performs well. I'm not understanding the logic here HS.
I, for one, appreciate the pics, all of them, even the pinky pic. Thanks for taking the time Vince. I'm glad your gear performed well, and that you emerged from your disaster relatively unscathed. Good luck getting the money sorted out with your insurance company and getting back on two wheels again.
To my way of thinking, not wearing ATGATT because it's just a 15 minute run to the store at under 30 MPH, is like not wearing a seatbelt doing the same in a cage. Lots of dead or maimed people out there who got that way because it "was only a 15 minute drive at low speed". Besides, it sets a poor example.
OK, I'll stop preaching now. Just my personal opinion.
First, I am glad you are okay and able to vent. After reading the replies, there were some very good points made.
- Taking a MSF class would be priceless
- Re-read you policy very carefully and see exactly what is covered and how is the cost of the item determined. It is a legally binding contract. It will say somewhere in the contract what is covered and what is not. And honestly, I do not know if my riding gear is covered or not. I will be reading my policy again tonight.
- The insurance companies evaluation is their evaluation. This can always be negotiated (read not acceptable to owner and ask for more). But you need evidence and proof why you think it is worth more. Get an independent evaluation.
- I do not mind seeing pictures of the gear tore up. I am always curious to see how well the brands or type of material perform.
- I ALWAYS wear ATGATT period!
- BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! TRUST NO ONE! ALWAYS RIDE AWARE!
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/public/style_images/light/snapback.png' alt='View Post' />Lee 2002, on 19 March 2010 - 04:18 AM, said:
[image: View Post]97VFR750, on 17 March 2010 - 09:32 PM, said:
I often wonder what the "Open Facers" and "Shortie" helmet crowd think when they see a rashed up faceshield and chinbar.
A little heat in the summer is well worth keeping your own face for the rest of your life.
They think they are invincible and not going to go down. They think that they do not need gear because they are only cruising. However, the "crazy, speed freaks in all that leather' are the only ones that need protection becaus we are always pushing the limit. What a misconception!!! I work with a lady (Harley Rider, no helmet, no gear, nothing except sunglasses) who spent six weeks recovering after being cut off on the expressway and had to ditch it in the grassy median. Fortunately, she slid in the grass and did not hit anything. Severe facial injuries and bruises all over. I am confident that if I was in her place, I would have gotten up and walked away without a scratch or bruise on me. I guess I just value my life a lot more than others.
Time to go into "D!ck" mode!!! Send every bit of information separately. Send information with the same conclusion from multiple sources about the condition and value that support your position regarding replacement costs for bike, upgrades, gear. Take up a lot of the insurance adjuster's time. Be polite but express your displeasure and your willingness to pursue this until you are satisfied. The more of a pain in the @ss you are, the more likely they will want to move on and as a result they are more likely to give in. When you eventually get kicked up the ladder and start wasting somebody "important"'s time that's when things happen. Wasting the time of somebody who makes $50/hr or more adds up fast. That person has better/more productive crap to address than a couple of thousand $ difference in one settlement. Or that's been my experience when I've gotten a big enough case of "The Butt" to really push these kind of issues.
Be a bulldog and hold on until you get what you feel is right. Also, you can control the contacts by not answering if they call you during work and you call them when you are on breaks, lunch, etc.
First of all, for all the people who have been following my tragic circumstance and giving me advice and support THANK YOU! Ya'll have been helpful and will continue to be through the most recent turn of events.
So for those who know whats been happening with the valuation of my 4th from Liberty Mutual, you know that I needed to get the bike off the tow yard as it was costing me a daily fee. Liberty Mutual promised to pay up until the 19th so today, myself, a few friends, my mother and father all rendezvous at the tow company lot this morning with a u haul so we could take the bike home and have it sit until we settle with the insurance company. The material that will make my case will take a few days to put together so I wanted to at least get it in the garage until we release the title.
We get there, walk in, and find the bike gone...
WTF.
We first address the situation with the lady at the desk who checked her files and found the info on the bike. The only paperwork she found was the release of the bike on 3/15 to another tow company and a guy who said he was there by order from liberty mutual to pick the bike up and take it to another place, apparently the junkyard at Coparts in I think Austell which is a part/vehicle auction. The transaction was completed with a personal check from who knows who for 300 dollars.
My totaled bike is now stolen, and most likely parted out to shit already as it has be almost a week since it left the first tow lot. :pissed:
I am f'in pissed right now. Never did we ever once authorize the release of that bike, hell I woulda rather had them drag the bike to the shoulder of 285 and let my friend in his truck pick it up after I walked away from my accident than get swindled by my insurance company... So we call Liberty Mutual to seek our claim supervisor and of course she is m-fri. We do talk to someone and said Liberty does use coparts for some total-loss etc etc but was clueless about the claim other than what she had in front of her, which happened to be all the emails to and from myself and my mother (policy holder) discussing how long they would cover the fee at the original tow lot etc etc. This was confirmed 3/19 (last day) yesterday with this supervisor, while my bike is at a parts auction, and we have the title...
This smells like a shady inside job. Maybe someone assumed that we would settle fast and knew the insurance company I used and the affiliates they were tied into. Maybe its something completely different but either way there is no record of my bike after 3/15 at either lot. It's gone, and now theres a cherry barely broken in 24k V4, swingarm, new chain and sprockets, front suspension, brakes, both wheels, the high mount was salvageable, and hot frame circulating around the southeast I'm sure.
After the original tow company got done pointing fingers this morning, I immediately stepped outside and called the police. They took our side of the story, with emails with our reps printed, title still in our name etc etc, then went inside and heard the tow company's side of the story. They came back out and said that they need to open a theft case and that they would get it written up immediately and a detective on it ASAP.
This is ridiculous. I want some butts now! After all the shit I've been through dealing with Liberty during the year that my Tahoe was stolen twice with the second time being a total loss when the truck was never found. They screwed me on the value of the Tahoe, were discourtious, and unprofessional. We have our last bill under their policy next month but it couldn't come soon enough. Now not only did an appraiser NOT come out to value the bike on 3/17 due to the fact that the report was bogus stating that it was frontal impact which it wasn't and the main fact that the bike was jacked on 3/15...he figured the value so that explains the 3rd party quotes of 2500 and 2700 because he had them thinking the bike was is in 'average' physical/mechanical/overall condition before the accident, when it should have been 'excellent-pristine' in all those categories.
This is a complete clusterf*** now and I fall even more down emotionally regarding this whole situation. Thank God my mom is not being hassled by this while I could have been dead or paralyzed... Someone is responsible for this, someone dropped the ball. Other than my legal meeting with my lawyer tomorrow, what would you do in my situation? Thanks in advance for any kind words, I'm feeling pretty crappy.
Keep your chin up dude. This will pass and most likely to your favor now that they lost your bike. Keep track of every day, every nickle, that family and friends donate to help you around while you are out of transportation. This crappy time won't last too long.
Vince, Sorry things are not going well for you with your bike.
The move to a Ins. Auction facility is standard policy for most Ins. companies especially if they feel it's totaled and Copart is one of the Nations largest Ins. Auction company's.
I'm sure the $300 was paid to the tow lot by your ins. company to cover current storage & tow fee's. You can still go to the Copart facility and pull parts off your bike or arrange to pick it up, but you'll need an OK from your Ins.Co because that is Coparts client.
BTW Copart will not let anyone else take parts off your bike or sell it until all claims and paperwork is completed including you signing the title in most cases.
Most vehicles sit in yards like Copart for months before being auctioned off.
I know it's a PIA and them not telling you what standard procedure is sux, but it's standard crap.
[image: View Post]HispanicSlammer, on 17 March 2010 - 08:01 AM, said:
Who wants to see ripped up gear anyway? suffice it to say I am glad your here to tell the story - but you dont need to share photos of your gear, unless you want to report that the gear was unacceptable? That would be usefull, if it performed its job and you escaped harm than thats good!
I say we all get over to an MSF class and get in some rider training cause this is the 4th post about somdody going down since it started to be nice weather! Right were we left off in Autumn as a group, we were heading for a bad batch of riding accidents then too, sorry to say winter simply delayed the aftermath! I was hoping it would put a stop to it for a good long while! This time of year we have to be extra careful! Sure it seems nice and it feels good but the roads are full of gravel, slippery salt and perhaps ice in the shade! Gotta take it easy getting back into riding till there is a good melt and the road sweeping crews have a chance to pick up the winter mess.
State budgets as they are with this economy suggests the road conditions are not going to be at thier best!
Good Point HS, but you forgot something.
Those of us in the Northeast had a month of hard freeze with snow storms right on top of snow storms. Lots of salt got laid down, way more than the usual amounts for many states.
Now with the warm days finally here, craters are opening up on our roads.
Lots and lots of nasty potholes are cropping up. Many big and deep, more than enough to bent rims and cause crashes.
So let's all be careful out there.
And on the OP's state.
Don't just take their offer.
Send them the listings as your proof that the Fair Market Value of you bike is much higher than their little book value. Insist on them replacing your gear (as someone said call or write the gear companies and get letter from them). Take pictures of all of it. NJ is another state that covering gear is not a requirement. Also watch out what they define as gear.
Make them find you a bike in a comparable condition. Nit pick their first offerings (as I had to when I was in the hit and run, their first rounds were 6th gen bikes with half the mileage as my 5th gen, no luggage and all well worn).
And don't settle, be prepared to dig in and fight.
Point out all the incorrect information, like the 3/17 review, when the yard said it was removed on 3/15.
That it was not hit from the front and that the adjuster it trying to falsify your claim.
You might point out that insurance fraud goes both ways and that you are getting very upset with their song and dance.
god forbid there is a next time.. however.. if your bike is going to be towed.. HAVE IT TOWED TO YOUE PLACE!!! never someplace else else! i had bike had to be towed because of no plates..i told the guy i am paying him..so he towes to to where i say, other wise i WILL press charges for theft!! i did that right in front of the cops!
he towed it 1 mile to my shop..
[image: View Post]97VFR750, on 20 March 2010 - 07:10 PM, said:
This is a complete clusterf*** now and I fall even more down emotionally regarding this whole situation. Thank God my mom is not being hassled by this while I could have been dead or paralyzed... Someone is responsible for this, someone dropped the ball. Other than my legal meeting with my lawyer tomorrow, what would you do in my situation? Thanks in advance for any kind words, I'm feeling pretty crappy.
Vince
What I'm going to say will come off as harsh, from your point of view, that's fair. I know you are looking for positive input but you've really let yourself spiral out of control.
In reality, you are the one who has "dropped the ball."
This whole thread is a textbook of how not to handle your financial/business life. It is pretty much summed up in your last paragraph.
First off, don't drag your Mom into your financial affairs. I'm not sure of the reasons, don't really care. But if your're old enough own your own motorcycle, you're old enough to put the insurance/title in your name and pay your bills. I suspect the reason is that it would cost more in your name, so be it. If you're the daily driver/rider, have it all in your name. You are exposing your mother to financial liability by having title/insurance in her name. You kill someone on/with the bike, she's going to court. Don't do that to your Mom.
You're trying to conduct business on a non-business day. Of course the insurance company works M-F. In reality, you will find out that they are trying to limit your financial loss by bailing your bike out from the tow company's lot. They paid a bill that you possibly were responsible for. (would have to read your policy to know for sure) You still hold the title, you're still the owner, you paid your insurance bill, you're still insured even if it was stolen. Take a deep breath it's pretty doubtful that the insurance company or tow company is out to steal your bike and part it out.
That brings me to my next point... From what I have read, I get the feeling that you were paying your bill as required but never read your policy well enough to have a full understanding of what you were insuring. Insurance is a business that is meant to keep you financially whole, nothing more. Don't bring your emotions into it. Yes, there will be adjustments made for the condition of your vehicle prior to your incident, but value is going to be set by book values, that is what your policy will state. If you needed insured for a specific value, there are policies available for that, but they will cost you more. Yeah they will add a few hundred for, say, aftermarket exhaust. But it won't be what you paid, it will be a generalized allotment.
Your last paragraph should really cause you to take a step back and think about what you are doing in life. If you don't have a will, you need to use your visit with your attorney tomorrow to get started on one, not worry about your bike. You are concerned about your Mom being hassled with this should you have died. You can remedy that tomorrow by drawing up a will and naming your attorney as executor, he will be bound by law to do as you spell out. He would be the one dealing with the insurance company since the remains of the bike would be part of your estate.... Now your mother would have no worries other than grieving your loss should you die. Your first responsibility is for those you love. Take care of them, whover they are, whether it be your mother or your wife or children, whatever....
Pretty sure you're going to finish reading this and say, "What an asshole!" That's fine, I'm a big boy and can handle it. You wont be the first to think that, won't be the last either. But, honestly, this all needed said.
Just take a step back, take a breath, have a beer, and call the insurance company on Monday at 9:00am.
As for towing and whatnot, you live and learn, I guess.
When I mostly totalled my first bike (1973 CB175, that was later rebuilt), unbeknown to me, the wreck was taken to the local Honda shop, who subsequently charged me for storage, so I brought it home. The storage cost was about half what I sold the wreck for.
The last bike I wrecked was my '90 VFR750. A guy who lived nearby kindly stored it at his house. When I got home I arranged with the insurance company to have it taken away - they took it to the auction house they used, at no charge to me (covered by insurance). Even though it was 'written off' (i.e., deemed to be not worth repairing, as the assessment of repairs was $6800 and the insured value was $7250), the guy who bought it at auction fixed it. He told me later it cost him less than $2500 including buying the wreck. I had a feeling this would be the case as most of the damage was cosmetic, and had wanted to buy it back and fix it myself, but my wife said, "You're not cluttering up MY garage for months with motorcycle junk!". :ohmy:
When I was in the hospital, I got my sister to go to the police station and find out where my bike had been towed to.
Then, I called the towing company immediately and made arrangements for some folks to go over and pick the bike up, drag it over to my sister's garage and store it there. That way, it's not sitting outside, laying on it's side, and who knows what else.
I only had to pay 3 days storage fees.
I hope you get some answers soon. Also it sounds like you should dump your insurance company after this and find another one as you seem to have "lost that lovin' feelin" towards your current insurer.
Hate to be another spoil sport, but insurance is a good example of you get what you pay for. When I totaled my bike in 2004, State Farm (and I live in GA) bought me a new bike and cut me a check for about $1500 for all my gear that got destroyed - and the wreck was the others guys fault. I carry a high uninsured motorist rider on all of my vehicles and it really paid off.
I took all of my gear over to their regional office, brought the receipts I had, bought magazine/internet adds for the stuff I didn't have receipts for. They laid all my gear out in the parking lot, took a couple of pics, totaled up my receipts/adds, and wrote me a check on the spot.
[image: View Post]Pete McCrary, on 21 March 2010 - 05:22 PM, said:
Hate to be another spoil sport, but insurance is a good example of you get what you pay for. When I totaled my bike in 2004, State Farm (and I live in GA) bought me a new bike and cut me a check for about $1500 for all my gear that got destroyed - and the wreck was the others guys fault. I carry a high uninsured motorist rider on all of my vehicles and it really paid off.
I took all of my gear over to their regional office, brought the receipts I had, bought magazine/internet adds for the stuff I didn't have receipts for. They laid all my gear out in the parking lot, took a couple of pics, totaled up my receipts/adds, and wrote me a check on the spot.
how much money did you pay all together for your insurence??
[image: View Post]Pete McCrary, on 21 March 2010 - 03:22 PM, said:
Hate to be another spoil sport, but insurance is a good example of you get what you pay for. When I totaled my bike in 2004, State Farm (and I live in GA) bought me a new bike and cut me a check for about $1500 for all my gear that got destroyed - and the wreck was the others guys fault. I carry a high uninsured motorist rider on all of my vehicles and it really paid off.
I took all of my gear over to their regional office, brought the receipts I had, bought magazine/internet adds for the stuff I didn't have receipts for. They laid all my gear out in the parking lot, took a couple of pics, totaled up my receipts/adds, and wrote me a check on the spot.
Good grief, I'm glad I have State Farm Ins. on my bikes! :fing02:
[image: View Post]Pete McCrary, on 21 March 2010 - 06:22 PM, said:
Hate to be another spoil sport, but insurance is a good example of you get what you pay for. When I totaled my bike in 2004, State Farm (and I live in GA) bought me a new bike and cut me a check for about $1500 for all my gear that got destroyed - and the wreck was the others guys fault. I carry a high uninsured motorist rider on all of my vehicles and it really paid off.
I took all of my gear over to their regional office, brought the receipts I had, bought magazine/internet adds for the stuff I didn't have receipts for. They laid all my gear out in the parking lot, took a couple of pics, totaled up my receipts/adds, and wrote me a check on the spot.
Yeah just watch it though, I've always insisted my policy having whatever rider I needed for my Gear.
But in my August hit and run 2008, I found out that State farm of NJ defines gear as (helmet and gloves), not jacket/pants and boots.
So do more than check the policy and demand a written list from an underwriter as to what is "gear".
ps, There may be a new rider for all gear in the next policy.
End of thread · 55 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 23 Mar 2010