Insurance claim on a bike with some mods.

[clashcityrocker]

On the way to work this morning, an old biddy ran into the back of me when I was stationary at a junction. It pushed the bike out from under me, and it went forward and did some mild cosmetic damage (scratched the exchaust pipes, bent the rear mudguard, scratched the pegs).

I ended up on the floor, and the old biddy drove off!! She left her number plate on the floor at the scene and I have plenty of witnesses to the accident.

My concern, is that all the parts that are damaged, aren't standard on the bike. The bike is a older Yam V-Star, The exhausts are straight-cut exhausts, non standard, the rear of the bike has had the original mudguard modded to make it look like a fake soft-tail bobber, and the pegs are forward controls. None of the mods are performance enhancing or structural, but none of them are declared on MY policy, but I will be claiming on her policy, once the plod get her details to me.

What sort of problems should I be expecting, having these non-standard parts on the bike?

Many thanks for any advise.

[TLS-Moose]

Firstly, glad you're OK.

Secondly, pop along to the "introduce yourself" bit and say hello.

Thirdly, sort of goes to show its always better to be above board and declare everything. However, as you say, if you are not going through your insurance company that should be irrelevant.

Hope they get the old biddy

[clashcityrocker]

I guess my problem is, I thought I should notify MY insurance company, and they are now dealing with things. Perhaps that wasn't the best move on my part.

If anyone's got any tips on how best to proceed, that would be great. To be honest a cash settlement and me sorting out the damage is my preferred outcome, so if I can engineer that, that I will have learnt me lesson, declare everything..

[badgerKDD]

best advice is just let the insurance companies get on with it and hope they don't pick up on it. Luckily it was her fault so your insurer will be more bothered about screwing her, not you. It also sounds like its only basic cosmetic changes, just claim that's how you bought the bike and wasn't aware its not standard ;) .

[Dailaughing]

I had a similar one (in a car though) and my insurance company were a nightmare for months. Ended up contacting his insurer and they took all the details over the 'phone and agreed the claim in a few days. Can't see the mods would make any difference as they could not have contributed to the accident. The insurer might be more likely to send an inspector to confirm the value though. Not that they are normally a problem either from the couple of times I have seen one.

On the whole my advice is to remember the fundamental rule the courts apply when things are not totally clear. What would a reasonable person think? If it sounds unreasonable to a typical person then you can probably complain and win. Your claim is against the driver but the insurance company will often pay out rather than face a long drawn out argument as it can be cheaper for them.

Sometimes it takes hours on the phone but I have always won (lots of experience with accidents and claims but all bar one not my fault and that one was a company car so who cares!).