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Just got into my first accident. I'm okay, bike isn't :( (self.motorcycles)

submitted ago by tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition

I was crossing a major intersection with my bike, and this guy was making a left from the other side of the street. I had the right of way. Driver claimed he didn't see me and slammed right into me in the middle of the intersection. Police came and filed an accident report. They said the other driver was 100% at fault. I had four witnesses testify on my behalf. As far as I can tell, all of the fairings need to be replaced, along with my gear shift lever, rear brake lever, and front brake lever. And my brand new carbon fiber exhaust is all scuffed up. But I was able to ride her home. Will call insurance company in the morning.

Any advice rideit? Bike is a 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Pearl White Special Edition. I'm just so sad right now. This bike was the only thing in this world keeping me happy :(

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[–]Keisaku2001 GSX-R750 8 points9 points ago

You're ok brother. Fix her up and ride one- Ebay those parts you need and Criagslist. Be patient, and get 'em at good prices. It'll go by fast and before you know it you'll be rollin again... Glad you're ok. She'll still keep you happy while you're fixin her up!

[–]penrosetile 9 points10 points ago

Seems to me if the other guy's at fault then the OP could just get it all done at a shop and avoid dealing with the parts himself.

[–]jonathanbernard2007 Ninja EX650R 1 point2 points ago

As long as the other guy has insurance. There is also a good chance that the insurance will total the bike. They are not going to pay more than the sticker price to repair the bike and fairings get expensive. If he wanted to keep the bike he would still have to buy it back from the insurance as salvage and rebuild it himself. Sucks.

[–]howheels2012 Ducati Diavel Carbon Red 3 points4 points ago

It seems to me like you have not had positive experiences with insurance in the past, and maybe whoever your current insurer is, maybe needs to be replaced. I have had nothing but positive experiences with mine (for autos: Ameriprise, for my bikes: Allstate). I've had several not-at-fault claims over the past 12 years or so, including total loss from theft, and I've always been compensated fairly. With repairs, you are always given the right to bring your vehicle to your shop of choice and repair with new OEM parts, regardless of what the at-fault's insurer claims the repair should cost.

Do not ebay or craigslist your new replacement parts. Have them fixed the correct way. Getting compensation from the at-fault party is what your insurance company does. If the other guy does not have insurance, that's what your uninsured motorist coverage is for. Take advantage of your insurance, and sue the at-risk for your out-of-pocket costs.

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 0 points1 point ago

I do not have collision on my bike so I'm sort of on my own here with the other insurance company.

[–]Tiver2009 Yamaha FZ6 0 points1 point ago

If you do shop out the parts yourself and do the work on your own, which I'd recommend you do, still get quotes from a couple shops to repair everything. Use those quotes when arguing with their insurance for payout.

[–]howheels2012 Ducati Diavel Carbon Red 0 points1 point ago

Collision, while totally a good idea to have, is only for accidents that are your fault.

[–]jonathanbernard2007 Ninja EX650R 0 points1 point ago

No, I have had good experiences for the most part. Short story to illustrate my point:

I bought a used SV650S for about $2500. I put a lot of time into it, customized and replaced parts. I was hit by a no-look left turner and the front end was gone. The frame was still fine, it could have been repaired. The other guy's insurance was covering the claim and decided it would cost more to repair than the value of the bike so they declared it a total loss. They gave me $3100 for the bike. They were more than fair and I feel like they did right by me, but I still would rather have my old bike fixed. I could have bought it back at salvage price and done the repair myself, but it really would have cost more than the $3100 they gave me to repair it.

In the case of the OP, he has a special edition bike and all of the fairings are trashed. Fairings can be expensive, especially so for a special edition bike. It may cost more than the bike is worth for the insurance company to replace them through a body shop or dealer and they may declare it a total loss. That is reasonable and fair. Totaled does not mean it is irreparable, just that it would cost more to repair than the total value.

If he is really attached to the bike and they total it he can buy it back from them with the money they pay him, usually for a fraction of the cost since the bike is now considered salvage. He could then try to repair it on his own with the rest of the insurance money. Since the damage is cosmetic he may be able to repair it and still have money left over. Like you said the insurance company has to repair it through a dealership or body shop which will be more expensive, but he can source parts from wherever is cheapest and do the labor himself. If they total his bike this is his only option to keep it short of taking them to court. If it really will cost more to repair through a shop and they are offering him a fair price he will not have a case. It is unreasonable to expect the insurance to pay more than the value of the bike to fix it.

Of course, they may decide it is worth fixing, and this is a moot point. Being a special edition bike works for him too: he should expect them to value the bike more. More value=more room for repair before total loss and bigger payout in the event of total loss.

[–]Keisaku2001 GSX-R750 0 points1 point ago

Ah, good point. Absolutely.

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 2 points3 points ago

thank you.

[–]Sharksmoke2009 Street Triple R 5 points6 points ago

Glad your ok, If the report says other driver is at 100% fault they are liable to cover all your repairs (whether they have insurance or not).

Good luck with it, from my experience insurance takes awhile to go through, especially when waiting for the other party to get their end sorted!

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 2 points3 points ago

thank you.

[–]vector861983 Kawasaki GPZ550 3 points4 points ago

You're alright, make sure your frame and shocks are still straight.

[–]JarheadPilotSV650 5 points6 points ago

Hey man, I've been there and I'm halfway there still. Remember that even when your bike won't start and needs work, you can always learn to fix it. Remember that in your life too. Even when it sucks, and riding is the only good thing, you can always fix it a little bit at a time, and you learn something from every repair.

Glad you weren't hurt! You can always buy new fairings, new bones take longer to make.

[–]CephelapodSuzuki GSF 1200s Bandit 4 points5 points ago

The main thing is that you walked away mate. A bike is a bike, they can be replaced and repaired. After my first accident (rear ended by a texting dickhead) I learned to let go a bit. I love my Suzuki to bits but at the end of the day it's a machine.

[–]namegoeshere1995 KaTooM R/XC 400 3 points4 points ago

Any advice rideit? Bike is a 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250r Pearl White Special Edition. I'm just so sad right now. This bike was the only thing in this world keeping me happy :(

Accept the fact that they are just machines.. in fact when used properly they are machines that will be used up, beaten, destroyed and replaced. Tools.

Then file your insurance claim, get your money and be glad it happened in the winter. You'll be back up by spring.

I'll leave you with the advice given to me by a dear friend after my first crash..

"You fucking idiot! The body heals, repairs cost money! Next time throw yourself between the car and your motorcycle."

[–]Dakhback2009 Yamaha Midnight Warrior 2 points3 points ago

Assuming the other driver had insurance,

  • 1st Collect pictures taken at the scene of the accident, take additional pictures of all damages sustained. (This includes gear/clothing etc)
  • 2nd go to the dealer and get an estimate for the damage. ( get pricing on new gear + aftermarket exhaust also)
  • 3rd Collect all information from the officer on the scene, accident report if you have it, or if it isn't complete yet get your case number.
  • 4th sit down and write out what happened in a detailed and factual way, do not stray from this account, also do not recall from memory.
  • 5th call HIS Insurance agency not yours. Work through them and give all the information you collected before. (Going through your company will raise your rates even if you are not at fault.)
  • 6th they will look over all information, call the other driver, dealer, and look at the police report. After deciding fault they will have an adjuster call you with a settlement offer. If it is low, or they are arguing fault that is when you deny the offer and go through your insurance agency otherwise you are done. If the damage is severe (over 75% of the current value) they may “write off” the bike. What your best option is at that point varies wildly based on your experience, state, finances and wants/needs.

Good Luck

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 0 points1 point ago

State is NY. I was just told by my boss that in my state each driver is always considered somewhat at fault. I dont know how true that is. I do have pictures from the scene of the accident, and better pictures I took today that I will post later.

I do have the police report, and I did call his insurance company and set up a claim. I should be getting a call from an adjuster in the next couple days. I am going to set it up so the adjuster meets me at the dealership. Is this a good idea?

[–]Tiver2009 Yamaha FZ6 0 points1 point ago

I'd get quotes from a couple of shops if possible, and absolutely don't forget any damage to your riding gear.

[–]katui00 DRZ 400 S 2 points3 points ago

Its still rideable!!! Be happy that it wasn't totaled. For now I guess you get to experience riding a naked :P Replace any gear that needs replacing and get back on the beast!

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 1 point2 points ago

thanks. actually, all my gear is fine. so glad I didn't hit my head and wont have to pay for a new helmet

[–]katui00 DRZ 400 S 0 points1 point ago

Agreed, Helmets are expensive! Or can be at the very least.

[–]lightsdemise1997 Honda CMX250 Rebel[!] 2 points3 points ago

Feel good, last night my friends were second to an accident where a Honda CBR1000r was embedded in the side of a corolla and the guy was a couple metres down the road. ATGATT means he might have escaped with only a broken pelvis.

[–]GreenAlbatross1980 CM400A Hondamatic 2 points3 points ago

Only a broken pelvis is a big understatement. My best wishes to your friend because he'll be in for a rough patch while he recovers.

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 0 points1 point ago

oh man. best wishes to your friends recovery

[–]nedliv 1 point2 points ago

The exact same accident happened to me. (check my post history). How did you fall and how fast were you going? Do you have any injuries at all? I flew off and landed on my left side but came out alright. I had the same damages to the bike too. It sounds like your bike will most likely be a total loss which means they will pay you the entire bike's worth + aftermarket parts. This means you gotta give up your bike to the insurance. If you have accessories coverage, they will pay you for the helmet + whatever else is damaged.

I hope you got the names and numbers of any of those witnesses in case the driver lies to his insurance. The guy that hit me lied and said I was lane splitting to avoid guilt; his insurance is still investigating who holds liability. It sounds like the police report is totally in your favor so it should be okay.

Since its not your fault, you'll be covered for everything including medical and a rental car if you need one.

[–]moohoohoh2005 Suzuki SV650 1 point2 points ago

If it is written off, you normally have an option of buying the bike off the insurance company which if you want to repair instead can give you a profit :P

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 0 points1 point ago

How much does it cost to buy it back?

[–]moohoohoh2005 Suzuki SV650 0 points1 point ago*

The value of the bike (pre-accident) minus the salvage value (the value post-accident).

Basically they evaluate how much it will cost to put your bike back to how it was pre-accident at full price of any parts needed, and if the cost of repairing the bike is more than how much they value your bike at (pre-accident) then they write it off and the compensation you get is the pre-accident bike-value.

You can choose to 'buy' the bike off them at the salvage value so that you keep the damaged bike and end up with compensation equal to the value of the bike minus the salvage value. (Essentially you get however much value they think the bike has lost)

Basicaly if the bike is written off, and you believe you can repair it for less than they say it will cost (using second-hard parts or whatever) then you buy it back and end up with a profit :P

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 1 point2 points ago

Thanks. I wasn't going fast at all. Probably 10mph. I have no injuries as far as I can tell. My leg feels a little sore but if anything,that's probably just a minor bruise. And I burned my finger when I grabbed the wrong part of the exhaust lol. The guy hit me on my left side and I hit the ground on my right side.

The guy that hit me did admit fault at the scene and seemed pretty remorseful, so I don't think I have to worry about him lying. But all the witnesses are actually people I know. They happened to be acquaintances of mine who were hanging out at the local Dunkin Donuts across the street. So I can contact any of them when/if I need to.

[–]nedliv 0 points1 point ago

make sure to tell insurance that he admitted fault. also you should tell them about any injuries at all (take pics if they are visible).

It's not good that you know the witnesses; insurance companies prefer witnesses who are independent from the parties involved. If they call any of your witnesses for a statement, one of the first things they ask is if they know you.

[–]rmrgrs2009 HD Fat Bob FXDF 1 point2 points ago

glad you are ok, sorry to hear your bike isnt. first thing first...GET A LAWYER. his insurance company may dick you around. you may have damaged something on you that your adrenaline didnt let you register. the plastics alone will probably be enough to total the bike. you need to let a professional take a look at it as well as your frame before you decide to fix it or sell it. if the frame is ok, fuck it, buy it back from the insurance company. if its not ok, you need to ditch the bike (for safety reasons if nothing else). find any and all receipts for your custom parts as well as for your gear, that should be replaced by the insurance company (at no cost to you) with the same shit.

[–]bammerburnTwo SV650's 1 point2 points ago

Motorcycles and insurance coverage always go together. If someone fudges with your bike, insurance takes care of it, and you'll always have a nice bike to ride.

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 1 point2 points ago

Thank you for all the responses guys. I'll see if I can post some pictures later. I have a new camera lens coming in the mail later today. Maybe I'll put it to use.

[–]DirtyBirdNJ2007 Ducati Monster 695 1 point2 points ago

You rode it home? That's better than most. Sounds like most of the things you noted are either cosmetic or very easily fixed. You are ok, you will ride again.

Now's your chance to turn your 250 into a mean looking naked bike, if you're into that sort of thing! Lemonade from lemons if you know what I mean...

[–]conlysm2008 Ducati Hypermotard S 3 points4 points ago

doesn't matter where you get the parts, the other guy is at fault, his insurance will pay for new parts as well as labor. be happy that you are alive, I have freinds who have had this happen and got f'ed up or dead. also, its a Ninja 250R, if it was a 1198R you would be a lot more upset.

[–]MaverickCDN 0 points1 point ago

Have the guys insurance inspector look at it ASAP. If it were me I'd want them to rule it totaled so I could get a brand new bike instead of just getting repairs paid for. A "never been down" bike is always preferable to a repaired one.

[–]onemorepostRide Rinse Repeat 0 points1 point ago

All fixable, get wrenching glad to hear your ok

[–]cereberus992005 SV1000S 0 points1 point ago

Don't forget to claim any damaged gear like helmet, boots or other. I don't know about where you live but it should be covered as well.

[–]tambrico2011 Kawasaki Ninja 250R Special Edition[S] 0 points1 point ago

Fortunately, I dont have any damaged gear.

[–]brkdncr -1 points0 points ago

advice: My 1st bike fell on the gear shift lever. 17k on the odo. 2 months later it started popping out of 2nd. Beware.

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