Bike got knocked over today. Bummer.

2149 Views 16 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Nortley, Nov 10, 2011

kgav

Discussion Starter · Nov 8, 2011

At work this morning, I parked my bike on the same concrete pad by our back steps that I've used since April--first my Aprilia, then my CBR. When I got to work, the Waste Management guys were there emptying our dumpster and a couple others. I parked my bike, said hi, and went inside. A few hours later, our delivery guy came in and told me my bike was down and he helped me get it back up.

Long story short, the green paint and multiple scrapes on the grab handles, taillight, and license plate light tell me the WM truck backed into it. The left mirror is all gouged up and took the brunt of it. But the shifter peg is bent, as is the triangle on the kickstand. Still shifts and stands fine, but it's aggravating. If they would have pushed it another foot forward it would have fallen down a half flight of steps into a steel door. I shudder to think what shape my bike would be in then.

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Badger

· #2 · Nov 8, 2011

Call them and tell them the paint looks like their truck. If they refuse to do anything call the cops and have the paint tested to see if it's chemical composition is the same. If WM blows you off get a lawyer and make them pay his fees and buy you a new bike.

If the paint matches theirs, file charges against the driver for leaving the scene of an accident.

regards
Badger

Spiked1

· #3 · Nov 9, 2011

only thing is, testing the paint is expensive and they won't do anything for a bike being knocked over. It is not worth it to spend the money for the department. The only ay to prove it is if somebody saw them do it or it was caught on tape. I had my boat stripped one night and was 99% sure who did it... the cops would not even take finger prints since there was no way to actually link them enough in the eyes of the law to have them issue a warrant to get the fingerprints from the suspects.

kgav

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 9, 2011

Yeah, I don't think I have much of a case. We don't have cameras to prove anything. If it wasn't rideable I'd pursue it more, but it is. It's almost all cosmetic damage to an otherwise pristine bike.

I wanted my bike's first drop to at least be MY fault! Hah.

Spiked1

· #5 · Nov 9, 2011

yeah that definately stinks... I had my first close call today while patrolling my neighborhood... still not going out on the open road... A guy in a big SUV was coming around the 2nd curve in an s curve and was not giving up much of my lane. I know he saw me, but thought that being a motorcycle i had more than enough room... about 3 feet of my lane. Luckily I saw him and did not count on him giving up any room for me so went in slow and wide. I would have been upset if I was trying to stay safe in the neighborhood and had an incident. Just goes to show me that people can drive stupid even on the slowest roads.

sendler

· #6 · Nov 9, 2011

Worth it

kgav said:
Yeah, I don't think I have much of a case. We don't have cameras to prove anything. If it wasn't rideable I'd pursue it more, but it is. It's almost all cosmetic damage to an otherwise pristine bike.

I wanted my bike's first drop to at least be MY fault! Hah.

It's worth a couple phone calls to try to get something out of it since it has obvious paint on it. Although it would have been better to call the cops right away without touching the bike.

250 Tom

· #7 · Nov 9, 2011

Sorry about your bad luck. It sucks when things like that happen. If they wont take care of it your insurance company should. Shouldnt cost you anything either way but you got to go throughthe hassle of getting it fixed. Good luck, keep us posted

spdklls

· #8 · Nov 9, 2011

Badger said:
Call them and tell them the paint looks like their truck. If they refuse to do anything call the cops and have the paint tested to see if it's chemical composition is the same. If WM blows you off get a lawyer and make them pay his fees and buy you a new bike.

If the paint matches theirs, file charges against the driver for leaving the scene of an accident.

regards
Badger

A couple years ago I got off work at 1:30 AM and climbed into the seat of my eclipse spyder to find the windshield busted..obviously a bat...cops came..wrote a report,told me that a little while ago they had caught 3 men a quarter mile up the road busting the windows out of a business with a red ball bat... coincidentally my windshield had flecks of red paint in the epicenter...

long story short...I was told by a detective that unless they admit to it we cant prove they did it..because we don't have the resources and aren't going to send the paint to be tested at a lab...and even then without an admission of guilt it is not proof of which one swung the bat and we can't prosecute with out proof.

So good luck getting that paint tested by the police or proving it came from THAT truck even if you test it yourself....there is a chance they might not have even been aware they hit it...this is why you should have comprehensive insurance ...mine cost me only an additional $35 every 6 months to add to my liability policy

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Ibex250R

· #9 · Nov 9, 2011

Bummer sorry to hear that, hope Karma takes care of those ****bags.

llory

· #10 · Nov 9, 2011

I say take pics of the damage showing the green paint and go to your local WM office and talk to them calmly.

I'm sure they have a department that handles these type of claims as I bet they're aware that driving a garbage truck isn't necessarily a job that people are proud to have (generally speaking and no offense to anyone who may disagree) so they will probably be open to resolve your problem without police involvement.

If nothing else call the regional or district office or something. I'd be willing to bet that they'll just cut you a check for you to take care of the damage on your own.

Brian

· #11 · Nov 9, 2011

Bummer for you and the bike. I agree, go talk to them I bet this happens all the time with those trucks, you may get more than you think. Truck drivers are allowed way more tickets per year than non professional drivers because of the mileage they drive. They bump a lot of stuff on the way.

As far as it costing you nothing, if you make a claim with your insurance, I bet your rates will go up.

kgav

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 9, 2011

Unfortunately, our delivery guy picked my bike up before he even came in and told me. I'm not going to file a claim because nothing NEEDS fixed, and half the stuff that is scraped up would be really hard to replace (grab handles, taillight housing)...

I am going to follow up with WM for now with pictures and try to calmly deal with them. I don't even wany money necessarily, just for them to know that the guys who provide the service businesses pay a pretty penny for don't have the decency to own up to something like this.

eil

· #13 · Nov 9, 2011

kgav, sorry about your bike. Nobody wants to see something like that happen to their like-new machine.

A general reminder to everyone else: if you walk outside to find that someone has knocked your bike over and want your insurance to cover the repairs, these are the steps to take, in this order:

1. Don't touch anything.
2. Call the police, wait for them to arrive, have them write a report.

Some (not all) insurance companies won't approve a claim if it's not done this way. The police report is not so they can catch the vandal, it's so that the insurance company can be reasonably certain that you're not just trying to defraud them.

kgav

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 9, 2011

If I would have been the one to find my bike laying down, that's what I would have done. While the motive was pure, I was irked that someone picked the bike up before I even saw it.

Spiked1

· #15 · Nov 9, 2011

yeah make sure they write a report. Some police do not want to. They will ask if you have insurance and what your deductible is... none of thier business... in order to talk you out of giving them more paper work to do... this happened to me once when i was rearended in miami in my jeep the first week I got it. The driver took off and I did not get a plate. I told him you never know what damage is under the surface and i wanted to cover my bases. They have to write so he did, but he made it clear he did not want to.

If it is in the way, you may need to move it though, but a report can still be written. If the damage is below the deductible you do not have to turn it in to the insurance company... but if it is, you have all your paperwork ready to go.

Pete

· #16 · Nov 10, 2011

Where I live the police no longer come out to take reports unless there are injuries or a vehicle needs to be towed.

Nortley

· #17 · Nov 10, 2011

In Oregon there needs to be $1500 damage for the cops to even take a report. Mine was knocked over by a car while parked and did $550 in damage - parts and labor. Some must be repaired - the bent bar and stand for two, some is cosmetic, but I'm not letting that slide on an almost new bike. The good news is, the driver's insurance paid up pronto. The bad news is, with Thailand under water, no parts in the USA til January. But that's a non issue now, there's snow and it's time to hook up the battery tender.

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