Insurance for knock over

[Riaz]

The bike was knocked over on the street again over night, bending the kickstand, breaking the horn, and denting the tank.  The replacement quotes for the kickstand and horn already top $500, so I'm considering filing an insurance claim.  Does anyone know if insurance will raise my rates/add points if I claim without having any details of the person who hit me?

[JGreer063]

I actually work for State Farm. It would depend on how the insurance files the claim. If it is payed out from your comprehensive coverage, you would not see an increase in premium. If it is payed out under your collision coverage, you would probably see an increase at your next renewal. Comprehensive coverage is for theft/weather/vandalism. It should be payed out as a comprehensive claim but every insurance company is different and they will investigate the claim as they see fit.

[shamoo]

^^ This is absolutely true.  Many times, you must be very careful in how you word your claims call with your insurance company.  They will listen to your choice of words very carefully to determine if it will be covered under comprehensive (wind, vandalism, etc) vs. collision (hit and run, etc).

An interesting thing I learned a while back when I filed a claim.  If something flies off a truck/car and hits you.  If the object hits the ground first, it's a "collision".  If it hits your car directly without hitting the ground, then it's covered under comprehensive.  A Toyota Camry in front of me had a wobbling sunroof at ~75mph.  A second later, it flipped up, shattered in midair, and rained down on my 1 week old S2000. 

If you have comprehensive coverage, that is generally the best, as it doesn't rate your rates.

[gatorgrizz27]

The tank damage is the only thing I would worry about, or consider filing a claim for if it is bad and you want it fixed.  You can pick up a used kickstand and horn on ebay for $30, the kickstand is 2 bolts and a plug, the horn is 1 bolt and a wire.  Not even worth the hassle of making the phone call for that price and amount of work.  If the tank is bad but there are any other scratches or dings, you might just look at it as a chance to change up your color scheme or something, though I guess insurance is for fixing damage, I've never had it on my bikes  .  Ducpainter on here has a good reputation for tank repair and painting, and I've done a few of them myself.  If the $500 you listed is your deductible it will probably cost right around that to fix it, I charged $550 for the last one I did which was pretty bad, and I repainted the cowl and front fender too.

[JGreer063]

I'm assuming it is the 2000 M750 in your signature? If it is, and there is a decent size dent in the tank, that bike will probably get totaled out. I have seen it many times on older bikes like that. It is easier for the insurance company to total it out then to find a shop that will repair the work, and more than likely you wold replace the tank if it is that bad (which means big $$$$ for a 12 year old bike).

[Riaz]

As some had suggested, the insurance company wanted to total the bike and offer short money, so I canceled the claim.  I now need to replace the kickstand and horn button.  I've searched and seen a few horn button fixes in the forums, so I'll probably try that first, though I'm not that handy.  The only kickstand I've seen on ebay is over $100 used.  Does that seem reasonable and is it that easy to replace (by someone with a hammer and crescent wrench).  The shop wants $700 for these two fixes.  Thanks.

[HotIce]

Insurances. Legalized fraudsters pretty much everywhere.

[Bladecutter]

As some had suggested, the insurance company wanted to total the bike and offer short money, so I canceled the claim.  I now need to replace the kickstand and horn button.  I've searched and seen a few horn button fixes in the forums, so I'll probably try that first, though I'm not that handy.  The only kickstand I've seen on ebay is over $100 used.  Does that seem reasonable and is it that easy to replace (by someone with a hammer and crescent wrench).  The shop wants $700 for these two fixes.  Thanks.

You shouldn't have canceled the claim.
You should have worked with the claims adjuster to get the bike fixed, without totaling it out, since they were trying to screw you on the money.

You probably will need to find a new insurance company after all of this is said and done.

BC.