If my motorcycle was knocked over in a hit and run, should I wait and see if they can find the offender before I try to polish the scratches?
My motorcycle (1998 Honda Magna 750, nice bike) was parked outside my apartment and someone backed into it and knocked it over. It caused some pretty bad scratches on the rear fender and a small dent around the size of a quarter in the frame. My insurance policy is liability only. Two people saw it happen and called the police and gave a description of the car and said that the offender probably lives in my apartment complex. Can I go ahead and try to polish the scratches out, or should I wait and see if they have insurance? If they do have insurance will it reduce my chances of getting a settlement for the dented frame and deep scratches in the fender if I try to polish the scratches out?
Go ahead and start the process of fixing the damage. Tell your insurance company everything, and save all your receipts. If they do catch them, then you will have the paperwork you need to collect from them (or have your insurer go after them for it, which is why we have insurance.)
Take a few pictures & file a police report then fix the bike. Chances are you will not find the person who did this. You might want to find a better place to park it.
Wait…
Since scratches only, I suggest you hold off (till) you find out (who) hit your bike.
Most insurance companies (require) that they get an estimate and pictures of the damages (before) they will pay.
But, (unless) someone was able to get a license plate of the hit/run, it is unlikely they will find the person. Now (if) this person lives in your apartment complex, then it (might) be possible to find the car, but don't get your hopes up.
I wouldnt do anything to your bike, call YOUR insurance company with the information and tell them what happened and let THEM handle it. Thats why they are there, for you, to resolve who is liable, I would file a police report also so your insurance company has that information.
Motorcycle frames are just steel pipe so it is not FRAME. It is a body part either a gas tank or fender or covering that could be the size of a quarter. Basically sheet metal. You do not worry about whether the other car has insurance as you go to YOUR insurance company and make the report. You try to supply the plate number of the other vehicle later so your insurance company can chase after his insurance company to be compensated for the damage to your bike.(as your insurance company is working for you. That is why you pay the high rates. It is like your insurance company is YOUR Lawyer. You never talk to their Lawyer. Your Lawyer does. Think of your insurance like that. But getting the other license plate number and make of vehicle helps… As you had witnesses.
Please note the insurance policy is for liability only, no coverage for any physical damage to the motorcycle. The inquirer is clear on that point in his question. Notifying the insurance company will accomplish nothing.
I'd take several photos of the damage, get the names and contact info of the witnesses, and go ahead and fix your Magna. If and when the at-fault driver is located you will have the documentation to pursue a claim against him.
Take pictures of the damage and send them to your insurance company to be placed on file, and make sure they come out befor you do any thing.
If all you have is liability coverage on your bike, you can forget about filling a claim with your insurance company - it won't do you any good. Liability coverage pays only for damage that YOUR vehicle causes to another person's vehicle. It does NOT pay you for damage another motorist causes to YOUR vehicle.
You're never going to find out who caused the hit-and-run damage to your vehicle. You have no proof of WHO caused the damage. If you accuse him, he's going to deny that he was ever anywhere close to your motorcycle or that he hit it, and you have no way of proving otherwise - it's your word against his. The police probably won't even waste their time trying to investigate something this minor.
You might as well go ahead and try to buff out the scratches and completely forget about the quarter-sized dent in the frame. Whether he has insurance or whether he doesn't is beside the point as far as you're concerned, because you can't ever PROVE that he caused any damage to your motorcycle and all you have is liability coverage.
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