Hit and run

[jaehok]

Awesome. I went out to eat with some friends and and some asshole backed into my bike and knocked it over along with my friends bike. I got a police report and remember it was a beige or tan Volvo station wage. There are cameras at that lot and I hope it got a clear view of the license plate. As far as I could tell its all cosmetics except for my throttle. Now it doesn't snap back like it should. Anyways anyone know how insurance works? I know if I'm able to get the license plate I won't have to worry about deductible. But what if the camera didn't get the plate. Obviously my insurance will go up but Will i get points as it was just parked.

[WordTooYoMamma]

Awesome. I went out to eat with some friends and and some asshole backed into my bike and knocked it over along with my friends bike. I got a police report and remember it was a beige or tan Volvo station wage. There are cameras at that lot and I hope it got a clear view of the license plate. As far as I could tell its all cosmetics except for my throttle. Now it doesn't snap back like it should. Anyways anyone know how insurance works? I know if I'm able to get the license plate I won't have to worry about deductible. But what if the camera didn't get the plate. Obviously my insurance will go up but Will i get points as it was just parked.

As someone who sits behind a camera don't expect the plate. Hopefully you have enough for the insurance company to not be able to screw you.

[jasnmar]

Sucks. Sorry.

Assuming you have full coverage and assuming that the cost of repairs will be more than your deductible, next step is to call your insurer.

Amount of damage is always interesting, especially when you compare it to your deductible. If you have $750 in damage and a $500 deductible you are probably better off just eating it. That said, there are places (and no I don't have a list) who can turn $750 into significantly more, and can help you cover your deductible. It really depends on the amount of damage done.

Your insurers job is to make your bike right (assuming full coverage). They will pursue the actual offender, as they prefer he or his insurance company pay.

You mention points. I will readily admit to not knowing the rules in MA. In most cases points are only assigned for tickets. Not for "not at fault" accidents. That doesn't mean your rate won't increase. It just means you won't have more points.

Sucks. Sorry.

[cbr_chick_nh]

Aww this sucks - sorry to hear J!

Keep us updated how it turns out...

[gumby]

Everything that jasnmar has recommended plus have your own shop check it out.
You may have more damage than expected, both mechanical and cosmetic. You need to get a clear picture of the repair costs and then proceed from there.

I don't believe that a claim would effect your rates or points due to the fact that another party was at fault.

[Dip Dungles]

Sorry J that freaking blows. Hopefully you can get the plate number. This is pretty good reason to get that new bike you have wanted for awhile now though.

[SwiftTone]

That really sucks Jae. When my car was hit a while back by an unidentified car, I didn't get a points increase and I don't think my insurance went up.

And ya, maybe it's time for THAT new bike.

[shortbus]

Maybe too late now, but cameras = time leaving, he probably used a credit card. The restaurant will likely not give this info without some type of police request but I bet they don't require a court order if a cop is there asking.

[jwm2k3]

The security wont show you the camera footage and the cops wont give a flying fuck. Thats my bet.

[AVI8_636]

The security wont show you the camera footage and the cops wont give a flying fuck. Thats my bet.

This. Most places don't want to be in the middle of something like this, and probably won't release the footage.

[jaehok]

Blackbird, you know what I did not think of that. The restaurant owner was a little hesitant when I ask him if he remembers anyone leaving recently and if they were regulars because I know that car came from the restaurant and they must have been overserved alcohol to not see two bikes parked. Jmk, the officer who took the report actually has the same bike as me and rides with a couple of mutual friends of mine. He said if the body shop gives me problems with showing me the footage, he gave me his number to call.

What really pisses me off is that one of my aquintence witnessed the whole thing and he couldn't get the full plate just two numbers. Come on, if I witness a hit an run I would most definitely take the plate down and atleast leave it with the car that got hit.

[Dip Dungles]

Or run over to the asshole and "politely" inform them that they have just run over a bike.

[nhbubba]

Yeah, that blows.

My memory sucks. I can't remember a license plate for more than 30 seconds sometimes. I've already forgotten most of you peoples' names. If I ever witness a hit and run and can't remember more than 2 digits of the plate, please don't hate me.

Meanwhile I will probably remember the car down to the brand of tires it had on.

Not helpful, I know. But how my brain seems to function.

[Duffy]

What really pisses me off is that one of my aquintence witnessed the whole thing and he couldn't get the full plate just two numbers. Come on, if I witness a hit an run I would most definitely take the plate down and at least leave it with the car that got hit.

This. It's amazing what you can remember when you witness something like this. This summer when Drew and I were at Hampton at an ice cream parlor we witnessed someone back into and smash the front end in of a nissan pathfinder. The guy pulled forward, looked thru window at damaged then peeled off. It took only a few seconds but Drew and I both got the plate number and description of the car and driver (what we saw thur back window) and direction it took off in. We went to where the rest of the customers were and asked who had Nissan. A young woman owned it and we gave her all the info. She had police on phone in minutes and they wanted to talk to us about what happened. They had already pulled the info up of car owner. It was owned by elderly man but his 19yr old grandson was also on insurance and live at same address and was known to police.

I like the idea of getting CC info from restaurant (plus any video) and I hope your able to follow through in that route. Good luck with the detective work and I hope it pans out. Sucks something like this has to happen to innocent bystanders.

[SwiftTone]

I hope you get him/her Jae...isn't a hit and run a criminal/felony offense?

[jaehok]

I believe it is. They had to be intoxicated and/or they just scumbags like the rest of worcester. I'm glad I didn't witness it or i would be locked up with attempted murder.

[drop]

I hope you get him/her Jae...isn't a hit and run a criminal/felony offense?

LSA is not a felony in MA unless there is PI or it's a subsequent offense.

[njsrikar]

I have had a similar experience, but the guy who hit my bike actually woke me up and gave me his info.
Anyways, what I wanted to tell you, as a couple others have pointed out, is that your points and premium will not go up. Only thing to be proven here is that you are not at fault, once thats accomplished your insurance agency has to cover for your damages (provided you have coverage) even if the car driver is not found.

[gregp]

To jaehok - am sorry to hear this, and can only imagine how incredibly frustrating this must feel. I hope that you insurance company treats you right. njsrikar has answered your questions about insurance, but I know that owning a "repaired" vehicle sometimes never feels right. So, as someone else mentioned, this may be the push you needed to go get that new bike. I also believe that the Police will not pursue this, unless the culprit is handed to them on a silver platter - but I could be wrong.
You did bring up an interesting point about the shop owner not being very willing to show the video surveillance tape to anyone, for fear of "getting involved", or perhaps opening himself up to some kind of liability.
I hope that you get things sorted out quickly, and at no cost to you.

BTW - My wife works at Wal-mart, and she has some experience with people asking to review parking lot security footage. She says that: 1) The cops will put the New Guys on this case, if anybody, 2) The Police have to ask for the security tape, then, and only then, will the tape be reviewed, and it will only be shown to the Police. You will never get to see it.

[WordTooYoMamma]

Wirelessly posted (Infuse)

To jaehok - am sorry to hear this, and can only imagine how incredibly frustrating this must feel. I hope that you insurance company treats you right. njsrikar has answered your questions about insurance, but I know that owning a "repaired" vehicle sometimes never feels right. So, as someone else mentioned, this may be the push you needed to go get that new bike. I also believe that the Police will not pursue this, unless the culprit is handed to them on a silver platter - but I could be wrong.
You did bring up an interesting point about the shop owner not being very willing to show the video surveillance tape to anyone, for fear of "getting involved", or perhaps opening himself up to some kind of liability.
I hope that you get things sorted out quickly, and at no cost to you.

BTW - My wife works at Wal-mart, and she has some experience with people asking to review parking lot security footage. She says that: 1) The cops will put the New Guys on this case, if anybody, 2) The Police have to ask for the security tape, then, and only then, will the tape be reviewed, and it will only be shown to the Police. You will never get to see it.

Last part is 100% true. The don't want people taking the law into their own hands. I can't even release video to my associates... Tell your insurance company that you filed a police report. They will request video and if its on video 99% you will just see a blur moving into your smaller blur. This is where you fight the insurance tooth and nail, because you can prove it wasn't you playing joe racer and dumping it. I got run off the road by some Guy coming around a corner in my lane. No plate, one witness (my motorcycle friend), Guy didn't stop. I am still paying through the nose because I didn't take the time to get the plate while flying through the air.

[jaehok]

Wirelessly posted (Infuse)



Last part is 100% true. The don't want people taking the law into their own hands. I can't even release video to my associates... Tell your insurance company that you filed a police report. They will request video and if its on video 99% you will just see a blur moving into your smaller blur. This is where you fight the insurance tooth and nail, because you can prove it wasn't you playing joe racer and dumping it. I got run off the road by some Guy coming around a corner in my lane. No plate, one witness (my motorcycle friend), Guy didn't stop. I am still paying through the nose because I didn't take the time to get the plate while flying through the air.

So I took a look at the video, you are correct sir, its just a blur moving into a smaller blur. Unfortunately becuase it was at night, the spot light has the plate washed out. I'm going to grab a copy of the raw video and have my friend who does video editing see if he can mess around with the contrast and maybe get a number. I assume you didn't get any points on your driving record but how much did your premiums go up? I figure my premium will go up as long as I don't get points on my driving record.

[slammp]

Pretty sure if you can prove the hit and run which the video will do them the insurance company cannot surcharge you or add points. I crashed a bike a few years back due to debris in the road and won against my insurance company in a Massachusetts state hearing on the surcharge.

[njsrikar]

I crashed a bike a few years back due to debris in the road and won against my insurance company in a Massachusetts state hearing on the surcharge.

wow ...can you share how you proved your case? just curious!

[Falko]

I believe it is. They had to be intoxicated and/or they just scumbags like the rest of worcester. I'm glad I didn't witness it or i would be locked up with attempted murder.

Bet the sombich was wearing a black leather coat and expensive sunglasses....

[Dip Dungles]

Bet the sombich was wearing a black leather coat and expensive sunglasses....

With a popped collar smoking a lucky strike. Sombich