[Need advice] knock down neighbour motorbike when parking, requested repair bill >£1k

Iceweasel

Every week we see folks coming on here having just had a 'minor' bump, or 'only a few scratches' on the bumper, having been shocked at the cost of repairs and/or replacement parts.

Even what looks like little damage can cost a fortune to fix.

starkiwi26 - I feel for you - I would feel like crying too - but you should report this to your insurance company and let them deal with it.

You will not have an excess of £250 (unless you claim for damage to your own vehicle.

It is a hard lesson indeed, but to do anything else would be foolish in my opinion.

Kiran

If you are going to pay privately, get a 0% card and pay the bill directly. But you need to get a full and final settlement signed by the bike owner to protect yourself.

thescouselander

Couple of things

1) as already stated you won't need to pay the excess as this will be a third party claim

2) you don't always lose all of your NCD for 1 claim - often you'll lose a couple of years and leave a bit of NCD in tact - check your policy wording for the details.

To me it sounds like it's worth going through the insurance if only to defer/spread the costs out a bit.

neilmcl

OP, ask the motorbike owner to give you 3 quotes in writing for the damage or tell him to claim from your insurer, his choice. As already mentioned you wont be making a claim so you'll have no excess to pay although you will need to inform your insurer for information purposes.

ukmike

Have you checked if his motorbike is insured?

[Deleted User]

ukmike wrote: »

Have you checked if his motorbike is insured?

Why?
Insured or not the OP still has to either pay the bill or handover their insurance details for them to pay.

happyc84

last year, my car was parked up, and my friendly neighbor reversed into front bumper. I went through my insurance, so if you think about the injured party, lucky no actual physical injury in your case. go through your insurance.
As for asking the injured party to get 3 quotes... you are having a laugh.

It always just a scratch.!!!!!!!!!!!

starkiwi26

This happened last Wednesday 11th Oct 2017.
Would it too late to inform insurance now?

Because he is my neighbour and I actually prepare to pay cash for his repair, I didn't take down his motorbike make, model, registration and etc.
I SMSed him yesterday and today, but he didn't reply me yet.
I hope he can reply today, then I have all the information to inform my insurer.

I have been driving motorbike and cars for 15 years, never involved in any accident. But, this mistake is a really expensive lesson. This incident had caused me extremely down for 2 weekends. I still cannot believe a minor mistake killed my NCB.
Driving is not only about safety, but must also be extremely careful ALL the time, a minor mistake can be very very expensive.

Car_54

starkiwi26 wrote: »

This happened last Wednesday 11th Oct 2017.
Would it too late to inform insurance now?

Because he is my neighbour and I actually prepare to pay cash for his repair, I didn't take down his motorbike make, model, registration and etc.
I SMSed him yesterday and today, but he didn't reply me yet.
I hope he can reply today, then I have all the information to inform my insurer.

I have been driving motorbike and cars for 15 years, never involved in any accident. But, this mistake is a really expensive lesson. This incident had caused me extremely down for 2 weekends. I still cannot believe a minor mistake killed my NCB.
Driving is not only about safety, but must also be extremely careful ALL the time, a minor mistake can be very very expensive.

It's not too late. But you certainly shouldn't delay informing them just because you're missing some details.

Aylesbury_Duck

A way to think a little more positively about it is that you've paid premiums for 15 years for no return. Now at last you are getting some return on them.

Motoring is expensive. Mistakes are expensive. Brooding over them is expensive. Make your insurer earn the money you've been paying them and move on with your life.