Neighbor knocked my weestrom...

[Savago]

In the garage, while maneuvering in reverse from his carport!

How someone can manage to do it (given the lenghty room between the 2 carports) is beyond my understanding.

In any case, here are few photos of the damage: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sQwDoV17a2Bk1yV67

From a quick inspection, the bill seems to be:
a) New right side blinker.

b) Maybe a new side-pannier? (It is a bit dented but seems structurally sound).

What ticked me off is: he ringed my door bell and told me he knocked the bike. When we made it to the carport and I pointed to broken blinker he said something like " _ Well, maybe the bike wasn't parked only within the garage? Maybe it was in the outside area of the garage?" and after I put the bike up and noticed the damage in the side pannier he was like " _ Oh, it is possible the bike had actually fallen by itself thanks to the wind.".

I got his insurance details and called 911 to notify the event.

Further details: I don't know him or ever talk to this guy (and for sure won't be talking since he tried to pull this *bs* about who's responsibility for it is).

I would like to ask further advice concerning insurance: should I just call my insurance and pass on his details and let them handle the issue?

It seems the lens + front turn sign is around 70 bucks in partzilla. I'm looking to minimize any potential issue with my insurance price going up.

Best regards

Savago

[Bighead]

You do know 911 is for emergencies ONLY dont you? (Should issue a fine for those who use it incorrectly IMO)Not to report someone backing into an unmanned bike or vehicle.

[Savago]

@Bighead the fool was about to run away before I said I was dialing 911.

[Savago]

Spoke too early: the windshield is cracked (and so a body part in the side).

[Psychotic Bovine]

@Bighead the fool was about to run away before I said I was dialing 911.

He's your neighbor, right?  Did you expect him to disappear completely and leave a house full of stuff and start a new life just to avoid paying a few hundred in damages?!?
Who the heck calls 911 for property damage?
Seriously.

[Valker]

Tell your insurance company. They will go after HIS insurance company. This is called 'subrogation".

[Bighead]

@Bighead the fool was about to run away before I said I was dialing 911.

He's your neighbor, right?  Did you expect him to disappear completely and leave a house full of stuff and start a new life just to avoid paying a few hundred in damages?!?
Who the heck calls 911 for property damage?
Seriously.

[Bighead]

Tell your insurance company. They will go after HIS insurance company. This is called 'subrogation".

Exactly they have lawyers for a reason. I got a notice in the mail several years ago that I was being sued for something like 750k for a hit and run. I took the letter from said lawyer to my insurance company and said pay it or fight it....your choice...agaent asked if I was involved....I answered NO...THE VEHICLE LISTED on the report was t even close to my vehicle or any I had ever owned.....lond story short I never heard from said lawyer again. 

[gordonv]

Here, we would report to the insurance company, and decide later if we wish to handle it between the 2 of us or not. This way we get an insurance quote and time. They might find more, or have the cost way up there that it would be going through insurance anyways.

In my case, someone back out of there parking spot, into my bike in the next row. Someone came into the store saying my bike had been hit. We met, got info from each other, I priced out the parts, and he wrote a check. It was just a turn signal.

[Chrisj CMA]

I know and or have worked with many police, fire, 911, EMS people in town. If I called 911 to report a drive mishap like that, they would tell me to hang up, call the non emergency line, and they wouldn't say it politely.

[Bighead]

I know and or have worked with many police, fire, 911, EMS people in town. If I called 911 to report a drive mishap like that, they would tell me to hang up, call the non emergency line, and they wouldn't say it politely.

Well he does live in Cali
And I still say they should fine people for calling 911 in a non emergent situation. Maybe $250 for fist time then add $1000 for every incident after.

[Chrisj CMA]

I know and or have worked with many police, fire, 911, EMS people in town. If I called 911 to report a drive mishap like that, they would tell me to hang up, call the non emergency line, and they wouldn't say it politely.

Well he does live in Cali
And I still say they should fine people for calling 911 in a non emergent situation. Maybe $250 for fist time then add $1000 for every incident after.

I thought of that Cali thing. I guess the definition of an emergency is different out on the left cost these days

[Bighead]

 

[Gavin_Sons]

I would have just called the non emergency line and had an officer come do a report. Getpictures as soon as it happened also. Then let insurance fight about it. Maybe the neighbor is a Trump supporter and he knows you are not? Just kidding. Sorry about your bad luck.

[Bighead]

Maybe the neighbor is a Trump supporter.

No if he were he would have probably owned up to it and not blamed it on the wind.

[hubcapsc]

I have low, but recent, experience dealing with a fender bender.

Someone backed into the Mini... their insurance man adjuster came
out in a few days and worked up an estimate. I had already taken the
car to the place where I get it worked on, and got an estimate through
them.

The estimates, and the methods they used to arrive at them, were
so similar that I'm comfortable accepting the offer made by the
insurance company with no hassle. If the estimates had been very
different, that would have been good to know too...

So... being able to get a trustworthy independent estimate is
a good thing, I think...

-Mike

[Pete]

There are at least three ways you can handle it - your choice.

Work it out with the offender - if he was an alright guy - probably not a good choice with this guy.
Work with his insurance company to get paid by them.
Work with your insurance company - you may have to pay your deductible until they settle with the other insurance company or not depending on the insurance company - you should get the deductible back if and when all is settled.

The last way is usually the least trouble - from my experience. You may have to follow up with your insurance company to get your deductible back - keep that in mind.

Be aware that some insurance companies seem to have back channel cooperative agreements to work together, some even employ the same adjusters. Until proven otherwise tend to lean towards it is you against them, until you know if you can trust you insurance company and adjusters. Be aware that once you turn it over to your insurance company they may settle it as they wish and you may or may not get you deductible back - ask them.

I do hope that you got a police report and that you reported it to your insurance company. If not you messed up.

[Jess from VA]

It's good taking pictures.  It's also good to take pictures of the other guy's car (and plate), especially if there is the slightest evidence of any paint transfer or scratches tending to prove he hit you (closeups on that).

The fact he came to your house and knocked tends to show he hit you too.

The other advice here is good.

   

[cookiedough]

as said, police report is essential otherwise is just hear say.

depends on damages cost IMO.  I have a 500 deductible on cycles and 1K on vehicles.  So, if the damages are close to the deductible or just slightly over that,  I might not contact my insurance as long as I think he/she will pay me without running thru their insurance.  All depends on the damages and how you feel about your neighbor.   Insurance rates are high enough do not need them going up for something not my fault yet again. 

Normally I would say let the insurance companies fight it out, but insurance companies are crooks nowadays do not trust any of them.

[carolinarider09]

Hey,

I just saw this same exact thread on the ST-Owners forum.  Must be catching.