We can help you with your motorcycle damage. However, if you want to handle a motorcycle damage claim yourself, here is a primer.

First you should photograph all the damage to the motorcycle. Do not leave out any damage, scrapes, bent pegs or wheels, broken shocks or paint scratches. This will be the first step in making sure that your motorcycle is restored to good condition.

Motorcycle Repair

Take your motorcycle to a repair shop that you trust. You do not have to use an insurance company recommended shop. Sometimes they are cheaper, but not necessarily better. One place to look is the store where you purchased the motorcycle. Call the sales department and ask where they send motorcycles that need cosmetic or mechanical repairs. You may also look on line or in the yellow pages. Pick a repair facility that has experience repairing your brand of motorcycle.

If you have customized your motorcycle, take it to the shop where the custom work was performed. You can usually contact of the customizer in this way and have the bike restored to its original luster and quality.

Once you have selected the repair facility, have the facility write an estimate of the repair, using quality, not aftermarket parts. Also make sure that the repair is possible. A badly bent frame may require replacement, rather than straightening. You should discuss the details with the shop before the final estimate is prepared.

Send the estimate to the insurance company. They will send an estimator to the shop to review the estimate and approve it. Make sure that you get a call if the shop is told that they have to use inferior parts or that certain parts will not be replaced. You need to make sure you are in agreement, before the motorcycle repairs begin.

Once the bike repair is complete, the insurance company will pay the shop and you can pick up your motorcycle. Check it over carefully for any lasting marks or blemishes and point them out if there are some. Take a test ride. If anything is out of order, immediately take the bike back to the shop for further work. Do not delay.

My Motorcycle is a Total Loss

If your motorcycle has been damaged beyond repair, then you need to establish the value of the motorcycle. Start with the motorcycle trader and newspapers that are listing your motorcycle for sale. Compare the features of your motorcycle with the features of the motorcycles for sale. If they are comparable, you have established the "fair market value" which is the amount of money the insurance company has to pay you for your motorcycle loss.

If you own a vintage motorcycle, you may have to get an appraisal from a specialist. A shop that specializes in repair or sale of vintage motorcycles is a good place to start. Additionally, availability must be taken into consideration. If the motorcycle you wish to replace is hard to get hold of, or has to be shipped, the insurance company has to pay for the added cost.

When you have reached an agreed price for the motorcycle total loss, you are also entitled to tax, license and other modification and custom articles put on the motorcycle. Add those to the price. Expect the insurance company to start low, but show them your research and you will get your fair value with a little diligence.

You are also entitled to loss of use damages while your vehicle is being evaluated. Insurance carriers often do not volunteer this information. This reimbursement can be in the form of rental reimbursement or cash.

At Allen, Flatt, Ballidis & Leslie our goal is to maximize your recovery and get fair compensation for your motorcycle and if we take your personal injury case we never charge a fee to help you with your motorcycle damage claim. Call us at 1-888-752-7474, Contact Us Online or see our Motorcycle Damage Resource Center for more information.