OP, let me give you some REAL world experience. 2 years ago, in a road rage incident, a cager tried to pass me in my lane, (single lane each direction), in doing so, he clipped the side of my cruiser. I pulled up beside him as he was trapped behind a LONG line of cars. He won't get out of cage instead floored it pulling out into the oncoming lane, causing approaching cars onto the shoulder.
There was ZERO damage to my bike, he left some paint transfer on a chrome part, which wiped right off. the next day I go to CR center. They advise he had reported damage to his vehicle, and had reported that I had fled the scene. I advised the officer I had video of the ENTIRE incident, as I had front and rear facing cameras on the bike, as well as an independent witness, who stopped at the next intersection, to advise he would be willing to substantiate the entire incident.
Cop says "don't care about the video or the witness, just fill out the report"
Two days later, HIS insurance called me to advise me he had $3200 damage to his vehicle and I was 100% at fault. I advised I had video to the contrary. they DEMANDED I turn the video over to them. I told them to pound salt. Then I called MY insurer who said that they had been contacted, by the other insurer, (and based solely upon his statement), they agreed I was 100% at fault. I advised I had witnesses, and video. Response was, don't care about the witness. I sent them a 5 second clip from both the cameras, they called back 10 minutes later to say upon reviewing the video they had contacted other company to advise their client was 100% at fault for the accident and my record would be adjusted to show a NO fault decision, (despite my NEVER having made a claim and had i not contacted them, I wouldn't have known until renewal time, that I had an AT FAULT claim.
My suggestion,also as an ex copper is as much as it sucks eat the damage, it is mainly cosmetic, so fix the crucial parts now and then the cosmetics over the winter.
There was ZERO damage to my bike, he left some paint transfer on a chrome part, which wiped right off. the next day I go to CR center. They advise he had reported damage to his vehicle, and had reported that I had fled the scene. I advised the officer I had video of the ENTIRE incident, as I had front and rear facing cameras on the bike, as well as an independent witness, who stopped at the next intersection, to advise he would be willing to substantiate the entire incident.
Cop says "don't care about the video or the witness, just fill out the report"
Two days later, HIS insurance called me to advise me he had $3200 damage to his vehicle and I was 100% at fault. I advised I had video to the contrary. they DEMANDED I turn the video over to them. I told them to pound salt. Then I called MY insurer who said that they had been contacted, by the other insurer, (and based solely upon his statement), they agreed I was 100% at fault. I advised I had witnesses, and video. Response was, don't care about the witness. I sent them a 5 second clip from both the cameras, they called back 10 minutes later to say upon reviewing the video they had contacted other company to advise their client was 100% at fault for the accident and my record would be adjusted to show a NO fault decision, (despite my NEVER having made a claim and had i not contacted them, I wouldn't have known until renewal time, that I had an AT FAULT claim.
My suggestion,also as an ex copper is as much as it sucks eat the damage, it is mainly cosmetic, so fix the crucial parts now and then the cosmetics over the winter.
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