Backed into while parked. Is it worth it to report?

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Patrick_C

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Someone backed into my motorbike and tipped it over while I was in class. I came out and someone else who witnessed it left a note with the car's license number and description. As far as I can tell my engine is flooded, the clutch cable is snapped and the clutch lever is bent. My bike is only worth about $1200. I called the police non-emergency line and they told me to go to a collision reporting centre. Is it even worth it with the thin amount of evidence I have?

If it's going to end up causing the driver some bother it might be worth it to me, but if I'm going out into the suburbs just to have them tell me that there's nothing they can do, I'd rather just swallow my pride and fix it at my own expense. According to the web I'll have to tow my motorbike up there, which is insane.

Sorry for the boring question - I'm new to the wonders of vehicle ownership so I have no idea what I'm doing here :P
 
my bike was knocked over the exact same way and what looked like minimal damage was $2500 worth...my bike was new so it was worth it to get it fixed through insurance...that was summer of 2013 and my premiums never increased (in fact went down at last renewal) because I was 100% not at fault...might be a good idea to at least have the frame and handlebars and anything else checked over...you never know what could've been bent in the process and I'd rather be safe than sorry...if you have CAA they'll tow it for free (that's who I used)...good luck!
 
Yes, it is worth it. It will go under comprehensive insurance and your insurance rate will not rise. Also, the hit and run driver could face criminal charges. He deserves whatever he gets for not reporting the accident.
 
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Roadghost said:
Yes, it is worth it. It will go under comprehensive insurance and your insurance rate will not rise. Also, the hit and run driver could face criminal charges. He deserves whatever he gets for not reporting the accident.
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This! It will NOT count against your insurance as an at fault claim if it was a hit and run...and if someone else got the details of the person who hit you, even better...however, it MUST be reported to the police, don't just call your insurance company.

Unfortunately I'm guessing you're not still sitting in the parking lot contemplating the situation, so the fact you've brought the bike home now and not yet reported it to the police will work against you somewhat, but if the other person who provided the info of the offender is willing to act as a witness (did they leave THEIR info as well?) that it did indeed happen as you describe I suspect you'll still be OK.
 
PrivatePilot said:
This! It will NOT count against your insurance as an at fault claim if it was a hit and run...and if someone else got the details of the person who hit you, even better...however, it MUST be reported to the police, don't just call your insurance company.

Unfortunately I'm guessing you're not still sitting in the parking lot contemplating the situation, so the fact you've brought the bike home now and not yet reported it to the police will work against you somewhat, but if the other person who provided the info of the offender is willing to act as a witness (did they leave THEIR info as well?) that it did indeed happen as you describe I suspect you'll still be OK.
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Please do report. This isn't a collision. And you got all the info of the jerk, let the justice system works for you once for a change.
 
Concac said:
Please do report. This isn't a collision. And you got all the info of the jerk, let the justice system works for you once for a change.
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The only potential problem I see is this - if there's no damage to the other vehicle that can "connect the dots" so far as his vehicle impacting your motorcycle, and no witnesses that are willing to take the stand to confirm such...the offender has a leg to stand on in saying "I didn't do it". There's a burden of proof that needs to be met and if his car has not a mark on it, it could be hard to pin the blame.

All that said, I would have called and reported it to the police right then and there while my bike still lay on it's side...at least that way the police can't question the legitimacy of YOUR claim that you were hit in a parking lot. Now that it's presumably home that too could be brought into question....and that could be the difference between your insurance company handling the claim as a not-at-fault hit and run, or a comprehensive damage claim that might not be fault-free in the end.

Again, having not reported it at the moment you found it muddies the waters now.
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I left out one important detail. The person who wrote the note to me didn't leave his name and number, he only signed off, "my name is Joe and I live in the shelter behind you". All around my downed bike were unmarked houses. I think I may know which one he's talking about but there was no answer when I knocked, so it's up in the air if I'll be able to find and identify the witness.

He sounded like a really cool guy, though. He not only wrote down the license plate and make/model of the van that hit me, but also made a list of all the damage to the motorcycle. He definitely knows a thing or two about bikes.

Anyway, it looks like I will probably be joining CAA right away (should have done that long ago) and towing the bike to the collision reporting centre tomorrow morning.
 
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PrivatePilot said:
The only potential problem I see is this - if there's no damage to the other vehicle that can "connect the dots" so far as his vehicle impacting your motorcycle, and no witnesses that are willing to take the stand to confirm such...the offender has a leg to stand on in saying "I didn't do it". There's a burden of proof that needs to be met and if his car has not a mark on it, it could be hard to pin the blame.

All that said, I would have called and reported it to the police right then and there while my bike still lay on it's side...at least that way the police can't question the legitimacy of YOUR claim that you were hit in a parking lot. Now that it's presumably home that too could be brought into question....and that could be the difference between your insurance company handling the claim as a not-at-fault hit and run, or a comprehensive damage claim that might not be fault-free in the end.

Again, having not reported it at the moment you found it muddies the waters now.
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I did call the police (non-emergency number), and they told me to just take to to the collision reporting centre.
 
Patrick_C said:
Thanks for the replies, everyone. I left out one important detail. The person who wrote the note to me didn't leave his name and number, he only signed off, "my name is Joe and I live in the shelter behind you". .
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Tough one then...but if there's a lot of details on the offender...I'd say call the police and have them attend your house and talk to them about it and show them the bike. It costs you nothing and you can at least file a report and provide them with the note at which point they will visit the offenders house and look at the vehicle for signs of damage that would correlate the situation.

I'd like to say that they might go and look for "Joe" as well to act as a witness, but it's hard to say if they'll go that far give the time restrictions on officers for these sorts of things - if there was injuries it would be justified, but for just a damaged bike, it's hard to say. That said, your case for not at fault and getting your bike fixed 100% for free without insurance penalties is way stronger if the officers can help you out in that regard.

Did you take any photos at the scene? Again, all evidence helps...
 
Patrick_C said:
I did call the police (non-emergency number), and they told me to just take to to the collision reporting centre.
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I was afraid that would be the answer you'd get. If you'd called while your bike was sitting on it's side in the parking lot they would have attended.

I'd go to your local detachment and ask to talk to an officer in person, be polite and friendly and explain the situation, suggest your bike might not be driveable so just going to a reporting center isn't ideal, and ask them for advice. Bring pictures and such..
 
PrivatePilot said:
I'd go to your local detachment and ask to talk to an officer in person, be polite and friendly and explain the situation, suggest your bike might not be driveable so just going to a reporting center isn't ideal, and ask them for advice. Bring pictures and such..
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I will try this tomorrow before I call for a tow. The bike had been righted by Joe before he left the note. I left it there overnight and took the streetcar home because it was unrideable. So at least I can get photos of the bike at the scene to show the police tomorrow, which I guess is better than nothing. Thank you for the advice!
 
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Patrick_C said:
I will try this tomorrow before I call for a tow. The bike had been righted by Joe before he left the note. I left it there overnight and took the streetcar home because it was unrideable. So at least I can get photos of the bike at the scene to show the police tomorrow, which I guess is better than nothing. Thank you for the advice!
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If it's still there and is unrideable, and better yet you can get someone to vouch for the fact it hasn't moved and was there overnight (lot security or something? Be creative, ask around) it could be helpful as well. The police may be more willing to attend in this case as well so you've got that working for you.

But yes, the detachment option is how I'd pursue it at this point - in the end, talking with someone in person vs over the phone usually yields more positive outcomes. Be nice, be straightforward, and hopefully you get an officer who's willing to help out in what is otherwise a crappy situation.

Good luck, let us know how it goes. :)
 
Collision reporting centre is exactly for that - collision reporting. Local police divisions don't really have time to deal with minor incidents like that, so OP, I would save yourself some time.

You can tow your bike to collision centre if you have the means (rent a trailer, ask a friend with a truck, etc.). If you say the bike is only worth $1,200 then the easiest thing would be to just fix it yourself. I mean, clutch cable and lever - you can do those where the bike is at the moment. Parts shouldn't cost you more than $100 new.
 
Good luck, I got side swiped on the 400 last week. Black Porsche hit my right front as he tried to cut in front at about 180km/h, the guy took off. I reported to the collision center, got the colour, make/model, licence plate(personalized), and description of the driver. Police said they wouldn't be following up on it, cause we can't prove who the driver was. Wtf? They gave me an occurrence report, that's it.
 
OP dispite the info you have been given , the officer on the phone gave you the correct info the incident must eb reported via a CRC. The police will not attend for minor incidents such as this. They simpy do not have the time nor the resources to do so. That is why the CRC system came into effect. The only way they would attend had it involved injuries.

Even if you locate "Joe", it won't matter much, the police are not going to come out and interview him. Even if you supply full details of the vehicle they won't investigate, nor will they be laying charges of leaving the scene of an accident. Van vs bike he can claim he simply never felt any collision and therefore how can he report something he has no knowledge of.

This is something you will simply be reporting to your insurance, (Assuming you do go to the CRC). If your going to do the repairs yourself and pay for them, then no need to report it. Once you report it to insurance they will ask for the particulars of the other vehicle. It is then up to them and the other parties insurance to work things out.

If you do locate Joe then do the proper thing and thank him maybe a 6 pack or a mickey might also in order, If for nothing other than he righted your bike so no one else ran it over.
 
Iceman said:
Good luck, I got side swiped on the 400 last week. Black Porsche hit my right front as he tried to cut in front at about 180km/h, the guy took off. I reported to the collision center, got the colour, make/model, licence plate(personalized), and description of the driver. Police said they wouldn't be following up on it, cause we can't prove who the driver was. Wtf? They gave me an occurrence report, that's it.
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Unfortunately, that is how these are now handled.

Just be aware that even though the other driver "should" be 100% at fault. Unless you have video of the incident and the other party admits he hit you while changing lanes or entered your lane. Your insurer will assess you as 50% at fault. Trust me I just went through this same sceanario when I was sideswiped on my bike. The ONLY thing that saved my *** was that I had front and rear cameras on the bike. As soon as my insurer saw the video they contacted the other insurer and advised they, (my insurer), were deeming their client to be 100% at fault for the collision. This was even though there was zero damage to my bike from the contact. BUT I would have lost my "accident forgiveness" option on my policy.
 
hedo2002 said:
Unfortunately, that is how these are now handled.

Just be aware that even though the other driver "should" be 100% at fault. Unless you have video of the incident and the other party admits he hit you while changing lanes or entered your lane. Your insurer will assess you as 50% at fault. Trust me I just went through this same sceanario when I was sideswiped on my bike. The ONLY thing that saved my *** was that I had front and rear cameras on the bike. As soon as my insurer saw the video they contacted the other insurer and advised they, (my insurer), were deeming their client to be 100% at fault for the collision. This was even though there was zero damage to my bike from the contact. BUT I would have lost my "accident forgiveness" option on my policy.
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I'm not going to be making a claim, black paint marks on my red car buffed out clean, he must've just grazed me. Don't have a cam in the cage, no real evidence. I really only reported it as I didn't want the other guy to report it and say I hit him. Not likely since he dropped a gear and took off. He used the shoulder by the way, ran it for maybe a couple miles then took the next exit.
Stay clear of a black Porsche with "MY LADA" plates. Lol
 
I respectfully disagree that the police will not attend these sorts of things....because they did for me. Here' a pic above from 4 or 5 years ago taken in the Pickering Flea Market parking lot. That's damage to the door of my car which I wiped the salt off for the purpose of the photos.

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And when I got back to the car heres a photo a witness provided me with. See the problem? That's my car on the right, the offenders on the left:

IMG_0823-3.jpg

They police not only attended, they also tracked down the offender and filed the necessary reports and such for me to get my car repaired no problem, not at fault.
 
hedo2002 said:
This is something you will simply be reporting to your insurance, (Assuming you do go to the CRC). If your going to do the repairs yourself and pay for them, then no need to report it. Once you report it to insurance they will ask for the particulars of the other vehicle. It is then up to them and the other parties insurance to work things out.

If you do locate Joe then do the proper thing and thank him maybe a 6 pack or a mickey might also in order, If for nothing other than he righted your bike so no one else ran it over.
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I went to a police station today and they also told me I could go to a CRC, but my evidence wasn't very strong. I think I'm going to just get it repaired on my own dime, and try to find Joe and give him some beer.
 
Patrick_C said:
but my evidence wasn't very strong
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As I feared. Unfortunate, but yes, fixing it on your own dime is probably the best bet now - if the insurance claim doesn't go well and even the slightest bit of fault is placed on you it'll hose you for insurance for years down the road.
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