1st crash - insurance

[mixelpix]

okay, so i'm an idiot.

I don't have insurance for my 1100 and I just got into my first crash w/a car all of an hour ago. It /was/ plainly the other drivers fault - making an illegal U-turn over solid yellow lines w/no signal and I have two witnesses that saw it happen, spoke with the cops, reports are currently being filed...

I am registered with the golden state of CA, but I haven't gotten an insurance policy for the bike yet (though I do have one with McGraw for my xs400). Yes, that was not the smartest lack of planning on my part. So here's my question:

Am I totally f#çk'd for lack of insurance?

If I am not at fault, I am still liable for riding uninsured, but is there any way to get retroactive coverage? More importantly, my windsheild is trashed, the fairing is f'k'd and who knows what else. Do I have any recourse to pursue damages?

If anyone else has crossed this bridge I would love to hear from you. What are my options? All the insurance companies are closed right now (8pm PST) : (

Your guidance would be very greatly appreciated, thanks!

-Patrick Kennedy

[mixelpix]

so here's what I have found out
1) no insurance - bad, I cannot pursue 'pain & suffering' damages.
2) no at fault - good - having witnesses and a police report putting the other guy at fault means I can pursue compensation for property damage, medical bills, and compensation for any missed days at work.

More'n'likely after the insurance rep for the other guys contacts me to evaluate the bike (must be done w/in 72 hours) they will probably try to settle and low ball me a blue book value. If I can prove the worth of my investment I can argue for comparabale payment, but that's not easy to prove (note to self for any future custom bike investments...) Essentially though, being at fault means the other guys insurance company needs to either:
1) repair (get estimates)
2) replace, or
3) offer current market value (blue book)

Apparently, you can ask the insurance rep to see if they have any comprable bikes in their lot. Worth a shot, but it would be a long one if it came up with something I liked. I like /my/ bike...

I hope this information is helpful to someone else, but don't make the same mistake I did - get insured first!!!

[John]

I'm not familiar with the insurance requirements in California. Are you required to carry full coverage or just liability? Did you have liability? If you do have liability, and the other guy is at fault then why is there a problem? I priced full coverage for my bike in 92, after I finished the restoration, but it would have cost me more in two years than what it cost me to buy, and restore it.
Still, I'm glad to hear thay you are ok.

[chevy45412001]

illinois

they will not full cover a big as old as ours here that old. I do have liability though 126 year,well for 9 mos (considered a year in snow belt).

[Dennyz]

Contact your insurance agent (or company). They may back you up. I had similar situation with a car I purchased. I bought it not working and spent a couple of months getting it going. I forgot to add it to my policy and was involved in a accident. My insurance company back dated my policy to keep my out of trouble with the law.

Worth a shot!

[mixelpix]

Hey dennyz,

Which insurance co. do you use? I have a '79 xs400f w/McGraw and the day after the accident added my 1100.

The CA DMV will revoke your license for 6 months if they find out you were driving w/o insurance (I've been told). I wasn't at fault and didn't have my registration on me, so the cop told me to add it to the report later once it has been filed/processed/etc... I am hoping that the DMV's beurocracy won't look too closely at the insurance policy start dates, but either way has no bearing on my attempt to recover damages.

Live and learn. (I am still an idiot for waiting so long to insure my 1100).

Thanks again everyone for the help!
-pdk

[macnut xj]

Don't know how it is where you are, but here in Indiana if you trade (sell, etc.) a vehicle and replace it with another, the "new" vehicle is automatically covered under your existing policy, tho you do need to formally change things over with your insurance carrier within so many days (30, I think).