Motorcycle accident report

• Why ‍: An accident report is necessary for accident-damaged motorcycles with regard to damage, repair and residual value to evaluate. This is relevant for claims settlement.
• Reviewer: You can choose your own reviewer who acts independently to ensure a fair review.
• costs: The cost of a motorcycle report is 300-800 euros and is usually covered by the liability insurance of the person who caused the accident.
• Depreciation: Even after the damage has been repaired, the value may still be reduced, which is also included in the report and is compensated by the insurance company.

Why is motorcycle appraisal important?

Motorcycling is a risky sport and after a motorcycle accident, the initial shock is deep. Once the motorcyclist has recovered from this, the question naturally comes up: What happens to my motorcycle now? In order to proceed further, a motorcycle report is required. This report provides the basis for settling claims and is therefore of great importance.

An expert opinion also helps to identify hidden damage that is not visible at first glance. Otherwise, this may result in subsequent damage. An expert opinion avoids this kind of thing.

What is examined in a motorcycle report?

In a motorcycle appraisal, the damage caused is examined and recorded, as well as the amount of damage, repair costs, replacement and residual value. All these values are essential in order to continue settling claims and to coordinate with the opposing insurance company.

The situation before the traffic accident is also taken into account. Regular maintenance and past repairs play a role in evaluating the damage.

What is being done with the report?

The accident report is forwarded to all parties, i.e. their own insurance and opposing insurance, and in the event of a legal dispute, also to the lawyers involved and the court. They use the report to assess the claim and come to a conclusion.

The report is therefore the basis and describes the initial situation on the basis of which further decisions are made.

If, according to the damage, the amount of the repair of the motorcycle is higher than the replacement value, then the motorcycle will no longer be repaired. The injured party is compensated with the difference between replacement value and residual value.

When is an expert opinion required following an accident?

When is an expert opinion useful after an accident? A motorcycle appraiser should be commissioned in the following cases.

property damage

If the motorcycle is damaged and the damage is above the minor claim limit (approx. 750 euros), it makes sense to Claims report to have it created. Especially if the accident is not your own fault but was caused by the other road user, you should insist on a motorcycle report, as the opposing insurance company must cover the costs of the damage and the vehicle appraiser.

Decrease in the value of the motorcycle

If the motorcycle loses value, then a motorcycle report should also be made. It may be that the motorcycle is worth less after the repair than before. The depreciation is also recorded in the accident report and can be claimed by the insurance company in retrospect.

Determination of residual value in case of total loss

In the event of a total loss, the motorcycle appraiser determines two values that are relevant. One of these is the replacement value, i.e. the value of the vehicle in its condition before the motorcycle accident, and the residual value, i.e. the value after the accident, including the damage. This appraisal is essential in order to assert your claims against the insurance company.

Step by step: the process of a motorcycle report

They were involved in a motorcycle accident. What's happening now? So that you no longer have to ask yourself this question in an emergency, the next steps are explained here. Because a motorcycle report always follows the same procedure. It works like this:

Contact the motorcycle appraiser

The motorcycle appraiser should be contacted as soon as possible after an accident. It takes an experienced expert to identify and document every small detail of the damage.

Prompt action immediately after the motorcycle accident ensures that delays in the process are avoided and that claims settlement can be completed as quickly as possible.

Inspection of the motorcycle on site

If a motorcycle appraiser has been found and contacted, an appointment should be made for a viewing. The appraiser will take a close look at the vehicle on site and determine the amount of damage, repair costs, replacement value and residual value as part of the motorcycle report.

The motorcycle expert can also make statements about the course of the accident to find out who is to blame. This is an important aspect, as the liability insurance of the person responsible for the accident covers the costs. It helps the expert to find out all this if there are photos of the scene of the accident, the vehicles and the damage. A sketch can also be helpful to illustrate the process.

With the expertise of the motorcycle expert, it is possible to find out this information.

Preparation of the report

After a detailed inspection, the expert draws up the actual report and prepares the document. The motorcycle report contains all important details that were discovered in the previous step.

The data in the claim report is prepared in such a way that the insurance company can use it to settle claims.

How to find the right automotive expert

Choosing the right expert is a decisive step in an expert opinion.

qualification

The appraiser should have official training and, ideally, many years of experience. Make sure that the reviewer is a member of an expert office to ensure that the report is fair, independent and thorough.

Own reviewer

Don't forget that you can choose your reviewer yourself. Since it is in the interest of the opposing insurance company to pay as little as possible, they will offer to provide an appraiser, but it is advisable to look for an independent expert yourself so that conflicts of interest can be avoided and that your motorcycle is assessed fairly and neutrally.

Special cases involving the appraisal of a collector's item

If a classic car gets into an accident, a special classic car report should be carried out. Here it is more difficult to correctly assess the value of the motorcycle and it takes an expert to correctly evaluate the motorcycle report.

The historical value is more complex to determine than the replacement value and the restoration of the motorcycle is also different from a normal repair. That is why a special motorcycle classic car certificate is necessary.

The expert should be a specialized expert in such a case.

Cost of a motorcycle report

A motorcycle report is often necessary and unfortunately very expensive. How much a motorcycle appraisal costs and who covers these costs is explained below.

How much does a motorcycle appraisal cost?

The costs of a motorcycle appraisal can vary greatly. It depends on how complex the report is. If the damage is high and the process is complex, the report also becomes more complicated. That is why the car appraiser will ask for more. The costs are usually somewhere in the range between 300 — 800 euros.

Who bears the costs of the report?

If the accident is the fault of the other accident participant, his liability insurance covers the costs of the report. Here it is important to hire your own appraiser and not rely on that of the opposing insurance company, as it is in their interest to have to pay as little as possible. Liability insurance also covers repair costs or compensation in the event of a total loss.

In the event of a self-inflicted accident, the costs of the report must usually be borne by yourself. Comprehensive insurance may also cover this, but the contracts are very individual and cannot be said in general terms.

FAQ

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