Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

File for claim, or keep quiet

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 08:36 AM
  #11  
roadking2000's Avatar
roadking2000
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 128
Default

I wouldn't fix anything before a adjuster looked at the bike. I'd take a lot of pictures of the bike to focusing in on damage. I'd let the insurance pay for it because even if your premiums go up, they won't go up enough to cover the out of pocket to fix it yourself. Your guessing 5K with a 1K deductable. Well thats 4K worth of premiums and even if they raise the rates, it won't be that much even spread out over several years. That would be a $400 increase for 10 years. If you pay for all of it, that's 5K out of your pocket which is way more than any premium increase you may get and the 5K out of pocket won't be spread out over time like any premium increase would be.
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 08:41 AM
  #12  
ZUTEDUFF's Avatar
ZUTEDUFF
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 4
From: POLK COUNTY AMERICA
Default

if there was an accident report completed on the incident---the insurance company knows about it...
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 09:26 AM
  #13  
valvestem's Avatar
valvestem
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Northeast U.S.
Default

Originally Posted by 09RKC
I was cited for 'failure to yield'. BTW, as the the hwy patrol officer left he dropped the citation on my chest as I was wheeled into the ambulance. I was told by parametics OKC's like that.
Did you sign the Uniform Traffic Ticket?
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 09:30 AM
  #14  
Kapture1's Avatar
Kapture1
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

I would say depends on the est of damages total. I sell insurance, and the thing most people dont realize is the at fault accident will not only raise your cycle insurance, but your car insurance as well for the next 3 years.
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 09:33 AM
  #15  
Kapture1's Avatar
Kapture1
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by ZUTEDUFF
if there was an accident report completed on the incident---the insurance company knows about it...
They will know about it because of the failure to yeild ticket. The only way they will pull the report is if he turns it in
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 10:21 AM
  #16  
John_HD's Avatar
John_HD
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
Default

File - They will find out anyways, still raise your rate but not pay. May as well use the insurance for what it is.

Good luck
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 10:38 AM
  #17  
texas_speed_freak's Avatar
texas_speed_freak
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 572
Likes: 6
From: Ft. Worth, Texas
Default

I would definately file a claim. People say your insurance will go up but SO WHAT!? You have a big hospital bill, and a trashed bike.

Btw, i had progressive for a Buell i had. I was going around a sweeping corner and hit gravel, went off the road into the ditch and totalled the bike. Progressive sent someone out the next morning(i called it in on a sunday), promptly paid me for the totalled bike, let me buy it back for $400, contacted 2 years later to tell me that they messed up on my accessorie coverage, and sent me ANOTHER check for $2000, and my RATES NEVER WENT UP NOT ONE PENNY!!!

Even if your rates went up, how long would it take to pay in insurance the money you will spend in medical bills, and repair of your motorcycle...?? The pros outweigh the cons in this situation IMO
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 10:39 AM
  #18  
skratch's Avatar
skratch
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
Default

i'm not totally sure, but doesn't progressive have that 'accident forgiveness' thing too? they will also cover up to 3k of your aftermarket add ons (inc your helmet, jacket, etc)

you're not going to get a salvage title unless the bike is considered totaled. from your initial post, i'm not seeing that.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 10:50 AM
  #19  
Kapture1's Avatar
Kapture1
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Default

Originally Posted by texas_speed_freak
I would definately file a claim. People say your insurance will go up but SO WHAT!? You have a big hospital bill, and a trashed bike.

Btw, i had progressive for a Buell i had. I was going around a sweeping corner and hit gravel, went off the road into the ditch and totalled the bike. Progressive sent someone out the next morning(i called it in on a sunday), promptly paid me for the totalled bike, let me buy it back for $400, contacted 2 years later to tell me that they messed up on my accessorie coverage, and sent me ANOTHER check for $2000, and my RATES NEVER WENT UP NOT ONE PENNY!!!

Even if your rates went up, how long would it take to pay in insurance the money you will spend in medical bills, and repair of your motorcycle...?? The pros outweigh the cons in this situation IMO
He might not have med coverage on his bike policy. If thats the case, he has to look at the total amt of damage v premium increase for bike and car for the next three years.

Just because you pay for insurance doesnt always mean turn in a claim. Just like the people who turn in a 600 dollar home claim because their deductible is 500 bucks. "Well thats what i have insruance for..." No, what you have insurance for is the big losses, not to be paid out a hundred or even a few hundred and cause the rest of our rates to increase (thanks jacka$$).

This is one thing I can never get through to people. you have your deductible, and rate increases, say on your auto for 3 years. If the total amt of damages is a hundred or two above that, I would say pay out of pocket, if its a grand or more, turn it in.

Someone mentioned accident forgivness, he might have that on his policy, but it will still raise his rates for his auto insurance.

And no, the insurance company will never know of the at fault accident until he turns in the claim. Never turns it in, they will never know about it.
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2010 | 10:57 AM
  #20  
John_HD's Avatar
John_HD
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Columbia, MD
Default

Originally Posted by Kapture1
If the total amt of damages is a hundred or two above that, I would say pay out of pocket, if its a grand or more, turn it in.

He's saying at least 5 grand just in bike, and he probably forgot accessories/gear.

That's why I'd turn it in. I'd never turn in a claim to get a few $100 back either.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:29 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE