Insurance Question-Michigan - Road Star Warrior Forum : Yamaha Star Warrior Forums

JenGo · 01-02-2013, 02:54 PM

Not sure if this is correct forum for this question.
I crashed my Warrior.....high sided it :-(
SHORT STORY
I was given checks, told I could cash them, bought parts per permission from adjuster who had forgotten to include handlebars and had to go back to bike for pics of bars. Second time he looked at the bike he said it had to be totaled - frame damage. He missed it the first time even though it was pointed out to him.

LONG STORY
The adjuster looked at bike and gave me an item list and 2 checks covering everything on the list. He forgot the handlebars. When he went back to get a pic of bars my friend who has the bike in his garage (where I crashed) pointed out and asked about the area on the frame where the front brake assembly had ripped the threads out of the frame (about a 1/4 inch). The adjuster had this pointed out to him before and hadn't noted anything about it on the item list so my friend asked again after he (friend) removed the entire assembly. NOW adjuster is saying bike is totaled due to frame damage. I had cashed checks after asking adjuster if that was ok to do before he checked handlebars and I purchased $1130 in parts. Site has a 20% restock charge. Adjuster told my friend I could buy back the bike from them and still be able to get insurance and NOT have a salvage title. Anyone ever had an experience similar to this and if so what was the outcome and/or what do you suggest? THANK YOU!!!

madtom421 · 01-02-2013, 05:22 PM

When you say friends garage is that home or a repair shop? I've never heard of a adjuster coming to a persons home twice.

wyomingwarrior · 01-02-2013, 05:34 PM

I'm a little late with this but WELCOME fellow Michigander!

So what's you're actual question... are you wondering if you should go ahead and buy the bike back or are you just wondering about dealing with insurance adjusters?

What insurance do you have? Someone tipped my bike over and they didn't even send an adjuster... just asked me for a list and wrote me a check for around $2,200.

BiggG · 01-02-2013, 05:58 PM

Insurance Buybacks vary from state to stae but here in Maryland after a bike is totaled the title is branded as a Salvage Title and that branded title stays with the bike even after the bike is rebuilt, inspected and deemed road worthy. Most guys normally buy a nice straight used frame with a clean title and rebuild it.

arizonawarrior · 01-02-2013, 10:29 PM

Start shopping for good used frames with a valid VIN that isn't listed as junk, or start opening your wallet to buy a new frame from Yamaha with a clean factory VIN. The adjuster made a mistake but I've never heard of an insurance company coughing-up the extra cash to cover their error.

JenGo · 01-02-2013, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyomingwarrior

I'm a little late with this but WELCOME fellow Michigander!

So what's you're actual question... are you wondering if you should go ahead and buy the bike back or are you just wondering about dealing with insurance adjusters?

What insurance do you have? Someone tipped my bike over and they didn't even send an adjuster... just asked me for a list and wrote me a check for around $2,200.

Thanks for the welcome! My actual question is: Can I buy back the bike and NOT have a salvage title as the adjuster suggested? My understanding is that in Michigan once the bike is deemed totaled by the insurance company a salvage title replaces the original title. I'm also wondering about reinsuring the bike. The adjuster said they would. Finally, how do they determine the buyback price? The frame damage is literally a 1/4 of an inch of stripped threads from one of the bolts that attach the front brake assembly. When it crashed it was ripped out of the frame. It's obvious there's damage but it is so slight that I can't see how it couldn't be fixed safely. Plus parts have been ordered and I waited and researched the heck out of this bike before I got it. When I saw her on Craig’s List my stomach actually flip flopped. We drove to the other side of Chi town to get her! They had hardly any in Michigan. I love this bike. I want to keep her and make the repairs but I don’t want to deal with a salvage title.

JenGo · 01-02-2013, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JenGo

Thanks for the welcome! My actual question is: Can I buy back the bike and NOT have a salvage title as the adjuster suggested? My understanding is that in Michigan once the bike is deemed totaled by the insurance company a salvage title replaces the original title. I'm also wondering about reinsuring the bike. The adjuster said they would. Finally, how do they determine the buyback price? The frame damage is literally a 1/4 of an inch of stripped threads from one of the bolts that attach the front brake assembly. When it crashed it was ripped out of the frame. It's obvious there's damage but it is so slight that I can't see how it couldn't be fixed safely. Plus parts have been ordered and I waited and researched the heck out of this bike before I got it. When I saw her on Craig’s List my stomach actually flip flopped. We drove to the other side of Chi town to get her! They had hardly any in Michigan. I love this bike. I want to keep her and make the repairs but I don’t want to deal with a salvage title.

I'm with Progressive.

JenGo · 01-02-2013, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madtom421

When you say friends garage is that home or a repair shop? I've never heard of a adjuster coming to a persons home twice.

It's at a friends garage...not a shop. The house is on the corner of where the accident took place. They also came to my place of employment to look at my leather and glasses so they could be replaced.

BiggG · 01-03-2013, 07:28 AM

If you can live with the salvage branded title & you're comfortable with frame repair take that route but I personally would start looking for a new or used frame with a clear/clean title history. It pretty much sounds like your state is like Maryland.....once a title is branded as Salvage Title it it branded for the life of the bike. As for insurance for a salvage titled bike , getting it shouldn't be a problem as long as the bike passes a safety inspection and is deemed safe & road worthy but check with your local MVA & insurance agency being doing so just to be sure.

wyomingwarrior · 01-03-2013, 08:19 AM

I've heard buy backs going very well. Had a buddy in high school who got hit in his truck. Wasn't all that bad but they totalled it. Insurance wrote him a fat check, he took PART of that check to buy the truck back and was able to not only fix it but was able to lift it too.

If the adjuster can garantee a clean title, IN WRITING, than why not do it??!!! Obviously look into the what the pay off is compared to the price of the bike in the buy back. Could be a great way to get more mods!

Keep us posted!

01-02-2013, 02:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
JenGo Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: US Posts: 30	Insurance Question-Michigan Not sure if this is correct forum for this question. I crashed my Warrior.....high sided it :-( SHORT STORY I was given checks, told I could cash them, bought parts per permission from adjuster who had forgotten to include handlebars and had to go back to bike for pics of bars. Second time he looked at the bike he said it had to be totaled - frame damage. He missed it the first time even though it was pointed out to him. LONG STORY The adjuster looked at bike and gave me an item list and 2 checks covering everything on the list. He forgot the handlebars. When he went back to get a pic of bars my friend who has the bike in his garage (where I crashed) pointed out and asked about the area on the frame where the front brake assembly had ripped the threads out of the frame (about a 1/4 inch). The adjuster had this pointed out to him before and hadn't noted anything about it on the item list so my friend asked again after he (friend) removed the entire assembly. NOW adjuster is saying bike is totaled due to frame damage. I had cashed checks after asking adjuster if that was ok to do before he checked handlebars and I purchased $1130 in parts. Site has a 20% restock charge. Adjuster told my friend I could buy back the bike from them and still be able to get insurance and NOT have a salvage title. Anyone ever had an experience similar to this and if so what was the outcome and/or what do you suggest? THANK YOU!!!

01-02-2013, 05:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
madtom421 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Berlin , Connecticut Posts: 3,010	When you say friends garage is that home or a repair shop? I've never heard of a adjuster coming to a persons home twice. __________________ Ah, well; Who wants to live forever hahaha....DIVE!!!!!!!!

01-02-2013, 05:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
wyomingwarrior Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St. Johns, Mi Posts: 2,600	I'm a little late with this but WELCOME fellow Michigander! So what's you're actual question... are you wondering if you should go ahead and buy the bike back or are you just wondering about dealing with insurance adjusters? What insurance do you have? Someone tipped my bike over and they didn't even send an adjuster... just asked me for a list and wrote me a check for around $2,200. __________________ -------------------------- My Pics ..... DIY Mods List ..... Popular Mods ..... KyleNV wide tire kits and more

01-02-2013, 10:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
arizonawarrior Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Near Mt Hood Oregon Posts: 18,281 Blog Entries: 5	Start shopping for good used frames with a valid VIN that isn't listed as junk, or start opening your wallet to buy a new frame from Yamaha with a clean factory VIN. The adjuster made a mistake but I've never heard of an insurance company coughing-up the extra cash to cover their error. __________________ My Pics Great Members Popular Mods Model Year Differences Group Rides WyomingDIY KyleNV Technical

01-03-2013, 07:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
BiggG Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,731	If you can live with the salvage branded title & you're comfortable with frame repair take that route but I personally would start looking for a new or used frame with a clear/clean title history. It pretty much sounds like your state is like Maryland.....once a title is branded as Salvage Title it it branded for the life of the bike. As for insurance for a salvage titled bike , getting it shouldn't be a problem as long as the bike passes a safety inspection and is deemed safe & road worthy but check with your local MVA & insurance agency being doing so just to be sure. Last edited by BiggG; 01-03-2013 at 07:37 AM.

01-02-2013, 05:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
BiggG Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,731	Insurance Buybacks vary from state to stae but here in Maryland after a bike is totaled the title is branded as a Salvage Title and that branded title stays with the bike even after the bike is rebuilt, inspected and deemed road worthy. Most guys normally buy a nice straight used frame with a clean title and rebuild it.

01-03-2013, 08:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
wyomingwarrior Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: St. Johns, Mi Posts: 2,600	I've heard buy backs going very well. Had a buddy in high school who got hit in his truck. Wasn't all that bad but they totalled it. Insurance wrote him a fat check, he took PART of that check to buy the truck back and was able to not only fix it but was able to lift it too. If the adjuster can garantee a clean title, IN WRITING, than why not do it??!!! Obviously look into the what the pay off is compared to the price of the bike in the buy back. Could be a great way to get more mods! Keep us posted! __________________ -------------------------- My Pics ..... DIY Mods List ..... Popular Mods ..... KyleNV wide tire kits and more

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