Modern Vespa

OK. . So, some of you might remember the thread I started a week ago about how a woman backed up into my Super, knocked it down, etc.

So perhaps I didn't choose my words as carefully as I should have. I regret that.

Now, here is the rest of the story. So, I go to Motorsports and have Steve do an estimate. $1,700.00 bucks.

Now, you and I all know that this is going to be an insurance issue but I had promised the woman that I would send her the estimate and allow her to decide on her own whether she was going to pay for it or not. So, good as my word I send her the estimate and photos.

My reward? The husband calls me. To say this guy was a tool was likely the understatement of the decade. This dude starts berating me. See, the accident was my fault because I parked the scooter too close to her SUV. Of course the fact that I parked in my own separate space is entirely lost on the dude.

Then of course he starts questioning each line item. When he started questioning the need to paint the cowl, well, thats when I hung up on the dude's head.

To make a long and unpleasant story short. They are insured by the Hartford who dealt with me fairly and professionally. They approved every line item and my scooter will be good as new in a little over a week.

Glad you could get it sorted out. Hopefully they'll get it sorted and back on the road soon!

Sounds like a typical, aggressive, 'do unto others before they do unto you', defense. Worked, dinnit? He got you off his back, and out of his pocket and dumped it all onto someone else, in this case the insurance company.

Hey, I am not by a long chalk defending him. I agree with every word you said. Some folks just respond this way first time around. An automatic reaction to a negotiation situation. Some folks like this also back down and pay up right quick if one calls them on it in an equally aggressive manner.

I hope it gets fixed quickly and correctly. I just prefer to go through insurance. People just really don't want to pay out of pocket, even if they say they do. Glad you weren't hurt.

I've had only one person ever in my life go through with paying out of pocket for damage to my vehicle. And they were a priest. :lol True story.

I'm glad it's going to get fixed!

As is so often repeated. Alls well that ends.

I decided to repaint the entire scooter portofino green. Not much more than the insurance estimate to do that.

I'll post pictures when I get the scooter back.

Toodles-

I'm glad to hear you're going to get your scooter fixed to as new condition. I know the Motorsports guys will do you right. I just hope the repair process goes fast so you can get back on the road ASAP!

As for my thoughts on how the husband treated you... well, I don't mince my words and have no regrets in uttering them. Usually. But my regret usually runs along the line of... if I got banned for saying this, I would regret getting banned... but not regret saying it in the first place. Twisted, I know. So... that dude sounds like a dick weed married to the fat cow that backed into your scooter. I'm glad you hung up on the asshole.

Bless your GTS riding heart. I was bummed to read that Frazier was going to sell that scooter, but, at least he sold to a good dude.

Frazier's a cool dude. I bought it from him because it was obvious he loved the scooter and Jyson took good care of it. And Frazier gave me a killer deal on it to boot. I hope he's happy with his Triumph.

hopefully their premiums triple they deserve it!

Well, yes, but the insurance company will make it up by raising their rates, since she caused the accident, so they'll pay for it in time. If they hadn't been jackasses about it, they might have gotten off easier by just paying for the repairs out of pocket. Oh well, you reap what you sow.

I agree with this

To be charitable to the guy, scooter repairs are unusually expensive compared to those for equivalent car damage. I had the same WTF reaction when I inquired about fixing what i thought were some relatively minor scratches on my GT, and was quoted $800. Not that this excuses him being rude or pushy, but it is somewhat understandable.

It just added injury again to the whole fiasco for you which is sad because none of it was your fault. It really is too bad that some people just cannot accept responsibility for their actions. Gladly the insurance company is taking good care of your scooter and you'll soon get it back as good as new.

People are usually surprised when they discover the cost of quality scooters, both in purchase price and in maintanance and repair. How many of us were surprised the first time we learned those costs? Too many people are going on bad information they receive on the interwebs about 150cc no-name scooters for $800 USD.

It's a real shame that he had to be an ass like that. I agree with the previous post stating that he would've come ahead in the long run by paying out of pocket. It's equally good that you have expertise in the insurance industry. No doubt this will be repaired to your liking.

I pity the poor wife
...At least you could hang up on him

Point well taken. I almost feel sorry for her now.

Actually, that was one of my first thoughts afterward because despite my initial irritation with her, she really was very appropriate when it happened.

Her husband was just a gas bag (botone). He went as far as saying "well, aren't they just going to total that out?" "You can pick up one of those things for a couple of grand every day."

I started to ponder what must have gone through her head when she recognized she would have to tell this putz that she had an accident.

You have put your finger on the fast majority of the problems in this world.

+1

Awesome! I love portofino green. I really thought about repainting mine when I dropped it. I am glad that I didn't though, because the paint shop did a shit job. Someday, I will strip the bike down myself, take it to my father who has a body shop, and have the old paint stripped and new applied. The bike is currently black, right? You will love it when you get it back.

Do you happen to have an email address for these horrible people? When all is said and done and your scooter is back and better than ever, it would be a nice gesture to send them a link to this and your previous post.

I dont and well, lets face it. I have the satisfaction of knowing that I got their insurance company to pay every dime of damages without question. As it should be.

Glad you were able to get their insurance to take care of it. It is to your credit that you tried working with them directly despite the husband's crappy attitude.

Post pics when the repainting is done!

post deleted by Salima

I don't think that would accomplish anything at all. Best to just walk away from it knowing it is being taken care of.

I've heard of 'vast majority', but not 'fast majority'. Sounds like a dangerous problem indeed...

There's people, and then there's people.

When I had my crash (which was my fault, caused by my aggressiveness and them not signaling a turn), I asked the other party to give me the chance to pay their damage out of my pocket. I thought I was looking at several hundred dollars.

When the estimate was on the table and it was like over 3000, I swallowed, apologized for holding him up, and asked him to contact my insurance (GEICO. They handled it extremely fair and easy and my premium went up by about $30 (for the full year).

It's like my Great great great Granddad once said.... "People don't suck.... But they do turn on the suction" Hey... I don't know what that means... but he's old, so give em' a break.

Very true !!!!

Over the years, I have had several accidents (not my fault, of course), where the guilty parties talked me into not calling the police. EVERY time I did this, I got screwed. Two people said that after they thought about it, it was really my fault, and if I left them alone, they wouldn't charge ME!

Now, I do just what the insurance people ask you to do. In addition, if no one is injured, I immediately ask to see their driver's license and insurance info, while I am handing them mine. Makes it hard to say no. I also take many photos of the damage PLUS photos of the driver (when they're not looking). Doing this has paid off well over the years.

Remember, always call the police and take pictures and id info!

Accidents are bad enough without getting bent over afterwards.

In case of a crash, it is good to have this report printed out in your glove box. With an "official" form, you will easily get all the answers from the opponent.

+1.......The chances are greater than 50% that the person who hit you will attempt to screw you over if you do not call the police and get all the info and pictures that you can gather at the scene of the accident. Also if there are any witnesses, get their names. It's a sad commentary on people in general but we live in a society where people no longer want to be responsible for their actions.

For the sake of discussion.. this is always a bad idea.. I was an adjuster for a long time for an insurance company, then a claims supervisor, then a claims manager. now for the last 30 years or so, an insurance agent.

Always ask someone to report the claim to their insurance company. Common for the at fault party to offer to pay it and keep the insurance out of it, but they have no idea what hey are doing.. They don't do it for a living and always seem to come up with screw ball theories of who is at fault and what things should really cost.. all in all.. you owe nothing to the person who is at fault.. they owe you.. so tell them to report it and be done with it.. In my State. it's easy to find out who the insurance company is for someone.. but that's not always the case.. There is no other side to this situation.. I've seen it to many times and it is always a mess .

...and most importantly of all, remain in good enough shape to record all that information after the crash!

Well, fortunately for me, I was in the coffee place having a nice cup when this occurred. Also fortunately for me, my scooter is pretty well known to all of the regulars and the barristas who saw her take it out. Lots of witnesses, lots of support. And, having the handy iPhone and the presence of mind to photograph everything at the scene was a help.

I agree with everything Noth said. And Windbreaker's point is equally well taken.

Yeesh, what a headache! But I'm glad to hear that overall, everything's going to work out in the end. I hope your scoot comes out great with the new paintjob.

Never feel sorry for anyone, always get the insurance information right away and report it, if they refuse, call the cops.

And always have your phone ready to take pictures and even a video.

Ah.... a Portofino green 300. At last! Can't wait to see the pics.

Almost at the end of the story. I got the insurance check today. Yay!!! A Portofino Green 300 will under my kiester within a week if all works out correctly. . . .

Thank God here in Quebec we have a no fault system and insurance is mandatory, so if there are no bodily injuries we write a common accident report form send it in to the insurance companies. They have rules for who is responsable or not. Plus the fact that if the other guy doesn't have insurance he is by law is automatically responsible and is driver's licence is automatically revoked and also unable to do any DMV transactions until he pays back the insurance company. It is a proven fact that the insurance companies spend less money by paying up front and not having to go to court and pay for all legal fees.