What to Do if Your Motorcycle is Vandalized

Vandalism is an unfortunate possibility when you own a motorcycle. Whether it’s committed by someone who doesn’t like the brand of your motorcycle or is simply looking to cause damage, vandalism happens frequently, and you should be prepared for it.

First, make sure your motorcycle insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage covers damages to your vehicle caused by hail, fire, wind, falling objects, theft, and vandalism. Without this coverage, you could be looking at paying repairs for your bike out of pocket. motorcycles on the road

Take Pictures
Be sure to document all of the damage done to your motorcycle. This is both so you can show it to legal experts handling the vandalism and so you have proof for your insurance.

Call the Police
Once you have taken pictures of your own, call the police. They will investigate the damages and perhaps be able to find who damaged the bike. This also helps with your insurance, as you sought immediate assistance for the damages. Be sure to give the police a detailed report of the incident.

Do Not Pursue the Vandalizer
Even if you suspect or know who it is, do not confront the person who damaged your bike. This can lead to a verbal fight, which often escalates to a physical fight and injuries or worse. Stay with your bike and wait for authorities to arrive.

Do Not Ride the Bike
At first glance, your bike may look fine enough to ride. This isn’t always true, however, and you should never ride your bike after it has been vandalized. There are damages that can cause huge issues on the road that are hard to see at first, especially if the vandalism occurs at night. Always have the bike towed or transported by a friend. Get a ride from someone else rather than risking the drive.

Appraise the Damage
Many people jump straight to filing an insurance claim after a vandalism. While your insurance provider should be notified, you should also have the damage appraised. If the damages to your motorcycle cost less to repair than the price of your insurance deductible you may save money by not filing a claim and simply paying for the repairs out of pocket. On the other hand, if the damage to your motorcycle is substantially more than the cost of your deductible, you may want to file a claim to receive compensation.

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