QuestionI had a deer run in to my motorcycle in British Columbia last week. No injuries but the bike has over $1600 damage. The insurance company says it's covered under comprehensive & I have to pay the deductible. Is this true?
Should the deductible not be waived?
AnswerHi Don,
Sorry to bring you bad news, but there is no legal theory upon which you can require your company to pay the entire bill. The deductible exists so that we can purchase cheaper insurance since we agree that we will be responsible for the smaller claims, and the first part of larger claims.
I suppose that there are plenty of examples where insurance companies voluntarily waive deductibles, but I have not heard of even one of them.
Hence, I would plan to pay up. Of course if you own the vehicle with no bank lien, then you can just take all of the money and repair with used or non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture's) parts. With autos, trucks, and vans, doing that can cut costs by 50% or more. I suppose that there should be used motorcycle parts that could also cut your costs. That way, you may have to pay only a small part of the $1,600 and still have your vehicle back in working order.
Best wishes,
Dr. Settlement, J.D. (Juris Doctor)
www.settlementcentral.com
