May 29th, 2010 by The Rider

How Deterring Thieves Will Keep Motorbike Insurance Quotes Low

Motorbike insurance is an integral part of the pleasures of motorbike ownership. Not only are motorbikes easier to steal than cars but riders must also ensure their insurance covers them for personal injury and third party collisions. Despite this, motorbike insurance quotes are remarkably cheaper than quotes for a car. Most probably because cars are generally more expensive; but even with cheap cars, insurance quotes can be more than those of a motorbike.

According to a recent report on motorbike crime, theft of motorcycles went up one hundred and thirty five percent in the five years between 2000 and 2005. This unsurprisingly has driven up insurance quotes for those who own motorbikes. The level of theft has reached worrying proportions; it is now believed that more motorbikes are stolen then bought new in any twenty four hour period.

The extent of the problem is a headache for insurance companies who are forced to drive up premiums. Criminal gangs are believed to steal an estimated three million pounds worth of bikes every month; a truly shocking statistic. With it only taken on average twenty seconds to steal a motorbike there is little wonder why the level of theft has become so high.

The report has also given some idea of the level of motorbike crime in the UK and the various hotspots; mainly urban areas. The regions with the highest levels of bike theft were Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

The reasons behind the thefts range from the splitting of bikes up for spare parts that will eventually make it onto the black market. Also bikes are believed to be stolen by ‘joyriders’ looking for a good time. Surprisingly however, the majority of bikes are stolen from houses, making insurance companies insist on garage storage.

One thing the insurance companies can do is insist motorbike owners install some form of tracking device. These devices have led to multiple recoveries of stolen bikes in the last few years. It is believed that one company’s tracking system led to two hundred and ninety two bikes being recovered in 2007; with an estimated worth of nearly three million pounds this is an impressive solution. Added to the bikes recovered, the tracking devices enabled police to break up seventy six professional theft rings and recover an extra two million pounds worth of stolen motorcycles.

The nemeses of the insurance companies are the organised crime syndicates that have made a lucrative business by stealing motorbikes. As the popularity of motorbike riding is increasing the trade for black market bikes and spares is also on the rise. The ease of stealing a motorbike is astounding as often it only means lifting a bike into the back of van and driving off.

It is mainly high powered sports bikes that are stolen and subsequently have the highest insurance quotes. Of the bikes stolen the most popular makes are Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Harley Davidson. New bikes are targeted predominantly due to the need for spare parts on the black market and the opportunity to sell the bikes whole.

So how can you prevent your motorbike from being stolen and keep insurance quotes down? Ensure to park your bike in a garage with obstacles obstructing the bikes path when at home. When away from home find a well lit parking spot in full view of a security camera to improve the safety of your bike. Never on any occasion leave the keys in your bike, even if you are only going to be five minutes. If selling your bike it is worth being wary of those taking test rides as they simply may never come back.

Following this advice may help to keep your motorbike insurance quotes at a reasonable level. There is no doubt that the theft of motorcycles is a lucrative business for the criminal fraternity. Deterring thieves should be a major concern and should ensure you have a bike to ride for years to come.

About the Author

Motorcycle expert Thomas Pretty looks into vehicle crime and advises on what measures should be taken to keep motorbike insurance quotes low. To find out more please visit http://www.insureyourbike.com/

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May 29th, 2010 by The Rider

UK and India – Rise in Accident Claims

It has been almost a whole year since Sunita Bansal, a mother of three underage daughters in India, was awarded a compensation of Rs 18 lakh as the result of an accident claim following the death of her husband in a motor accident. The money has not yet reached her.

The compensation is meant to be paid by the United Insurance Company, Sector 17, Chandigarh which had insured the vehicle of Sunita’s husband, Pankaj. Instead of giving the compensation, the company moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to challenge the award. The High Court, however, dismissed the appeal. Even after this when the company did not pay the money, the UT District Court attached its property.

On October 6, 2005, Pankaj, a resident of Sector 38, was on his way from Jalandhar to Chandigarh in his car. The car was being driven by Sukhwinder Singh. When Pankaj neared Milan Palace in Maulpur area, a matador hit the car. The accident occurred around 8.30 in the evening. The headlights of the matador were not functioning. Pankaj received multiple injuries and died on the spot.

Pankaj was 31 then. He ran a small business of surgical equipment and heart and kidney instruments under the brand name Delsu Devices.

The insurance company denied any liability saying that at the time of the accident, the matador driver, Balkar Singh, was not holding a valid licence. A case demanding a compensation was filed on November 7, 2005.

In 2007, the court awarded a compensation of Rs 18 lakh. The money has not yet been received by Pankaj’s family.

Widowed wife Sunita, meanwhile, has to take care of her three underage daughters and mother-in-law. “Pankaj was the sole bread winner for the family since his father had expired a few years ago,” she explained, adding: “life has become miserable for us after his death. While relatives turned a blind eye towards us leaving no opportunity to grab his property, there was nobody to look after my three daughters and mother-in-law. I had no knowledge of the business. I still don’t know everything about it. I never knew how to operate a bank account but I am learning.”

Pankaj and Sunita’s family are not the only ones. The need for more stringent laws to ensure the families of accident victims are properly compensated by insurance companies unwilling to pay up is becoming more and more urgent as insurance use increases and spreads in developing countries such as India.

In the UK, motorcycle ownership is on the up, but finding adequate insurance can be problematic because of high accident rates.

Insurers and police are becoming concerned as more inexperienced riders reach for helmets and leathers. According to the Association of British Insurers, companies paid out £22m to meet claims from motorcyclists last year, compared with £19m in 2006.

The AA’s Ian Crowder adds: “Our claims experience clearly shows that there are increasing numbers of middle-aged men trying to regain their youth by buying big powerful bikes, which they are unused to riding and unable to handle.”

According to the UK’s biggest motorcycle insurance specialist, Bennetts, per journey, it is more dangerous to ride a bike than drive a car. “All bikers know that. But they also know that wonderful sense of freedom which you get on a bike,” says Mark Fells, a director.

Crowder went on to add: “There is serious concern about mature people taking up biking again, particularly sports bikes, or indeed anyone riding after an absence of several years. Insurers are looking for current riding experience to reassure them that a rider is road-worthy.”

About the Author

Sofia is an author of several articles pertaining to No Win No Fee, Compensation Claims, Personal Injury Claims and other legal articles.

May 26th, 2010 by The Rider

Law For Motorcycle Helmet – Look At The Fatalities Rate

While going for a long ride on your motorbike, you must be anticipating sheer fun. And if it’s all about the crash then you may assume why this will happen now? Well, a crash can happen anytime even if there is no fault at your end! So be careful about this and don’t ever try to ignore this fact. Due to this reason many Governments have implemented few rules on motorcycle helmets so that riders can get maximum risk free zone to enjoy their riding.

A concise history of the implemented Law:

Way back in the year 1967, the US federal govt. had declared that it will not offer funding to states that don not have any law for motorcycle helmets. By 1975, around 47 states had implemented their law on compulsory helmets for bikers. But in the year 1976 most of them had soften the laws that have been implemented for motorcycle helmets.

Kentucky and Louisiana:

In the year 1990, Kentucky and Louisiana has softened their helmet laws too. While the law was first proposed 10% of the bike riders were using helmet and when the law was not there half of the whole bike riders were in the helmets. Suddenly after this act from motorcycle owners the fatalities rate has increased to 34% in Kentucky and 74% for Louisiana.

Texas Wasn’t Far Behind

After Kentucky and Louisiana, Texas has also taken the helmet law off from the book in 1997. Use of helmet had dropped from 69% to 66%. Therefore, the motorcycle accidents and its related deaths had risen up to 1/3rd. that exactly signifies the death ratio was almost in a straight line to the people that don’t use helmets.

Florida’s Example:

Florida is not also out of this notion and had canceled the helmet law in 1997-99. 515 motorcycle riders were killed in the accidents in that year alone. 48 out of the whole deaths were the people that weren’t wearing helmets while riding.

These ratios can bring us brief ideas that while we thought about helmet as an optional element while riding motorbike, this act can bring us sheer danger for life. the strategies has given clear evidence that roughly 400 people die in accidents even while using helmets, while the death ratio is ten times more for the people that don’t use helmets. Well, this is absolutely coincidental but a real fact. Helmets can save your life on that terrible day!

Helmet Law Defense League:

This is a group of people that strictly disobey the helmet laws. They believe that it is absolutely unconstitutional and by this the govt. is exactly forcing people to buy and use helmets. They argue that the word “Helmet” is vague.

The Source:

The statistics given above has been achieved directly from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The figures stated above can be obtained form their annual reports. Also you can look for their websites to find out these statistics.

About the Author

Need a helmet which would save your life, buy these safe, strong and stylish motorcycle helmets online.

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