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Motorcycle damaged when moved by parking lot crew

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  • 10-19-2006, 12:23 AM
    mrbiker
    Motorcycle damaged when moved by parking lot crew
    My company pays for my parking space in a high rise building in Los Angeles. When we moved in, I filled out a parking form and described my car and motorcycle along with the license plates.

    Some days I take my car, some days I drive my bike.

    When I take the bike, I park it where I've been parking it for a year. Near a water drain in the garage. I park here because it is not marked (striped) for no parking, and it is out of the way so cars can't hit it, and it doesn't use a striped space - leaving room for more cars. It is TRULY out of the way and interferes with nothing - it's not even close to the huge grate for water drain.

    One day, I came out and found it gone. It was 7PM and no one working at the garage (ticket booths or parking office) knew anything about it. So I called the police and filed a stolen vehicle report.

    The next day, the parking manager came up to my office and got me. He took me down to the garage and opened up a locked storage room - there was my bike.

    I put it back in a striped space. Later, I drove it home. It make a clunking noise when I hit the brakes. 3 days later, on Saturday, I started looking for the clunk. It was broken radiator mounts. Later I found they cracked the fairing (plastic cover). I sent a certified letter on Monday explaining the damage. Total repair bill = $1,300.

    Keep in mind, the parking manager had his crew lift the bike by hand and carry it to the storage area. The radiator is about the only place to grab the bike on the front. The damage is very consistent with someone lifting the bike with no knowledge of how to do it. Besides not being qualified to tow(?) it, they didn't notify the police they were removing it, and although they had my info on file (and used it to find me after the fact), they never contacted me before they moved it.

    I filed a damage report and just got a letter yesterday. They are saying that because I did not discover the damage before I left the garage (I didn't know I had a problem until I drove it), they are not responsible.

    What would you suggest as a course of action?

    Thanks in advance for the help.

    Mike P.
  • 10-19-2006, 09:21 AM
    lwpat
    Re: Motorcycle damaged when moved by parking lot crew
    File a suit in small claims court and let the judge decide. If you have full coverage you can file with your insurance carrier but they will use it to increase your premiums and you still have a deductible.
  • 11-10-2006, 09:31 AM
    chuckycheese
    Re: Motorcycle damaged when moved by parking lot crew
    What a shame! I too, would file suit against them. Based upon the damage you've described, I think it will be very apparent to the judge that the damage couldn't possibly have resulted from any type of collision...(I've had many street bikes and understand exactly what you're describing.) Please let us know how you make out!
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