Insurance or accept cash to repair it myself?

[seangee]

Basically, in the UK, if you ever have an accident whether you caused it, they caused it, or more than likely you even witnessed it or talked about it, then everyone's insurance goes up next time.
It's a licence to print money and mug everyone off.

If your insurance has to pay anything its regarded as "at fault" and next year your premium will probably be more than the bike is worth. Your car insurance will also go up. If her insurance pays its "no fault" and your premiums are not touched and you will not have to pay an excess. I know this from experience of both. In the "no fault" scenario they gave me a loan bike while mine was being repaired and replaced my boots and lid - I was on the stationary bike when someone drove into it. They (the drivers insurance company) said I would not be expected to be any worse off as a result of their driver's actions.