Motorcycle Accident Insurance

Having motorcycle liability insurance is mandatory in California – it’s important that everyone is protected in the unlikely case you cause an accident. But are you protected for the full range of losses that you might suffer, especially when you’re clearly not at fault?

1 in 7 Drivers is Uninsured – Is Your Health Protected?

Here’s two rather uncomfortable statistics that motorcyclists need to be aware of:

• 75% of motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle
• 13.8% of those are uninsured motorists
• An even greater percentage are underinsured

You need to ensure that you are adequately protected against a major financial loss due to injuries you sustain at the fault of the uninsured/underinsured driver. What are your answers to the following questions:

1. Do you have uninsured motorist coverage, and how much?
2. What if an at-fault driver is only carrying the minimum coverage and your injuries are significant?
3. Do you have underinsured insurance coverage?

Whether you have adequate coverage or not, you could be left financially responsible for your medical expenses. Will you be able to cover your own medical expenses out-of-pocket? The answer is no, you won’t.

Motorcycle Accident Insurance Protects Your Assets

In the case where you may be at fault, once your insurance coverage is exhausted, the liability for another person’s financial losses falls on you personally. If you own significant assets, make sure that you have a proper level of liability coverage to keep from losing them.

Know Your Insurance Exclusions

As the saying goes, it’s not a matter of if you go down… So, before you low-side your bike in that sandy blind corner along Highway 49, make certain that your motorcycle accident insurance has you covered for motorcycle injuries and other losses that are of your own doing because:

Your regular health insurance policy may have exclusions for motorcycle activities; You need collision coverage to get your bike repaired and back on the road!

Also, to protect your motorcycle from other forms of loss such as theft, vandalism, environmental and natural disasters, consider adding comprehensive insurance coverage to your policy as well.

Last but Not Least – Its the Law

California Vehicle Code mandates that all motorcyclists show proof of financial responsibility in the case of a motorcycle accident. Motorcycles must have the following minimum liability insurance coverage:

• $15,000 for injury/death to one person
• $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person
• $5,000 for damage to property

The penalties for violating this code could result in fines up to $500, impounding of your vehicle and the associated storage costs, and suspension of your motorcycle drivers license.

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