Motorcycle Insurance Coverage for Accident and Injury

Like other vehicle owners, California motorcycle owners are required by law to have insurance coverage. Proposition 213, which later became part of Civil Code section 333.4 after the 1996 referendum, required all drivers of vehicles on public roads in California to have at least a minimum amount of liability insurance coverage, which includes motorcycle drivers as well.

Driving without Insurance is Illegal

For motorists, this means that driving without proper insurance is a violation of the law that could result in strict penalties such as the potential loss of one’s driving license for up to one year, having one’s vehicle impounded and sold at auction or facing fines up to $2,000.

Accidents without Insurance is Can Cost You

In addition to this, the lack of proper insurance when driving could also mean heavy losses in the event of an accident caused by you or another person.

Motorcycle Accident Insurance Coverage

However, motorcycle insurance coverage is different from an automobile insurance policy since the chances of injury in a motorcycle are high compared to cars or other vehicles. Therefore, insurance companies consider the high percentage factor of money loss in motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycle Accident Coverage and Compensation

There are several types of motorcycle insurance coverage for California riders. Some of the most common types are the following:

• Liability insurance coverage for bodily injury – In an accident caused by the motorcyclist, the liability coverage pays the injured person.
• For property damage – This type of insurance coverage pays only for the property damaged by one’s motorcycle.
• For uninsured or underinsured motorist – If an accident is caused by an uninsured or does not have enough coverage to satisfy the claim, this type of coverage will pay for you. The coverage pays around $30,000 per person and $60,000 for all persons injured in one accident. This also includes payment for medical bills, pain and suffering lost wages, and future damages.
• Comprehensive coverage – This coverage pays for damages in accidents other than in a collision type incident and for losses due to theft, flood and fire.
• Collision coverage – This coverage pays for damages incurred from getting hit and struck by another vehicle, person, animal, objects, and from flipping over. This type often requires larger amount of deductible compared to that for standard bikes.
• Coverage for medical expenses – This insurance coverage pays for all medical expenses of the motorcyclist.

Under California motorcycle insurance law, a motorcycle owner is required to have a minimum liability insurance coverage of 15/30 – meaning insurance companies have to spend $15,000 to cover bodily injuries while $30,000 to cover all injured persons in a single accident, and $5,000 for destruction of other people’s property.

Insurance Accident and Injury Protection

Having proper motorcycle insurance coverage can protect you financially in case of an accident, an injury or other related problems. The benefits of having the right type of insurance coverage may also help you in recovering claims for your injuries, including compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future medical expenses.

To keep yourself informed of the proper insurance coverage to choose, you can consult with a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer.

• The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only. If you need help with a car accident claim question, click here to consult with Rodney Mesriani, or an accident attorney near you.