Although motorcycle legislation and insurance specifications vary from state to state, most states require motorcyclists to have some form of motorcycle insurance.
Most companies offer inexpensive and comprehensive motorcycle accident insurance. In fact, it’s important to find out about motorcycle insurance legislation where you live, as coverage requirements can vary. All states require drivers to carry minimum personal injury and property damage liability insurance. While the number of these types of policies varies from state to state, many motorcycle accident insurance requirements are identical to automobile accident insurance laws. If your claim is simple (ie there is no question of liability, the damage was minor and little or no treatment was required), the insurer will often give you an estimate for the vehicle repair and then send you a check. You will need to complete several formalities, but you may not need to meet with the insurer in person. If your claim is much more complicated (e.g. jurisdiction is not clear, you do not have adequate insurance coverage in your policy or you do not accept your adjuster’s offer to negotiate), the negotiation process will take a little longer.
Motorcycle accidents can result in enormous complications that go well beyond the physical damage to the rider’s motorcycle. In addition to insuring their own vehicle, motorcycle owners should consider the possibility that other riders may be underinsured. Motorcycle insurance must be sufficient to pay more than the cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle. When purchasing insurance, you also need to consider the potential health costs in the event of an injury and lost wages in the unfortunate situation that trauma disables you from work. At first, a $100,000 policy might be enough, but what happens if you are unable to perform for 2 months due to your trauma? How will you earn your living?
Although you may sacrifice some of your insurance settlement by hiring an attorney to process the claim, you will likely benefit from the attorney’s work by saving valuable time and energy and receiving a larger premium from the insurance company. Really, how can you focus on getting better when you’re faced with countless phone calls and usually hostile conversations with the defendant’s insurance company? The stress of dealing with your motorcycle damage could prevent you from focusing on the things that matter most to your future: your general health, your loved ones, your work.
Therefore, please remember that hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer is certainly an important choice and you should be careful to choose one that is right for you. By using the tips in this article along with legal advice from your attorney, you’ll be on the right track to protecting your family and solving motorcycle accidents and other personal injury issues.
