Understanding Motorcycle Insurance Coverage: What’s Included in Your Policy

Motorcycle insurance Coverage

Let us start this post with some common facts about motorcycle accidents that most people do not know.

• Most motorcycle accidents do not occur due to weather conditions
• They occur on short trips mostly, such as going to the nearby market to do some groceries, picking some friends, going out with friends for entertainment, etc. 
• The majority of motorcycle accidents occur at conjunctions like T-shape curves in the road where they have to pull the brakes suddenly but cannot do so on time 
• Most motorcycle accidents involve young people under the age of 20 and older individuals over 65. It could be because most of the young motorcyclists are without licenses and are not familiar with road rules 

Why do you think motorcycle insurance becomes important then? Is it a specific age group that should get motorcycle insurance or is it important for anyone who owns a motorcycle? 

Let us explore what does motorcycle insurance cover and how you can use it effectively to cover your financial losses and property damages. 

What Is Motorcycle Insurance? 

To understand motorcycle insurance, you must first know what motorcycle insurance is. Motorcycle insurance basically refers to the covering of the damages’ costs when your motorcycle is broken in a road accident. Repair costs are covere by your insurance policy, for which you pay monthly or yearly premiums.

Every state has different rules and policies for motorcycle insurance, which inculcate either monthly or yearly payments of premiums. It would depend on which state you live in, for which you need to consult a qualified insurance lawyer or firm who would guide you in the right direction. They are familiar with state statutes under which, Throughout the legal process, all steps are taken. 

The cost of insurance would either rise or go down depending on some specific factors that you need to discuss with the insurance firm or lawyer. They are:

• Age of the motorcycle driver
• The type or model of the bike 
• If it is an old bike, then its age
• Number of miles the motorcycle has covered while traveling 

What Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover?

When you first finalize to buy your motorcycle insurance, you would unintentionally think of what does motorcycle insurance cover. Below are the types of motorcycle insurance that are generally available to cover your costs in every way. 

Comprehensive cover:

It is the supreme form of motorcycle insurance coverage that you can get. Of course, the price and premiums would be high. But against it, you get several benefits such as full motorcycle damages cover even if the accident was your fault, the damages cover for another party vehicle’s damages (primarily known as ‘third party’ cover), and fire and theft losses for your bike as well. It is also worth mentioning that A motorcycle accident insurance policy also covers medical expenses. 

Third-party, fire, and theft:

These costs are also covered in the comprehensive coverage, however, if you want to buy a separate insurance plan for them that would include only these elements and not medical coverage, then this would be the right plan for you. You only have to pay a premium for these three things and not the rest. It certainly means its cost would be lower than that of comprehensive coverage. 

Collision coverage:

This type of coverage gives you flexibility in choosing the premium rate on your own. It is because a motorcycle accident would occur from a collision with a tree, a bus, a building, or another motorcycle, etc. The deductibles for this coverage would vary. 

Uninsured/underinsured body injury coverage:

It is similar to comprehensive coverage since when an uninsured or underinsured driver suffers losses or gets hurt due to your motorcycle accident, his and your, costs of both persons would be covered under this plan.  

Third-party only:

It is that type of motorcycle insurance where you have to pay minimum premium charges. Why? Because it covers only third-party damages, and not your motorbike or personal injuries. If you are at fault and the third party experiences losses, your insurance plan would only pay for them.   

Steps To Claim Motorcycle Insurance 

After knowing the types, you would be in a better position to finally decide which type of motorcycle insurance coverage you should buy. There would be steps involved in getting the insurance coverage, for which you must be aware of motorcycle insurance requirements. These requirements are proof of your income before getting insurance so that the insurance company knows that your financial position is strong enough to pay the premium, the license plate of the motorbike, and registration of the bike purchased from the vendor. Other motorcycle insurance requirements would include the previously mentioned factors such as the bike’s age, how many miles it has traveled etc. 

After you have gathered all these mandatory provisions, you need to note down the accident’s details to tell the insurance company or lawyer, picture of the accident’s scene would be an additional benefit, vehicle number written on its registration plate if this was a  hit-and-run case, going to the police and stating a report against the offender if you are not at fault, seeking insurance help immediately and sending your motorbike to the workshop to claim the coverage expenses after the insurance lawyer gives a go-ahead. Moreover, you should note that if this was an accident where you experienced personal injuries, you still need to tell the insurance lawyer so that he could help you get all the medical expenses covered through your chosen policy.  

Conclusion

What does motorcycle insurance cover is a dilemma that you need to solve on your own. Motorcycle insurance usually includes liability coverage, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and medical payments coverage. Other coverage options, such as unique parts and equipment coverage or roadside assistance, may be offered depending on the insurance and the state in which it is purchased. It’s critical to thoroughly read and comprehend the conditions of your policy to ensure you have enough coverage to protect yourself and your motorbike in the case of an accident or other unforeseen occurrence.