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Facts About Motorcycle Insurance - Be A "Protected Rider"

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Motorcycle Riders NEED Great Insurance Coverage

Being a “protected rider” means knowing what your rights as a motorcyclist are, and what avenues of recourse are available to you if you get injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver. Remember, knowledge is power, and clearly understanding your rights might be the key to receiving much needed compensation after an accident and compensation you might need to pay bills while you recover from your injuries. Keep reading for some important information regarding motorcycle insurance law from the Colorado Springs motorcycle accident lawyers at Rector Stuzynski Law Firm.

Be A Protected Motorcycle Rider

Important Facts Most Motorcycle Riders Don’t Know About Their Insurance

Even experienced riders don’t always know all the ins and outs of their insurance policy, leaving them with subpar coverage on their motorcycle, gear, injuries, repairs and more. Below we will explain a little more about how you can take advantage of certain aspects of your policy to make sure you are completely covered, no matter what happens on your motorcycle.

Motorcycle Insurance Can Cover Your Gear And Even Dirtbikes

When you go down on your motorcycle, your riding gear is going to get damaged badly from the road rash at high speeds. As fellow riders ourselves, we know how expensive these costs can be to replace your helmet, gloves, jackets, pants, boots, saddlebags and more. With proper insurance coverage, these things will be replaced by the insurance company under your normal claims, so make sure to look into optional/special equipment insurance when getting your policy in order.

If you have a dirtbike, atv, utv, moped or scooter and are worried about it getting stolen or want to be covered in an accident(on street-legal vehicles) then ask your insurance provider about getting those added to your policy. This way you won’t be stuck paying out of pocket for a new dirtbike if yours gets stolen.

Combine Policies & Take Safety Courses To Lower Insurance Costs

Many insurance companies will offer discounts if you combine all of your insurance policies together with that one insurance company. These other policies can be homeowners or renters insurance, car insurance, rv insurance and more. Always take advantage of discounts when they are available.

Some insurance companies will also give you a discount if you take a rider safety course or are involved in rider safety groups. By taking these safety courses, you will learn a lot of details about your motorcycle, the roads, how to ride in hazardous weather conditions and how to safely operate a motorcycle going over bumps, turns and more. Even experienced riders can gain some knowledge that may not have been brought to their attention before, making you a safer rider and lowering your insurance costs at the same time. Most of these programs can be taken for a few hundred dollars or less and give you a document that proves your rider ability for life.

Roadside Assistance Can Be Covered By Insurance

Every now and then, on long trips, we forget to check the fuel gauge and run out of gas or even worse, get a flat tire along the way. These inconveniences can be costly on not only time, but also money. Tow trucks are typically $100 just to come out to your location and then services cost even more so that tank of gas can end up being a large bill you weren’t expecting before. If this is an issue for you, think about purchasing insurance that covers roadside assistance and maybe even car rentals while your motorcycle is being fixed.

Colorado Insurance Requirements For Motorcycles

You may be wondering how much motorcycle insurance you need in Colorado, and by state law, you must carry the following amounts of liability insurance as a motorcyclist:

  • $25,000―per person for bodily injury
  • $50,000―per accident for bodily injury
  • $15,000―per accident for property damage

Be sure to scout different quotes from different carriers before deciding on a policy―it could save you a lot of money. And keep in mind that you do have the option to maximize your protection with additional types of coverage.

NOTE:  Although med pay coverage is not always offered to motorcyclists by their insurance companies – it is available to motorcyclists!  We highly recommend you carry med pay coverage and not just the minimum coverage available.

How Underinsured Motorcycle Coverage Works

If you had underinsured motorcycle insurance on your policy, it would eliminate the gap between what the guilty driver could pay and the amount you owe. That’s what this coverage does: It fills the hole between an underinsured driver’s liability limits and the costs incurred by you from an accident.

Without this protection, you’d be stuck paying for the extra expenses. Of course, you could sue the other driver. However, collecting from a successful lawsuit can be difficult, and legal action can drain your time and energy.

Types of Underinsured Motorbike Insurance

Most motorcycle insurers split their underinsured coverage into two categories:

  • Bodily Injury Pays for your hospital bills, doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, physical therapy, home-health care, lost wages, and related expenses.
  • Property Damage: Covers the cost to repair or replace your property, such as your motorcycle.

Underinsured Motorcycle Insurance Limits

In the example mentioned above, your underinsured driver coverage would pay your remaining expenses―but only up to the limits of your policy.

So, how much underinsured protection do you need?

You’ll have to comply with your state’s underinsured driver insurance requirements, for starters. That’s assuming your state has any requirements about this; most states don’t have any guidelines concerning this coverage.

But, beyond that, it’s wise to consult with an insurance agent or other qualified financial professional to determine what’s an appropriate amount for you to carry. Regardless, you should have more uninsured motorcycle coverage than the minimum limits prescribed by the states, as these limits are inadequate in most cases.

  • Any carrier that provides insurance coverage for motorcyclists should offer underinsured protection.

 

The good news? Relatively speaking, underinsured motorist coverage is inexpensive.

Contact Our Colorado Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Our office is committed to the motorcycle riding community and dedicated to providing motorcyclists with the best legal services available. Our attorneys are natives of Colorado and have over 75 years of combined experience dealing with insurance companies and representing victims of motorcycle accidents. We will help you through the claims and legal process and take care of those issues for you so that you can focus on your recovery.

The other driver’s insurance company will have a team of lawyers, adjusters, and specialists, whose job it is to minimize any payout to injured parties. This is why it is important to promptly call a qualified lawyer to work on your behalf. Rely on Rector Stuzynski Law Firm’s experience to protect you and your rights.

Areas We Serve

We serve clients injured anywhere throughout the state of Colorado, but we focus on residents of these areas: Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Fountain, Briargate, Monument, Black Forest, Pueblo, Canon City, Larkspur, Security-Widefield, Peyton, Castle Rock, Teller County, El Paso County, Elbert County, Park County, Douglas County and beyond.