Bodily Injury/Guest Passenger/Property Damage Liability Coverage
This Most valuable coverage covers your legal liability for damages caused by a covered motorcycle incident or accident. It is also referred to as BI/GP/PD coverage on your policy declarations pages. This most important coverage will pay for damages to someone injured due to your motorcycle operations and includes property damage protection that you are legally responsible to pay as a result of an automobile accident. If you are operating your motorcycle with a Guest Passenger onboard, they too are covered under this section of coverage. With most motorcycle insurance carriers it includes coverage under the BI/GP/PD benefits for an attorney to defend you. Limits should be appropriate enough to protect your assets from suit, repair any damages caused by you and provide compensation to anybody injured when you are deemed liable. A safe rule of thumb here is to buy as much Bodily Injury and Property damage liability as you can and a simple question for your agent is what is the next highest level of BI/GP/PD benefits that are available? This will ensure that you have at least explored the next best BI/GP/PD coverage available for your protection.
Motorcycle Medical Payments
Medical payment benefits apply no matter who is at fault and covers the cost of reasonable and necessary medical treatment due to the result of a motorcycle accident. This coverage is limited in scope of the amounts available and usually can be purchased in $1,000 increments up to $10,000. The medical payment benefits usually have a time period after an accident that will limit how long you can access the policy limits purchased. This amount can be easily identified on your auto insurance declarations pages. It should also be noted that in some states, if you are permitted to ride without a motorcycle helmet, there are minimum mandatory requirements to carry $10,000 limits on your medical payments coverage to comply with the no helmet laws.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorcycle Benefits
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverage pays for damages that you are legally entitled to recover under your own policy for injuries sustained in an accident. Basically, this coverage provides what you would have received from another person’s insurance company had that person been properly insured. In today’s busy world, many drivers purchase the very minimal amount of bodily injury protection which leaves you exposed to a catastrophic accident. Should your injuries and recovery exceed the other persons benefits and they do not carry enough insurance, uninsured motorist coverage will cover the damages and expenses that exceed the at fault parties bodily injury and property damage limits. In the case of a motorcycle accident, this coverage may prove to be the most valuable coverage you have purchased because it covers the most important person in the world. YOU!
Motorcycle Comprehensive and Collision Insurance Coverage
Within your motorcycle insurance policy coverage options, you may elect to have appropriate coverage and protection against damages to your motorcycle whether you are at fault or not. This is usually referred to as comprehensive and collision coverage’s. There are varied levels of deductibles that you can select for these important coverage’s. Normally, it is wise to find a higher deductible to help maintain a lower premium. In most cases, deductibles can vary in different levels and usually they are $250, $500 or $1,000 deductibles. Depending on your set of circumstances, unless you have a bank loan on your vehicle, the comp and collision benefits are not required. A general rule of thumb would be if your motorcycle is of a value at say $3,000 or less, then it is deemed to be more prudent to remove the comp and collision and save those premium dollars for your own best use or to pay for minor damages on your own.
Collision coverage pays for damages to your motorcycle if damaged by an incident whereby you hit something or someone hits you. Comprehensive pays for all other damages caused by an event other than collision. It would include incidents such as, but not limited to, theft, hail, solo accidents that occur on your own, vandalism and flood damages just to name a few covered perils.
Custom Motorcycle Parts, Accessories and Equipment Insurance
When your motorcycle is equipped with additional custom parts and equipment, it is not normally covered unless declared to your insurance carrier and outlined as part of your coverage under comprehensive and collision. The standard insuring clause under comp and collision is that your cycle is covered for “factory equipment” only. Any additions or alterations you add to your motorcycle need to be disclosed to your agent and submitted to the company for proper rating and usually a small additional premium will apply.
Motorcycle Roadside Assistance Insurance
Towing and Roadside Assistance benefits are usually offered but not in all cases. Roadside Assistance coverage will provide payment for labor costs incurred at the place where your motorcycle becomes disabled or unable to travel under its own power. Often, this benefit will also furnish fuel if you run out of gas, need a spare tire change due to flat or a battery jump should you have an electrical battery failure.
Contact any one of the professional insurance agents at Atlass Insurance Group for prompt answers and peace of mind! Call us at our toll free line of 1-800-959-3313, locally at 321-459-9905 or email us at: [email protected]. See us on the web at: www.GoAtlassInsurance.com
