Motorcycle insurance may cover medical bills after an accident, depending on the specifics of your policy, the state where the crash occurred, and who was responsible for it.
Motorcycle accident cases often involve complicated questions about insurance coverage. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, a motorcycle accident lawyer from Sweet James can help identify available insurance coverage and pursue compensation for your medical bills and other losses.
Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover My Medical Expenses?
Your motorcycle insurance may cover your medical expenses, but these policies do not automatically cover every medical bill simply because you were injured in a crash. Common sources of coverage for motorcycle accident medical bills include:
- Medical payments coverage: Often called MedPay, this coverage can pay certain medical expenses for injuries you sustain in a motorcycle accident, regardless of who caused the crash.
- Personal injury protection: If it’s available in your state, PIP can cover medical expenses and, in some cases, other losses caused by an accident. However, motorcycles are not always subject to no-fault auto insurance rules, so make sure to check your specific state’s laws.
- Liability insurance: If another driver caused the accident, that driver’s bodily injury liability coverage may pay damages for your medical expenses and other losses.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: This coverage may apply if the at-fault driver has no liability insurance.
- Underinsured motorist coverage: If the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient to cover your damages, underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation.
- Health insurance: Your health insurance may initially pay for medical treatment, though standard deductibles and copays still apply.
A motorcycle accident attorney from Sweet James can evaluate your coverage and break down potential sources of compensation.
What Else Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover?
In addition to coverage for certain medical expenses, motorcycle insurance can protect you against several other types of losses. The exact coverage depends on the policy you purchased, but common motorcycle insurance protections include:
- Liability coverage: This can pay for injuries and property damage you cause to other people when you are legally responsible for an accident.
- Collision coverage: This can help pay to repair or replace your motorcycle when it is damaged in a collision.
- Comprehensive coverage: This can cover certain non-collision losses, such as theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, or damage caused by severe weather.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage: This can provide compensation for injuries and bike repairs caused by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
- Accessory and custom parts coverage: Depending on the specifics of your policy, this may help cover certain aftermarket equipment, accessories, or customizations added to your motorcycle.
- Roadside assistance: Some policies offer services such as towing, battery assistance, flat-tire help, or fuel delivery when your motorcycle becomes disabled.
What if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Enough Insurance?
If the driver who caused your motorcycle accident does not have enough insurance to cover your medical bills and other damages, you may be able to use underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage steps in to pay the remaining gap between the at-fault driver’s policy limits and your actual total damages (such as medical bills and lost wages), up to your own policy limit.
If you have MedPay or PIP coverage, it may also cover your immediate medical expenses. A personal injury lawyer from Sweet James can help identify sources of coverage.
What if the Driver Who Hit Me Was Completely Uninsured?
If the motorist who crashed into you doesn’t have insurance, you may be able to recover damages by filing a claim through your own uninsured motorist coverage. This coverage can potentially help with medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages, depending on the specifics of your policy.
In addition, if you can prove the other party acted negligently, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit against them to obtain additional compensation. However, if that person has few assets, a lawsuit may not be worthwhile.
A personal injury attorney from Sweet James can help determine how to pursue compensation if the other party is uninsured.
What if My Insurance Company Denies My Motorcycle Accident Claim?
After a motorcycle crash, your insurance company may deny or minimize your medical claim for various reasons, including disputes about coverage, causation, policy exclusions, documentation, or the amount of expenses you claim.
However, even if your motorcycle accident claim gets denied, you may still have options. An auto accident lawyer from Sweet James can help gather additional evidence that supports your claim and file an appeal with the insurer.
If the insurer refuses to honor your policy after you file an appeal, you may be able to pursue a bad faith lawsuit to recover the compensation you are owed.
Can I Sue for a Motorcycle Accident?
Yes, you can sue for a motorcycle accident if another party was legally responsible for causing your injuries. A lawsuit may be appropriate if the at-fault party’s insurance does not adequately compensate you, the insurer denies liability, or insurance negotiations don’t result in a fair settlement.
To win a motorcycle accident lawsuit, you generally must establish that the other party was negligent and that their negligence caused the accident and your injuries. Depending on the specifics of your case, you may seek compensation for medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.
The motorcycle accident lawyers at Sweet James can assess your situation and determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit.
What if I Was Partially At Fault for the Accident?
You may still be able to recover compensation if you were partially at fault for a motorcycle accident. However, depending on your state’s comparative negligence rules, the amount you can recover may be reduced based on your percentage of responsibility.
If you were mostly or totally at fault for the crash, you will likely have to rely on your own MedPay coverage to pay for your medical bills (if available).
Consult a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Insurance companies often dispute or minimize motorcycle accident claims, even if you present strong evidence of your losses. A motorcycle accident attorney from Sweet James can identify available sources of coverage, negotiate with insurers, and, if necessary, help you pursue a lawsuit.
Book a free case review to find out how you can recover compensation for your accident.
