Everyone takes a risk when they ride in their vehicles, but motorcyclists take an even higher risk. The fact that they are more challenging to see than other vehicles increases their chances of being involved in an accident. Because of this, motorcyclists want to make sure they are adequately insured.
If you are a motorcyclist, and you are unsure of what type of insurance you need to be appropriately covered, this article will provide you with what you need to know.
What is Motorcycle Liability Insurance?
All vehicles on the road must have minimum liability insurance.
Liability insurance can help you in accidents where you are the at-fault driver. So, for instance, if you got into an accident and you had liability insurance, the policy would cover the injuries the other driver sustained as well as the damage done to his or her car.
However, if the tables are turned, and you are the one who sustained the injuries and damage, the at-fault driver would be responsible for covering you. This is all well and good as long as that driver has enough insurance to cover the damages.
To avoid situations where a driver may not have enough insurance to compensate you, you can purchase Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UIM).
Understanding UIM
UIM covers you in cases where the other driver has insurance, but it is not enough to fully cover your damages. So, if the accident caused $75,000 in damages, and the driver only has enough insurance to cover $50,000, your UIM would get triggered to cover the remaining balance.
UIM can also cover damages done by a driver that doesn’t have insurance at all.
In the state of South Carolina, you can purchase UIM insurance up to the amount that matches your liability insurance. So, if you have $50,000 worth of liability insurance, you can buy up to $50,000 in UIM insurance.
UIM insurance will make your premium go up, but it can cover both you and your passengers in the case of an accident, making it a worthwhile investment.
How to Make Sure You Are Protected in the Event of an Accident
Even though insurance will help cover your expenses in the case of an accident, it is vital to have a reliable motorcycle accident lawyer on your side.
If you are the victim of an accident, many insurance companies will give you low ball offers to try to avoid paying large amounts of money. The amount they are giving you may seem like a lot of money at the time, but down the line, you may find it is not enough to cover your expenses.
The right motorcycle accident lawyer will know precisely how much money you should be getting, and they will deal with your insurance company to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
If you are looking for a Columbia motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you in your accident, Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers is highly recommended.
Jeffcoat Injury and Car Accident Lawyers has years of experience in the fields of motorcycle accidents and personal injuries. They understand how traumatic a motorcycle accident can be, and they treat their clients with the necessary amount of care and respect. But that doesn’t stop them from taking an aggressive approach when it comes to seeing that the people they represent get the compensation they deserve.
Motorcycles are a convenient mode of transportation, but drivers must take extra safety precautions to avoid damage and injuries. If you ride a motorcycle, be sure you have the necessary insurance to protect you in case of an accident.
