In the State of Florida, there are three categories of insurance that may provide benefits to an injured motorcyclists following a Florida Motorcycle Accident.
State Mandated Motorcycle Insurance. Florida has quite limited requirements for insurance to register a motorcycle. In fact, in a way, there is no requirement to have motorcycle insurance in place at all. As long as the motorcycle owner has access to $10,000 or more medical benefit coverage, the motorcycle owner is exempt from carrying any certain form of motorcycle insurrance on the motorcycle. For instance, if the motorcycle owner has a health insurance plan in place that can provide for $10,000 or more in coverage, the motorcycle owner is not required to carry any other insurance. If the motorcycle owner does not have health insurance or a similar policy of insurance, then the motorcycle owner must carry at least $10,000 in medical payment motorcycle insurance to comply with Florida law.
Optional Motorcycle Insurance. Regardless of the state mandated insurance for medical benefits, the motorcycle owner should purchase optional insurnace in the form of Collision / Comprehensive insurance to cover the motorcycle, Medical Payment insurance, Bodily Insurance injury, and Uninsured Motorist or Underinsured Motorist insurance. It is important for a motorcycle owner to speak to an insurance agent about the available coverage and get educated as how the insurance coverages apply to certain situations.
Automobile Insurance of the At-Fault Driver. If a motorcyclists is injured to the fault of another driver, then the injured motorcyclist can seek benefits under the at-fault driver's automobile insurance policy. In the State of Florida, the owner of a motor vehicle is only required to carry PIP (Personal Injury Protection) and Property Damage insurance. If the at-fault driver only carried the minimal insurance, then the motorcyclist, from an insurance standpoint, can only collect insurance proceeds for the repair or replacement of the motorcycle. If the at-fault driver carried optional insurance in the form of Bodily Injury insurance, then the insured motorcyclist can pursue an insurance claim for the medical bills (not covered by the Medical Payment coverage if any) and can also pursue an insurance claim for lost wages, pain, suffering, mental anguish, and the loss of the enjoyment of life.
Insurance coverages and claims in the aftermath of a Florida Motorcycle Accident can be quite confusing. As such, the injured motorcylist should reach out for legal representation from an experienced lawyer. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, David Wolf has over 30 years of experience rerepresenting injured bikers and their families. David Wolf firmly believes in Giving a Voice to Injured Bikers. Contact David Wolf for a Free Consultation. Get D Wolf On Your Side - At Your Side.