What are the Different Types of Motorcycle Insurance?

September 30, 2020 | Motorcycle Accident

All drivers must be insured if they want to operate their vehicles safely on the roadways of West Virginia. This includes motorcycle operators. Some people may not realize that motorcyclists in West Virginia must obtain a separate insurance policy apart from their traditional vehicle insurance policy in order to operate their cycles legally. Whether you are looking for an exhilarating weekend riding experience or use your motorcycle as your regular mode of transportation, you must have insurance to protect yourself, your passengers, and others. 

West Virginia Motorcycle Insurance Requirements 

When we turn to the West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, we can see that the minimum liability insurance requirements for motorcyclists include the following:

• $20,000 bodily injury per person
• $40,000 bodily injury per accident
• $10,000 property damage per accident

However, these minimums may not be adequate to cover anything more than a minor motorcycle accident. It is recommended that all motorcyclists in West Virginia consider purchasing higher insurance limitations that can cover more severe crashes. 

Other Types of Motorcycle Insurance Coverage

As mentioned above, all motorcyclists in West Virginia must have bodily injury liability coverage as well as property damage liability coverage. However, most motorcycle insurance carriers will provide other types of coverages that motorcyclists can purchase. This includes:

• Medical payments. This will cover reasonable and necessary medical expenses as a result of injuries to you or your passengers. 
• Personal injury protection. This coverage can reimburse your medical expenses, lost income, childcare, and other out-of-pocket expenses you incur as a result of the collision. 
• Collision coverage. This will handle damages to a motorcycle that result from a collision with another vehicle, stationary object, etc. 
• Comprehensive coverage. This covers damages to a motorcycle that are not caused by a crash with another vehicle, including things like flooding, vandalism, theft, tree damage, etc. 
• Uninsured and underinsured coverage. If you get into an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, this will cover your expenses. This includes collisions with hit and run drivers. 
• Towing and labor. This could reimburse your costs of towing and related labor if your motorcycle breaks down. 
• Rental reimbursement. This will help cover the cost of a rental if your motorcycle is being repaired or is stolen. 
• Optional or added equipment. If you have added any additional equipment, such as aftermarket enhancements, this type of insurance will cover the add-ons.
• Lease loan gap coverage. If your bike is totaled or stolen, this type of coverage will pay the difference between what your motorcycle is worth and what you still owe on the loan or lease for the bike. 

Insurance is Your Protection – You May Need an Attorney

While insurance coverage is your protection in the event an accident occurs, it may still be necessary for you to secure a motorcycle accident lawyer in order to obtain maximum compensation should you be involved in a motorcycle collision. These cases can become complicated, but an accident attorney in Martinsburg will have the resources and experience necessary to conduct a full investigation into your case. Your attorney will be your advocate, and they will not back down from aggressive insurance carriers. Contact Manchin Ferretti Injury Law to schedule a free consultation about your motorcycle accident case.