State law requires motorcycle riders in Georgia to carry certain insurance coverage for their bikes. The required insurance coverage will protect other drivers on the road if you cause a crash. Optional coverage can protect you if sustain personal injuries and property damage in a crash that was your fault or if the at-fault motorist lacked enough coverage for your losses.
If you are a motorcycle rider in Georgia, it’s crucial to know what type of coverage is required under Georgia law.
What Insurance Do Motorcycle Riders Need?
Liability coverage is the only type of insurance Georgia law requires for motorcycles. Liability insurance protects other drivers when you cause a crash. Other insurance options can protect you if another car hits you and causes serious injuries.
Although these insurance riders are optional under Georgia law, it is wise to purchase them for your own protection. Available insurance coverages include:
- Collision – This coverage pays for any damage to your motorcycle if you caused the accident or if the at-fault driver is not known.
- Comprehensive – This coverage pays for any other damage to the vehicle not related to a collision, such as vandalism, theft, fire, and weather.
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage – This coverage protects you if the at-fault driver does not have insurance. This also applies to hit-and-run accidents where the negligent driver flees the scene and their insurance is unknown.
- Underinsured Motorist Coverage – This coverage protects you if the at-fault driver’s insurance policy is not enough to cover the full extent of your losses. With many motorcycle accidents, riders suffer significant injuries. In many instances, the negligent driver’s policy limits are too low to fully compensate the rider. If this happens, the rider can make a claim on their own UM policy.
- Med-Pay and PIP Insurance – This insurance covers your medical expenses and lost income as the result of an accident. This type of insurance is considered “no-fault” because it kicks in no matter who caused the accident.
- Miscellaneous insurance coverage – You could also purchase policies that cover roadside assistance, rental vehicles, and motorcycle loan repayment if the motorcycle is totaled and the payoff is more than the market value.
Does the Law Require a Motorcycle Operator to Carry Liability Insurance?
Georgia law requires motorcycles and other motorized vehicles to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance. This type of insurance covers other drivers and their vehicles if you caused the accident. The minimums are:
- $25,000 in liability insurance per person for injuries or death
- $50,000 in insurance per accident for injuries or death
- $25,000 in property damage liability insurance per accident
Without this minimum coverage, you may be given a citation and have to pay a fine, including revocation of your motorcycle registration. If you do not have liability coverage, then you are not allowed to ride your motorcycle.
Does My Car Insurance Cover Me on a Motorcycle?
No, your automobile insurance does not extend to your motorcycle. Some people make the mistake of believing that their car insurance will somehow cover their motorcycle if they are in a crash on their bike.
A motorcycle is a particular type of vehicle under Georgia law. It needs to have a separate insurance policy specifically for motorcycles and motorized bikes such as scooters and some motorized bicycles.
If you do not have liability coverage on your motorcycle and cause an accident where someone suffers severe injuries, that person could sue you personally for the damages. You could be personally liable for any personal injury compensation that person would win.
Your car insurance might cover you on a motorcycle in an unusual circumstance, such as when you don’t own a motorcycle but instead have a crash on a borrowed bike.
What Should I Do If I Am in a Motorcycle Accident?
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, the first thing you should do is make sure you are safe and out of harm’s way. After calling 911 and summoning a police officer to the scene, you should focus on doing these things after a motorcycle crash:
- Seek medical attention. The sooner you see a doctor, the better. Not only does this help you heal faster, but it will also help any lawsuit that may arise from the accident. Seeing a doctor right away demonstrates that you were injured and how serious it was.
- Continue to treat as necessary. If your doctor creates a treatment plan for you, follow through with it. Do not stop going to doctor’s appointments, physical therapy appointments, or diagnostic tests. This will help establish the extent of your injuries and create a record of what you had to go through.
- Take notes about your recovery. You should keep frequent notes about how your injuries have affected you and affected your life. Make sure to keep track of the type of treatment you undergo and the daily symptoms that you experience. Write down what things your injuries prevented you from doing, such as hobbies and activities with family and friends.
- Avoid social media. Try not to post anything on social media about your medical condition, symptoms, or the various activities you can and cannot engage in. If the case goes to litigation, the insurance company’s attorney might gain access to all that information, even if you thought it was private.
- Hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you. An experienced injury lawyer will work to protect your rights and seek fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Talk To an Attorney For Help With Your Claim Today
If you were severely injured in a motorcycle accident in Georgia, the lawyers at Butler Kahn can review your situation and advise you about your best legal options. We are here to answer all of your questions and help you through this difficult time. You deserve lawyers who will fight for your rights to full and fair compensation.
We offer free initial consultations, and we won’t charge you anything until we secure compensation for you. Contact us as soon as you are ready to discuss your options.
