Our law firm recommends motorcycle insurance with adequate coverage to protect you.
Motorcycles are excluded from the definition of a motor vehicle. Anyone operating a motorcycle in Michigan must purchase liability coverage through a licensed insurer. You should understand the differences between automobile and motorcycle insurance to ensure you are adequately protected. The Michigan no-fault law only requires owners or registrants of motor vehicles to purchase auto no-fault insurance coverage.
Yes, under Michigan law, the owner or registrant of a motorcycle is required to purchase liability insurance coverage for bodily injury, death, or property damage caused to others. Insurance company’s commonly refer to this liability insurance coverage as PLPD coverage. If the owner or registrant of a motorcycle fails to purchase PLPD coverage, serious penalties can be imposed, including a misdemeanor conviction, fine, and/or imprisonment. The failure to purchase the required motorcycle coverage can jeopardize your right to no fault benefits.
Motorcyclists may purchase motorcycle PIP insurance. Insurance companies are required by law to offer this coverage to motorcycle owners or registrants in levels of optional coverage. These medical benefits protect the owner or registrant of a motorcycle injured in a motorcycle accident from financial losses. These motorcycle PIP benefits can be purchased on a primary or coordinated basis. Don’t make the mistake of refusing the recommended optional coverages.
In Michigan all motorcyclists must purchase auto no-fault insurance coverage. An insurer selling a motorcycle policy in Michigan must offer the choice to purchase optional medical benefits. The insurance agent will offer you options. You should select the options on their auto insurance policy that include the following:
Lower coverages are not worth the risk for the savings. While “uninsured motorist” (UM) and “underinsured motorist” (UIM) coverage is not required for motorcyclists, they provide crucial protection. Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) provide a necessary source of benefits when a motorcyclist is injured in an auto accident by a hit-and-run driver, an uninsured driver or a driver who does not have adequate bodily injury coverage. Without a UM or UIM coverage policy, a motorcyclist injured by an uninsured or underinsured motorist will have no practical way to recover benefits. Unfortunately, in 2019, the Michigan no-fault reforms brought more risk to motorcyclists now because the motorcyclist can no longer claim personal protection insurance benefits through the involved vehicles insurance. The motorcyclist can now choose medical benefits coverage, which ultimately limit the amount available to injured motorcyclists.
In Michigan, driving without the required motorcycle insurance coverage is a misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of $200 to $500, up to one year in jail or both. See MCL 500.3102(2). Additionally, an uninsured motorcyclist will be disqualified from recovering the Personal Injury Protection Benefits that he or she would have otherwise been entitled to receive. See MCL 500.3113(b). However, failure to have motorcyclist insurance will not disqualify you from suing the at-fault motorist who caused the crash for pain and suffering. See MCL 500.3135(2)(c).
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash and would like to speak to an experienced personal injury attorney, call toll free anytime 24/7 at 248-352-2110 or toll free at (866) HIRE-JOE for a free consultation or send a message to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney here.
