It is illegal to drive your motorcycle on Ohio roads without meeting certain minimum requirements for financial responsibility. Most riders meet that standard by buying motorcycle insurance. Insurance coverage is tied to the vehicle, not the individual. If you have an auto insurance policy for a car, that is not sufficient to allow you to ride your motorcycle legally. Given that motorcycle insurance is more or less required for Ohio riders, it is natural to wonder exactly what you are getting for your money.
Choosing Motorcycle Insurance
A bare minimum motorcycle liability insurance package covers $25,000 in bodily injury for a single person in an accident and $50,000 in bodily injury for accidents involving two or more people. In addition, motorcycle insurance must cover at least $25,000 in property damage. This minimum coverage is enough for many mishaps, but is unlikely to make a dent in the expenses generated by a serious crash. Even a non-fatal motorcycle accident can lead to more than $1 million in medical expenses, lost wages, loss of quality of life and pain and suffering. It should come as no surprise that, with so much money at stake, the insurance issues associated with serious motorcycle accidents can become complex.
After A Crash
If you were hit by another driver, your insurance may not be the only source of compensation. The at-fault driver’s insurance policy may cover some or all of your injury claim. If the other driver had no insurance, or did not have enough insurance, you may be able to receive more money from your own insurance company if you have uninsured or underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage. The interplay between your insurance coverage and that of the other driver or drivers involved in the accident can be confusing. Many accident victims feel lost in a sea of red tape as their claims are denied, disputed, discussed and dissected by various insurance personnel.
We advise riders to have an umbrella insurance policy with at least $1 million in coverage. If you carry a passenger on your bike, you should consider more. In the event of an accident, you should choose an attorney who understands motorcycle injuries and the way insurance companies approach these cases. For more advice on dealing with a crash, look at our free eBook, Guiding You Through An Ohio Motorcycle Accident.
Source: DMV.org, “Motorcycle Insurance Minimum Requirements in Ohio,”