Motorcycle Insurance: What Every Rider Should Know

Motorcycle riding is a fun and thrilling hobby, but bikers must have motorcycle insurance.

Insurance can protect you financially if you are liable for a motorcycle accident. If another party is at fault, their insurance can provide you with financial compensation. Before heading out onto the road, every rider should know about Idaho’s insurance laws and the role they will play if you suffer injuries in a crash. Our Idaho motorcycle accident lawyers can explain these laws to you.

Idaho’s Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: What Every Rider Should Know

Idaho is an at-fault state, meaning drivers are financially responsible if they are found liable for a crash. To pay for accidents, motorists, including motorcycle riders, must carry liability insurance in the following amounts:

• $25,000 per person to cover bodily injuries
• $50,000 per accident to cover bodily injuries
• $15,000 to cover property damage

According to the Idaho Department of Insurance (DOI), insurance companies must also provide uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) protection unless you expressly reject this coverage in writing. UM/UIM is usually equal to your bodily injury liability policy limit.

In addition, you can choose to buy optional coverage, such as medical payments (MedPay) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This coverage pays for certain expenses stemming from an accident, regardless of fault.

Who Pays if You Are Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident?

If you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, you can seek compensation with a claim against their liability insurance or via a personal injury lawsuit if necessary.

If you are at fault, your motorcycle insurance is responsible for paying for injuries and damage you cause to others. If you are liable and injured, you will turn to your PIP insurance first. If you do not have such coverage or if your medical bills exceed your policy limit, your health insurance may pay for your medical treatment.

Every rider should know about the insurance coverage available to them after a collision. If you were in a motorcycle crash, an Idaho personal injury lawyer with our law firm can tell you more about your options for pursuing damages.

Damages You Can Recover for a Motorcycle Crash

If a negligent driver caused your motorcycle accident, you can seek compensation for the following:

• Medical expenses – including ambulance fees, hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor bills, rehabilitation and physical therapy, medical equipment, nursing, and attendant care
• Lost wages, earnings, and benefits – including lost earning capacity if you sustained a permanent or disabling injury that forces you to change jobs, reduce your hours, or leave the workforce
• Motorcycle damage – including repair bills or, if the damages represent a total loss, your bike’s fair market value
• Physical pain and suffering – including severe and chronic pain, loss of mobility, loss of a bodily function, scarring, and disfigurement
• Mental anguish and emotional distress – including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and overall reduced quality of life
• Wrongful death of a loved one – including medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of your family member’s financial support and household services

How to Prove Financial Responsibility for a Motorcycle Collision

To get compensation from an at-fault party, you must prove that their negligent actions caused the crash. Examples of negligent driving that can lead to a motorcycle accident include:

• Following or passing a motorcycle too closely
• Crowding a motorcyclist’s lane or attempting to lane share with a rider
• Making an improper left turn
• Failing to stop at a marked crosswalk, stop sign, or red light
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Driving drunk
• Driving distracted
• Driving aggressively or recklessly
• Speeding

To prove your case, you will need evidence. Our legal team can collect materials like:

• Video footage of the crash
• Physical evidence, including photos and videos, collected at the accident scene
• Eyewitness statements
• Police reports
• Medical records
• Testimony from relevant experts
• Bill, receipts, and other proof of your losses
• Estimates regarding your future medical needs and other ongoing expenses

How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Insurance Claim?

You should notify your motorcycle insurance provider immediately following an accident. You should also promptly file claims with an at-fault party’s insurer. Delays could cause you to miss policy deadlines or lead to accusations that your injury did not arise from the crash.

If legal action is needed to secure fair compensation, Idaho Statutes § 5-219 allows two years to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. If time runs out, the court will likely bar your case.

Idaho Motorcycle Laws

In addition to the statute of limitations, motorcycle laws may affect your case. These laws, per the “Idaho Motorcycle Rider’s Handbook” published by the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), include the following:

• Riders must have a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement to operate a motorcycle in the state legally. (Page 9)
• Riders under age 18 must wear a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)-compliant helmet when operating a motorcycle or ATV. (Page 19)
• “Lane filtering” or “lane splitting” is illegal. It is the practice of maneuvering around slow-moving traffic or weaving in and out of higher-speed traffic, usually on a divided highway. (Page 45)
• Lane sharing is also illegal. Lane sharing is the practice of riding side-by-side (two abreast) in the same lane. (Page 45)

Do You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

No law requires you to hire a lawyer to handle a motorcycle accident claim. However, insurance companies, even your own medical benefits provider, will often look for reasons to reduce or deny claims because doing so increases their profits.

A motorcycle accident attorney with our firm can help you build a solid case proving your right to compensation. We can review all involved policies, file claims with your insurer and an at-fault party’s, and aggressively negotiate for the maximum possible settlement. An Idaho lawyer can also help you identify all of your recoverable damages so you do not leave money on the table.

Contact Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you were in a collision, a motorcycle accident attorney with Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers can tell you everything you should know about motorcycle insurance. We have obtained over $40 million in settlements, judgments, and verdicts for our clients across Idaho and California. Contact us online or call 24/7 for a free consultation. We take cases on contingency.