How is motorcycle accident insurance different from car insurance in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, when you shop for motorcycle insurance, there are different things to consider than when you shop for regular auto coverage. The main difference is that for auto insurance, Pennsylvania law requires a minimum coverage of $5,000 in medical coverage benefits, also called “no-fault” or PIP coverage.
However, with motorcycle insurance, Pennsylvania law does not require medical coverage. In fact, many motorcycle insurers do not provide medical coverage in Pennsylvania.
Another important difference is that there is no “limited error” with motorcycle insurance in Pennsylvania. With Auto Insurance in PA, you have to choose between limited or wrong full. Total Tort is more expensive, but protects your rights to file a bodily injury/pain and suffering claim (there is no threshold requirement of a “serious injury” with total tort). With motorcycle coverage in Pennsylvania, basically every claim is dead wrong.
The other big difference in PA is that under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law, it is more difficult for a health insurer to “subrogate” or make a lien in order to be reimbursed from a car accident settlement or recovery. The health insurance plan must be of a certain type. However, with motorcycle claims, your health insurance is not subject to the same limitations, and therefore you have a better chance of being reimbursed for an insurance claim. That may be one more reason for you to consider getting medical coverage when shopping for Pennsylvania motorcycle insurance.
Another difference is that if you are injured in a car, you are more likely to be able to “stack” or combine any other separate home auto insurance coverage. Let’s say, for example, that his brother lives with you and has a separate insurance policy: He may be able to get additional insurance coverage for a car accident under his policy. Often in Pennsylvania when you have a motorcycle accident, any home auto insurance will have an exclusion, meaning no coverage, if you were the occupant of a motorcycle. So you wouldn’t be able to stack, i.e. combine your motorcycle insurance with your home car insurance in that case.
CONSIDER THIS:
If you don’t have health insurance, you should look for a motorcycle insurer and a policy that has medical coverage. This is because if you don’t have medical coverage on your motorcycle, then your health insurance covers it.
If you have questions, you should make sure your agent explains the coverages to you.
You should also make sure you have the motorcycle insured for property damage. Save all receipts for custom parts or accessories. If you ever have material damage to your motorcycle, you will need receipts.