Riding your bike on the roads gives you the thrill and excitement you can experience nowhere else. However, riding a motorcycle can be risky, and to ensure that you are always covered, you must buy motorcycle insurance.
This blog will discuss why motorcycle insurance is a must-have coverage for all motorcyclists and the essential coverages you may consider while selecting the best motorcycle insurance policy.
High Motorcycle Accident Fatality Rates
Recent statistics show the alarmingly high rates of motorcycle accidents that increase yearly. According to the National Safety Council (NSC) Injury Facts, in 2020, although motorcycles comprised only 3% of all registered vehicles in the country, motorcyclists were involved in 14% of all traffic fatalities, 18% of all occupants fatalities, and 4% of all occupant injuries.
There was an 11% increase in fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers in just a year between 2019-2020. While the number of motorcycle fatalities in 2020 was 5,579, the motorcycle injuries in the same year were an exceedingly high 83,000.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
The most common causes of motorcycle accidents are:
- Collisions due to low visibility
Motorcyclists are only sometimes easily visible. Intersections are where most collisions occur when the other vehicle driver fails to spot the motorcyclist. The collisions are mostly head-on or when the other driver swerves to the left and collides with a motorcyclist moving ahead.
- Bad road and weather conditions
Maintaining balance on uneven roads or in inclement weather is particularly challenging for motorcyclists and often results in accidents.
- Rash driving
With the motorcycle zooming and the adrenalin pumping, motorcyclists often forget to follow traffic regulations by speeding beyond the allowed limit, weaving between lanes, and driving under alcohol. This often leads to horrific crashes and accidents.
Common motorcycle injuries
Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable to severe injuries and fatalities than other drivers because they are entirely exposed. The common non-fatal but debilitating injuries seen among motorcycle riders after an accident are:
- Road rash
- Fractures and broken bones
- Burns
- Lower extremity injuries
However, some accidents can result in more severe and life-threatening conditions, such as:
- Limb amputations
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Specifics
Motorcycle insurance is a specialty insurance that you must buy if you are a proud motorcycle owner. It protects you and your motorcycle from a wide range of covered perils that otherwise may set you back considerably financially. While most states require you to carry minimum liability coverage, for better protection, you may consider the following coverages:
- Personal Injury ProtectionIt covers your and your passenger’s injuries regardless of who caused the accident. It also offers lost wages if you are unable to work.
- Uninsured/Underinsured CoverageIt covers your medical expenses if the at-fault driver has no liability insurance.
- Property Damage CoverageIt covers your motorcycle repair and replacement costs if you are the at-fault driver.
Ride Safely with Family Financial Insurance
For more information on motorcycle insurance, contact us today. At Family Financial Insurance Group, we can help you get the right insurance coverage that aligns with your unique lifestyle, needs, and budget.