What Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover in Florida?

Although motorcycle insurance is not legally required in Florida, there are different types of coverage available for bikers AND THIS IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Carrying insurance can help with the cost of property damage and medical bills after an accident, depending on your policy.  This is even more important if you are considered to be “at-fault.”

Taking a ride on a motorcycle can give you a feeling of freedom that is hard to find anywhere else. But with so much exposure to impact, bikers can be at risk for life-threatening and traumatic injuries in an accident.

Someome on a motorcycle is more vulnerable to serious injuries or death in the event of a collision because they do not have the buffer of a hard metal structure around them, like someone in a car or truck. Unfortunately, severe accident injuries can lead to sky-high medical bills, lost wages, and incredible pain and suffering–meaning you can be more at risk for financial ruin from a motorcycle collision.

We have helped many people who have struggled to face devastating financial issues after a motorcycle crash. It’s a big reason why we always advise bikers in Florida to buy a motorcycle insurance policy just in case. 

Keep in mind that everyone’s lifestyle, driving habits, and monetary needs are different. You may want to speak with an insurance provider as well as an experienced attorney for more details on which coverage is best for you.

Is Motorcycle Insurance Required In Florida?

Florida has a requirement for all drivers of registered motor vehicles to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), also called “no-fault” insurance, but this does not apply to motorcycles.  In fact, motorcycles are specifically excluded in this statute. With this statewide PIP system, victims call on their own insurance carrier to make an injury claim after an accident. 

Can I drive a motorcycle in Florida without insurance?

Even though motorcycle insurance isn’t required, Sunshine State riders can still face penalties if involved in crashes without insurance. If you’re found to be at fault for an accident and don’t have liability insurance, you may have your license suspended, lose riding privileges, and face civil fines.

The “no-fault” comes into play when injured people who are covered by PIP get their benefits through their insurer no matter who was at fault for the accident. This structure was designed to save drivers from having to spend time proving fault in order to get a payout for urgent, accident-related expenses, like medical bills or lost wages. 

For the most part, PIP insurance is available only to 4-wheeled motor vehicles and not motorcycles. Not many carriers extend PIP coverage to motorcycles, and it can be expensive. More importantly is buying the proper amount of Uninsured Motorist coverage.

Aside from the cost, there is generally no requirement to carry PIP for a motorcycle, or even carry any insurance at all. However, you can be on the hook for penalties if you are found at-fault for an accident with no motorcycle insurance coverage. 

The only time bikers are required to carry insurance in Florida is if they are over 21 years old and choose to ride without a helmet. Making this choice can carry a risk of serious injury or even death, so we recommend that everyone wear a helmet and any additional protective gear that is appropriate for a ride.

Why Should Bikers Carry Motorcycle Coverage?

All Floridians should be warned that if you carry mandatory PIP insurance for a motor vehicle, PIP injury benefits do not transfer over to your bike if you are hurt in an accident while out riding. This may seem strange because otherwise your PIP coverage “follows” you while you are a passenger, or on a bicycle, but the state considers motorcycles to be in a different insurance class altogether.

Without PIP coverage, bikers generally cannot rely on the no-fault system to get compensated if they need to recover from another driver for losses related to their accident. Some common losses, also called “damages,” that you may be suffering from after a motorcycle crash can include:

• Lost income from missed work
• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering from injuries
• Damage to your motorcycle or personal items

Going through the process of making a claim and securing fair accident compensation can be confusing for many people, especially at such a difficult time already. Not to mention the fact that insurance adjusters have a priority to minimize payouts as much as possible.

This is where an attorney can step in to relieve your stress: they can tell you about your legal options, give you an idea of how much your claim could be worth, and handle the legal paperwork, giving you the chance to focus on getting better. Attorney Martin Hernandez is ready to meet with you about your case for free. Call 813.755.9500 or go to our homepage to set up your one-on-one consultation today.

In case the worst happens (and it’s usually not when you’d expect it), it is always a good idea to carry insurance for your bike, at the same level of coverage as any motor vehicle–or at the very least, with standard “full coverage”. Speak with an experienced attorney to understand what amount of insurance is appropriate for you and how a motorcycle policy works. 

What Insurance Options Are Available For Bikers In Florida?

Most major carriers offer liability insurance, plus a lot of different options and add-on coverages that motorcycle riders can use to protect themselves. Speak with your insurance provider if you have questions about specific kinds of insurance or what amount of coverage you should get to fit your lifestyle. 

Liability/Bodily Injury

A standard Florida motorcycle insurance policy usually includes some liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. A liability policy is designed to pay for other people’s accident-related injuries or property damage. Depending on the insurance you get, it can also cover you for your injuries and the damage to your bike resulting from a crash. 

Liability insurance for bikers has limits for coverage. But a typical policy will look like:

• $10,000 bodily injury liability coverage, per person
• $20,000 bodily injury liability coverage, per accident
• $10,000 property damage liability insurance.

These amounts show the “policy limits” (the maximum payouts possible) to cover certain kinds of damages that could be caused in a collision. For instance, $10,000 for bodily injury coverage per person means that your insurer will pay up to $10,000 for each person that is injured in a crash. 

However, the $20,000 limit per accident above puts a cap on your coverage for any single accident. When bodily injury bills go beyond that specific limit, insurers will usually try to use other types of coverage to make up for the difference. 

Remember that no two accidents are the same. If you were injured in a crash and are confused about your bike coverage, speak to an experienced personal injury attorney for help. They can discuss your options and determine some possible outcomes for you. 

For bikers that want to have medical bills from an accident covered or Med Pay is an option. Med Pay stands for “medical payments coverage,” and it works similarly to the average drivers’ PIP insurance. Motorcycle riders can choose from a range of policy limits for Med Pay to cover medical costs like health insurance deductibles, co-pays, prescriptions, and more. 

If you choose to get liability insurance for your bike, here are some optional forms of coverage that you may want to add to your policy in addition:

Collision

Collision coverage can pay for the cost of damage to your own motorcycle.

Comprehensive

This type of insurance covers you for incidents that are not necessarily accident-related, like vandalism, theft, or bad weather events. 

Uninsured/Underinsured motorist (UM)

Say you are hurt in a crash while riding and it’s another driver’s fault. If they don’t carry auto insurance, or their insurance falls short of what you need to recover, then UM insurance is designed to help bridge that gap.

For more details on what kinds of insurance are available for your motorcycle and what each one covers, you may want to speak with an insurance agent. An experienced attorney should also be able to explain to you what types of coverage and policy limits are most helpful to protect you in case of a crash.

Finding The Right Attorney For Your Motorcycle Injuries

Motorcycle accidents can be catastrophic, deadly, or life-altering events for bikers. If you were hurt in an accident while riding, you will probably want an attorney who is familiar with motorcycle cases and injuries to protect your claim. 

Martin Hernandez has worked hard to hold negligent parties accountable and get our clients the results they deserve. Call us today at 813.755.9500 or visit our homepage for your free and 100% confidential case review.