Are Motorcycle Accidents Covered By Insurance?

Navigating Insurance After a Motorcycle Crash: What Every Rider Should Know

Yes, insurance typically covers motorcycle accidents, but the specifics depend on your policy and the accident circumstances. If you’re among the thousands of Pennsylvania riders who’ve experienced a crash, understanding your insurance coverage is crucial to protecting your rights and securing compensation. The aftermath of a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming—medical bills pile up, injuries may prevent you from working, and insurance companies often complicate claims for motorcyclists. With Pennsylvania’s complex insurance laws and Philadelphia’s busy urban roads creating additional hazards for riders, knowing exactly what your policy covers could make all the difference in your recovery.

Don’t let the complexities of motorcycle insurance claims leave you in the dust. At Raynes & Lawn, we’re here to help you navigate the twists and turns of your case, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at 1-800-535-1797 or contact us to take the first step toward securing your financial recovery.

Understanding Pennsylvania’s Motorcycle Insurance Laws

Unlike standard auto insurance in Pennsylvania, motorcycle insurance operates under different rules. Pennsylvania is a “choice no fault” state for car insurance, but motorcycles are exempt from this system. Motorcycle riders must carry minimum liability coverage of $15,000 for injury to one person, $30,000 for all injuries in a single accident, and $5,000 for property damage. However, these minimums are rarely sufficient to cover the often catastrophic injuries that result from motorcycle accidents. Medical payment coverage isn’t mandatory for motorcyclists, but it’s highly recommended. Without adequate coverage, riders can face substantial out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, Pennsylvania doesn’t require motorcyclists to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which means your health insurance might become your primary coverage for injuries. This critical distinction is why many riders find themselves financially vulnerable after an accident, even when they thought they were adequately insured.

The Insurance Claim Process After a Motorcycle Accident

Knowing what to expect when filing an insurance claim can help avoid delays and denials. The process can be more challenging for motorcyclists than car drivers due to persistent biases against riders and the severity of injuries typically involved. Following these steps can help strengthen your claim:

Report the accident immediately to the police and your insurance company (ideally within 24 hours)
Collect comprehensive evidence at the scene, including photos, witness information, and police reports
Seek medical attention promptly—even minor injuries can worsen, and failure to get treatment can be used against your claim
Document all medical treatments, expenses, and lost wages—Pennsylvania motorcycle crash data shows that riders who maintain detailed records receive settlements averaging 40% higher than those who don’t
Don’t provide recorded statements to any insurance company without legal representation—insurers are trained to extract statements that can limit their liability

How a Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Maximize Your Insurance Coverage

When insurance companies dispute or deny motorcycle accident claims, experienced legal representation becomes essential. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Philadelphia can identify all potential sources of compensation beyond basic liability coverage, including underinsured motorist coverage, health insurance, and third-party claims. At Raynes & Lawn, we’ve successfully helped riders navigate the complexities of motorcycle accident claims for decades, securing compensation that accounts for the actual long-term impact of injuries. Insurance adjusters typically offer initial settlements that fall far short of covering extensive medical care, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. By analyzing the full scope of your damages and negotiating aggressively with insurers, we ensure that the coverage you’re entitled to materializes in the form of fair compensation.

Types of Insurance Coverage That Apply to Motorcycle Accidents

Understanding the various insurance coverages that apply to your motorcycle accident can help you maximize your potential compensation. Each type serves a different purpose, and knowing how they interact can make a significant difference in your financial recovery.

Liability Insurance and Its Limitations

While liability insurance is mandatory for all Pennsylvania motorcyclists, it only covers damages to others when you’re at fault. It does not protect your injuries or damage to your motorcycle. We’ve seen countless riders who believed their basic liability policy would protect them, only to discover they had no coverage for their substantial medical bills and lost income. This misunderstanding is particularly problematic in Philadelphia, where dense traffic conditions and aggressive driving behaviors contribute to more severe motorcycle collisions with higher associated costs.

Handling Insurance Company Tactics After a Motorcycle Crash

Insurance companies often employ specific strategies to minimize motorcycle accident claims, largely due to the higher costs associated with these accidents. According to data from the Philadelphia Vision Zero Annual Report 2024, motorcycle crashes represent a disproportionate percentage of serious injury and fatal accidents in the city compared to their overall traffic presence. This high-severity profile makes insurers scrutinize motorcycle claims more intensely than other vehicle accidents. Understanding these tactics can help avoid common pitfalls when dealing with insurance adjusters.

Overcoming Bias Against Motorcyclists

One significant challenge motorcycle accident victims face is the persistent bias against riders. Insurance adjusters often leverage unfair stereotypes about motorcyclists being reckless or risk-taking to reduce settlements. They may try to shift blame to you even when evidence indicates another driver was at fault. Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence law means that your compensation can be reduced proportionally if you’re found partially responsible. You may recover nothing if you’re deemed more than 50% responsible. Countering this bias requires thorough documentation, expert testimony, and skilled legal representation that can effectively present evidence of the other party’s liability.

Special Considerations for Philadelphia Motorcycle Accidents

Philadelphia presents unique challenges for motorcyclists seeking insurance coverage after accidents. The city’s aging infrastructure, congested streets, and high volume of commercial vehicles create distinct hazards that can complicate liability determinations and insurance claims.

Multi-Party Liability in Urban Accidents

Urban motorcycle accidents often involve multiple potentially liable parties beyond just another driver. Road defects, construction hazards, and commercial vehicles are common factors in Philadelphia motorcycle crashes. This complexity can work in your favor if properly investigated. When multiple insurance policies may apply, the potential compensation increases significantly. For example, if your accident involved a delivery truck with poor maintenance, both the driver’s insurance and the company’s commercial policy could be sources of recovery. Similarly, if road conditions contributed to your crash, government entities may bear partial responsibility, opening additional avenues for compensation beyond your standard insurance claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What insurance coverage do I need as a motorcyclist in Pennsylvania?

At a minimum, Pennsylvania law requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance with limits of $15,000 for injury to one person, $30,000 for all injuries in a single accident, and $5,000 for property damage. However, these minimums are rarely sufficient to cover serious injuries. We strongly recommend adding collision coverage for your bike, comprehensive coverage for non-accident damage, medical payments coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to protect yourself adequately. Unlike car insurance, motorcycle policies don’t operate under Pennsylvania’s no fault system, making these additional coverages especially important.

2. How does a Philadelphia motorcycle crash attorney help with insurance claims?

A Philadelphia motorcycle crash attorney provides crucial assistance by identifying all potential sources of compensation, accurately valuing your claim, gathering and preserving evidence, handling all communications with insurance companies, negotiating for maximum settlements, and representing you at trial if necessary. Insurance companies typically offer motorcyclists significantly lower settlements than they deserve, knowing that catastrophic injuries often exceed policy limits. An experienced attorney can counter insurance company tactics, overcome bias against motorcyclists, and ensure that all avenues of recovery are pursued, potentially increasing your compensation by hundreds of thousands of dollars in serious injury cases.

3. Can I still recover compensation if I wasn’t wearing a helmet during my motorcycle accident?

Yes, you can still recover compensation if you weren’t wearing a helmet, but it may affect your claim. Pennsylvania law only requires helmets for riders under 21 or those with less than two years of riding experience who haven’t completed a safety course. However, insurance companies may argue that your injuries were worse due to not wearing a helmet, potentially reducing your compensation through comparative negligence. A Philadelphia motorcycle injury lawyer can help counter these arguments by establishing that specific injuries would have occurred regardless of helmet use and demonstrating the other driver’s primary responsibility for causing the accident.

4. How long must I file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit for a motorcycle crash. However, some exceptions shorten this timeframe, particularly if a government entity is involved (such as cases involving road defects), which requires notice within just six months. Insurance claims should be filed sooner—typically within days of the accident. Delaying can jeopardize your claim as evidence disappears, witness memories fade, and insurance companies become more suspicious of late-reported injuries. It’s best to consult with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Philadelphia as soon as possible after your crash.

5. What if the at-fault driver’s insurance isn’t enough to cover my motorcycle injuries?

If the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient, you have several options. First, if you carry underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on your motorcycle policy, you can claim your insurance after exhausting the at-fault driver’s limits. Second, you may be able to pursue a claim against the driver personally if they have significant assets. Third, there may be additional liable parties whose insurance could provide compensation, such as vehicle manufacturers (in cases of defects), government entities (for road hazards), or employers (if the at-fault driver was working). A Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawsuit often involves identifying these additional sources of recovery, which is why legal representation is particularly valuable in severe injury cases.

Work with a Personal Injury Lawyer

Motorcycle accidents typically result in more severe injuries and complex insurance issues than standard auto accidents. Working with a personal injury lawyer who is skilled in motorcycle cases ensures you have an advocate who understands these distinctions. When selecting an attorney, look for someone with specific experience handling motorcycle claims in Pennsylvania, knowledge of local traffic patterns and accident hotspots, and a track record of successful settlements and verdicts for riders. The right attorney will handle all aspects of your claim—from initial investigation through settlement negotiations or trial—while you focus on recovery. Most motorcycle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront, and they only collect a fee if they secure compensation for you. This arrangement allows injured riders to access quality legal representation regardless of their financial situation during a difficult recovery period.

Don’t let the intricacies of motorcycle insurance claims leave you spinning your wheels. At Raynes & Lawn, we’re committed to guiding you through the maze of your case, ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today at 1-800-535-1797 or contact us to begin your journey toward financial recovery.