Logan Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Motorcycle injury attorneys become steadfast defenders for riders when disaster occurs. Specializing in motorcycle accidents, they manage legal challenges to ensure injured riders receive the justice and compensation they deserve.

Default May Not Be Enough: Explore Motorcycle Insurance Company Coverage

Understanding Motorcycle Insurance in Iowa

Iowa motorcyclists who don’t carry motorcycle insurance can lose their licenses if pulled over by a policeman, per the Iowa Financial and Safety Responsibility Act. Additionally, a biker can be held responsible for the full cost of all repairs and medical bills if at fault for an accident. To ensure a carefree riding experience, investigate what the motorcycle insurance company has to offer. It is more than just bodily injury and property damage liability.

A little extra money on the front end could save you thousands later when you don’t have the means to make extra cash after a motorcycle crash. The following provides some optional vehicle coverage options worth considering.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

While you may carry insurance, not all drivers do. And, if you’re in an accident caused by another driver, the other driver’s insurance may not be enough to pay for your injuries. By purchasing an uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage policy, you can help to ensure that your damages are paid in the event of an accident caused by someone else.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that occur to your bike for things other than a motor vehicle accident:
- Flood
- Fire
- Vandalism

Collision coverage, on the other hand, helps cover the cost of repairs in the event that you’re involved in an accident that’s caused by colliding with another object, not another motor vehicle.

Medical Expense Coverage

Medical expense coverage is one of the most valuable types of coverage options to have, as it will pay for the medical expenses of both you and any of your passengers in the event of an accident, no matter who caused the motorcycle wreck.

Roadside Assistance Coverage

If you have an accident while on a ride, run out of gas, or experience a breakdown, roadside assistance coverage provides you with free towing. Excursion diversion insurance, sometimes called interrupted trip insurance, pairs well with roadside assistance coverage, as it provides riders with lodging, food, and transportation in the event of an accident that occurs more than 100 miles from your home. If you follow this pre-ride checklist for bikers, you may not need to use roadside assistance with any frequency.

When Damages are So Severe that Insurance Coverage is Not Enough

Despite the many types of auto insurance options for motorcyclists available, sometimes, the damages that result from an accident are so severe that insurance alone is not enough. When this happens, you should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit for damages to recover the total cost of all damages incurred. In Iowa, a claim must be filed within two years’ time under Iowa Code 614.1.

How to Deal with an Aggressive Driver if You’re on a Motorcycle

Knowing how to deal with an aggressive driver is an unfortunate reality for bikers. Drivers will run you off the road either through inattentiveness or because they feel more powerful behind the wheels of their cars. Despite how aggravating it can be, you’ve got to bear in mind that when you’re on a motorcycle, you are at risk for a motorcycle accident which often results in serious injuries. Knowing how to deal with an aggressive driver if you’re riding a bike is essential to your safety.

Don’t Respond to Road Rage

Another driver who’s frustrated with traffic or the way that you’re operating your motorcycle may demonstrate road rage. Yelling, using obscene language or gestures, tailgating, speeding, or otherwise driving aggressively and dangerously often characterizes road rage.

While responding to the driver’s road rage aggressively—and even falling victim to an episode of road rage yourself—can be an easy trap to fall into, avoid the temptation. Responding to an episode of road rage can be dangerous for both yourself and the other driver. Instead, keep your distance and keep your cool.

Move Over if Being Tailgated

Tailgating is a very common form of aggressive driving. While being tailgated is frustrating and you may have the urge to slow down even more in response, the best thing that you can do is just to change lanes and allow the tailgater to pass. Don’t speed up to please the tailgater, as doing so may be dangerous. Allowing the tailgater to pass solves the problem safely.

Report the Driver

If necessary, you may need to pull over to the side of the road or exit the highway to allow the aggressive driver to pass. If this is the case, you should also consider reporting the aggressive driver, especially if the driver seems dangerous. 

Know How to Stay Safe While Riding

Knowing how to handle an aggressive driver while riding a motorcycle is just one of the many things that you need to do to stay safe. Don’t forget other motorcycle safety tips, like always wearing a helmet and what to put in your motorcycle safety kit. You can find a variety of other safety tips for motorcyclists on our blog.

How Does Motorcycle Insurance Help Injured Riders in Iowa?

Insurance laws in Iowa require drivers meet minimum liability coverage amounts. Minimum liability coverage mounts are:
- $20,000 bodily injury (for one person);
- $40,000 bodily injury (for more than one person); and
- $15,000 (property damage).

Motorcyclists are also required to meet this minimum liability coverage. In the event of an accident that another motorist caused, injured bikers may pursue a claim against that motorist’s liability coverage.

Importance of Insurance Coverage for Motorcyclists

Meeting the minimum required amounts is certainly helpful in the event a motorcyclist is at fault for an accident. For even better financial protection in the event the rider causes an accident and is liable for damages, many choose higher amounts of coverage.

Of course, in the event another driver is liable for the accident, riders cannot recover from their own liability coverage. Instead, they’d rely on filing a claim against the other driver.

But remember that even though insurance is required, not all drivers will carry it or their coverage may not be enough to pay for all damages. So some motorcyclists may instead rely on other coverage on their policy to provide them compensation for damages.

Options for Additional Coverage

One option is to purchase medical payments coverage. This type of coverage is no-fault, which means that no matter who was responsible for the accident, it will provide coverage of medical costs. A benefit to medical payments is that if the insurance companies are taking a long time to assign blame in the accident or negotiations for a settlement have stalled, much of the medical bills can be taken care of right away.

Another type of coverage that might help motorcyclists in the event of an accident is uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. There’s no guarantee that the at-fault driver has insurance or his/her coverage is enough. That’s where this insurance kicks in. It could pay for medical bills, lost earnings and other accident-related expenses.

How Insurance Coverage Can Impact a Motorcycle Accident Claim

Having enough coverage is critical for motorcyclists. Especially since these types of accidents are oftentimes catastrophic or the injuries require months of recovery. For some, a collision could result in permanent disability.

Let’s say a motorcyclist was struck by a drunk driver on Interstate 235 in Des Moines and sustained significant head trauma, multiple fractures and injuries to the neck and back. The at-fault motorist has the minimum amount of insurance required ($20,000) but the bills exceed this. The rider’s underinsured motorist coverage could cover anything beyond the $20,000, up to the limits of his policy.

And there is always the risk that a motorcyclist is seriously injured in a hit and run. When a driver flees the scene of the accident, having uninsured motorist coverage can help pay for damages until (and if) the person is caught.

Consulting a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.

Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595.