Most motorcyclists in Ocala may hold firm to the thought that if they are ever injured in a motorcycle accident, their insurance policies will cover their expenses. At the same time, however, many are also grossly underinsured and do not even know it. It may be tempting to simply go with a policy that meets minimum Florida motorcycle insurance requirements. If one decides to do that in Florida, he or she could end up facing an enormous amount of medical and repair expenses should an accident ever occur.
The minimum Florida motorcycle insurance requirements are the same as they are for those who operate any self-propelled vehicle. These requirements are:
- $10,000 of bodily injury liability coverage for one person.
- $10,000 of property liability coverage.
- $20,000 of bodily injury liability coverage for two or more people.
One should take notice that no mention is made here of medical payment insurance, which covers the expenses that the motorcyclists themselves incur in an accident. Such protection is often only made available through comprehensive coverage.
Another factor to be considered when evaluating Florida motorcycle insurance requirements is helmet use. Title XXIII, Section 316.211.3b of the Florida State Statutes says that riders over the age of 21 who carry medical payment insurance coverage of at least $10,000 are not required to wear helmets. However, the website InsuranceQuotes.org cites data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that shows the medical costs for injured motorcyclists not wearing helmets to average $17,704. Thus, even with the minimum of $10,000 in coverage, one could still be left with a hefty medical bill.
The point being made here is that one should clearly understand his or her motorcycle insurance needs, and if necessary, fight his or her insurer to get all that his or her policy should allow for.
