The eBook repeatedly recommends strong uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage because serious motorcycle injuries can exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can be critical when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance to cover a rider’s injuries. Motorcycle crashes often involve medical bills, time away from work, and long recovery periods that can exceed a driver’s available liability limits.
Before a crash, riders should compare UM/UIM limits on motorcycle, household auto, and umbrella policies. After a crash, riders should save every policy and letter before accepting an insurer’s coverage explanation.
UM coverage may apply when the negligent driver has no insurance or cannot be identified, such as in some hit-and-run situations. The exact coverage depends on the policy wording.
UIM coverage may apply when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to fully cover the rider’s legally recoverable damages.
Notice deadlines, hit-and-run definitions, consent-to-settle clauses, exclusions, and stacking language can affect UM/UIM claims. Riders should preserve policies and get advice before signing releases.
Consider UM/UIM on the motorcycle, household vehicles, and umbrella policies where available. Ask the agent to explain whether the umbrella includes UM/UIM and how it applies to motorcycles.
Michigan riders should think about insurance before a crash and again immediately after a crash. The motorcycle policy is only one part of the protection plan. Health insurance, household auto policies, uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, bodily injury limits, umbrella coverage, medical payment options, exclusions, and renewal paperwork can all affect the outcome.
For UM UIM motorcycle insurance, the key is to compare what the policy appears to promise against what the policy actually says. Coverage names can sound broad, but exclusions, definitions, limits, priority rules, notice requirements, and required forms can change the result. Riders should keep complete policy copies, not just insurance cards, because the declarations page alone may not answer the hard questions.
After a motorcycle accident, claim decisions can turn on documents the rider may not have handy. Request complete certified policy copies, endorsements, declarations pages, coverage-selection forms, and claim correspondence. If an insurer says coverage is limited or excluded, ask for the specific policy language and the facts the insurer is relying on.
It is not always mandatory, but it can be extremely important for motorcyclists.
As soon as a hit-and-run, uninsured-driver, or low-limit problem is suspected, because policy deadlines may apply.
Source note: This draft information-center page is based on Volume 2: Michigan Motorcycle Law & Insurance from Attorney Jason Waechter, The Motorcycle Lawyer. It is general information, not legal advice. Crash facts, insurance policies, medical coverage, and Michigan law can change how a claim should be handled.
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