Summer is the best season for outdoor activities, from hitting the beach to taking long walks with friends and family. It’s also great weather for motorcyclists to take to the roads for a ride in Massachusetts. As a result, there are more motorcyclists on the road during the summer months and more motorcycle accidents.
Before you strap on your helmet and take a ride, it’s important as a motorcyclist to understand what your options are in the event of an accident. One reality motorcyclists have to face is that in an accident, they may be more likely than drivers and passengers of other vehicles to be seriously injured. Motorcyclists lack outer protection like seat belts and the structure of a car, and the force of an oncoming, 3,000-pound vehicle can easily knock them from their bikes.
Another major risk is that motorcyclists have no idea whether the at-fault driver has the necessary coverage to pay for their expenses. Because motorcyclists are more likely to face catastrophic injuries, or serious injuries that can be long-lasting or permanent, they may also be facing higher costs of treatment. Medical bills can easily add up to thousands of dollars in costs including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, medical equipment, and more, and victims may be missing weeks of lost wages or need to quit their jobs if they no longer can perform their responsibilities due to injury.
If the at-fault driver’s policy isn’t enough to cover your expenses, you may be forced to cover the costs of the majority of your bills. This is why it may be beneficial to look into underinsured motorist coverage before you go on your next ride.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Massachusetts
Under state law, motorcyclists in Massachusetts are required to be covered by liability insurance (minimum $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident) and property damage coverage ($5,000 per accident minimum). However, while state requires uninsured motorist coverage, it doesn’t require underinsured motorist coverage.
Underinsured motorist coverage factors in when the driver who caused you accident doesn’t have enough insurance to pay your bills. Coverage can pay for medical bills, lost wages, and even funeral expenses for surviving family members in the event that the victim passes away.
While it’s always a good idea for everyone to have underinsured motorist coverage, as you can never be sure whether drivers will be able to cover your expenses, it’s especially important for motorcyclists to have it, as their injuries nearly always cost several thousand dollars or more. This coverage is relatively inexpensive – many motorcyclists would consider this a small sacrifice when their lives hang in the balance.
Pursuing Full & Fair Compensation for Clients
At Powers & Caccavale, our personal injury attorneys believe that the wrongly injured should receive the maximum amount of compensation needed to recover after a devastating accident. After already suffering from the negligence of another driver, you shouldn’t have to pay out-of-pocket for expenses just because the at-fault driver lacks the amount of coverage you need. Recovery can be expensive and result in mounting medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Our team can put our decades of experience and success to work for you to hold negligent drivers accountable for their actions and to secure the financial compensation you need to pay for damages. Your path towards recovery begins when you call us for a free consultation. We’re here to listen.
Injured in a motor vehicle accident? Don’t hesitate to call Powers & Caccavale at (617) 379-0016, or contact us online. With more than three decades of collective experience, we can be relied on to guide you through each step of your case.