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What Kind of Motorcycle Insurance Do You Need in Texas?

There are different kinds of auto insurance available depending on your needs.  For motorcycles, what insurance you may be different than with cars, trucks, or SUVs.  It is important to know what type of coverage you need for a motorcycle so that you can protect yourself out there.

In Texas, motorcycle insurance minimums require drivers to have liability coverage that can cover up to $30,000 per person ($60,000 per accident) and $25,000 in property damage.  These are the same minimums as car insurance.  Motorcycle insurance in Texas works on an at-fault system (as opposed to a no-fault system), and other types and levels of insurance are optional – though they might be absolutely worth paying extra for.

For help after a motorcycle accident, call The Queenan Law Firm’s Arlington motorcycle injury lawyers.  We can help you understand what your motorcycle insurance covers and what kinds of options you have to seek compensation for your injuries as a motorcycle accident victim.  For a free legal consultation, call our attorneys at (817) 476-1797.

What Kind of Motorcycle Insurance Do I Need to Carry in Texas?

The main type of motorcycle insurance that you need to carry is liability insurance.  Texas uses an at-fault insurance system, so liability insurance is used to cover the victims of any accidents the policyholder causes.  Texas requires motorcycle riders (and drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs) to carry this kind of insurance so that if they cause an accident, there is money to pay for injuries the driver might not be able to afford out of pocket.

In the event of a crash, the at-fault driver’s insurance covers the accident.  This means that carrying insurance doesn’t guarantee that your own injuries are covered.  However, if the law requires everyone to carry insurance, then that means the other driver should also have coverage to pay for your injuries.

Aside from liability insurance, there are many other types of optional insurance that can be incredibly helpful:

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM Coverage)

UM/UIM coverage is additional coverage added to a motorcycle insurance or car insurance policy that can help cover you in the event of an accident where the other driver’s insurance is not enough to cover your needs.  Every driver is required to carry $30,000 worth of coverage per person and $60,000 per accident for injuries, which means that their insurance might not be able to cover your injuries if they caused you more than $60,000 worth of injuries.  If they violate these laws and drive without insurance, then there might be nothing to cover your injuries.  UM/UIM coverage can help cover these shortcomings, getting you the coverage you need if you were injured by someone with bad insurance or no insurance.

Medical Pay and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage

Medical pay and PIP coverage are first-party benefits that cover you and any passengers you have on your motorcycle during a crash.  This means that even if the accident was caused by another driver, these benefits will pay for you and cover your injuries and damages (plus the injuries and damages your passengers face).  Medical pay and personal injury protection coverage can pay for your hospital bills, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and other care costs, plus lost wages and other economic effects.

Insurance policies in Texas have PIP coverage by default, and you need to affirmatively opt out of it to avoid having PIP coverage.

Increased Liability Coverage

If you want more coverage, you can pay for higher liability limits.  Instead of taking the minimum insurance requirement of $30,000/$60,000/$25,000, you can pay higher premiums for higher coverage limits.  If you cause a crash that involves high-dollar injuries and property damage, any damages that go beyond your policy limits could be claimed against you personally, and you would have to pay out of pocket to cover them.  Increasing your liability coverage might be worth it.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage

Collision coverage pays for damages to your own vehicle in the event of an accident.  This can help pay for motorcycle repairs (or replacement) if your bike was damaged in a crash.  Comprehensive motorcycle insurance covers damage that occurs outside a crash, such as from a falling tree branch or loss due to theft.

Insurance Minimums in Texas for Motorcycle Riders

As mentioned, motorcycle riders have the same minimum insurance requirements as drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs.  These state-mandated minimums in Texas require drivers to carry liability insurance to cover at least $30,000 for injuries per person.  Since the presumption is that a crash will involve two people, the minimums require $60,000 of coverage per accident.  These requirements also state that motorcycle riders need to carry coverage for at least $25,000 worth of property damage.  This is commonly known as 30/60/25 coverage.

All insurance policies in Texas must also have PIP coverage.  This is not a restriction or requirement on the driver or rider but rather the insurance company.  Drivers and motorcycle riders often do not know about the option to get PIP coverage, so insurance companies are required to offer it as part of every policy.  However, you have the option of rejecting PIP coverage to save yourself money if you don’t want it.

Call Our Motorcycle Injury Lawyers for Help with Your Case

Our Houston motorcycle accident lawyers represent the victims of motorcycle crashes and fight to help them and their families get damages after serious injuries.  For help with a motorcycle crash, call The Queenan Law Firm at (817) 476-1797 and set up a free case consultation with our experienced Texas personal injury attorneys.