Motorcycle accidents can negatively impact a person’s insurance rates more than they would have after a car accident. Motorcycles are inherently dangerous, so insurance rates for motorbikes tend to be much higher than regular automobile policies. Because the likelihood of death or catastrophic injury is so great, any kind of claim on a motorcycle policy is much more likely to result in an increased premium after the accident.
A knowledgeable attorney could understand the nuances of Pascagoula motorcycle accident insurance claims. Speak to a seasoned motorcycle accident attorney to learn about the various types of insurance coverage and your eligibility to recover compensation for damages.
Underinsured motorist coverage means that if the other person’s insurance is not adequate to cover their losses, then the underinsured motorist policy will kick in over and above that. Mississippi does have offsets, which means that certain insurance coverage may not be available below what the at-fault party’s insurance coverage would be.
Fortunately, Mississippi does allow what is called stacking, so if there are multiple vehicles under the policy, then coverage can be added on top of what the policy limits are.
Uninsured motorist coverage is when the person does not have any insurance coverage. That coverage kicks in automatically when that person has no means or ability to compensate the injured party.
Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is essential to have. Even though every state has mandatory insurance laws, there are many people traveling without insurance and sufficient means to compensate people for their damages. It is vital to have that coverage in the event of an accident.
Excess coverage is a policy that covers anything above a basic policy. They can be purchased for any number of reasons but mostly just to have an excess above what the basic policies are going to be. Most people do not have excess policies, so it may be more appropriate for high net worth individuals or business owners who have more at stake in these situations.
Umbrella policies are usually general liability policies that cover a multitude of things, which could be a house, car, boat, or business. It is usually for just a particular amount and would kick in to assist in any coverage gaps that there might be.
In Mississippi, minimum coverage is what is called 25-50 coverage. Minimum coverage simply means a policy that will cover an individual for $25,000 and will cover two people for $25,000 each, up to a cap of $50,000.
In many minor accident cases, 25-50 is enough to cover injuries. However, 25-50 coverage, especially in motorcycle cases, is willfully inadequate to cover the individual and their injuries.
In the event where a motorcyclist experiences a hit and run in Pascagoula, this impacts the claim. With the help of witnesses, police are able to potentially identify that vehicle so they can apprehend the individual and arrest them because it is a crime to knowingly hit somebody and flee from the scene.
If there were no witnesses, then that makes a motorcycle accident lawyer’s job extremely difficult. They have to turn those cases over to a private detective or law enforcement and let them do their work.
If the at-fault driver cannot be located, then the injured party will have to seek compensation from their underinsured or uninsured policy.
Factors that may influence a person’s insurance rate are speeding infractions or other traffic violations, as well as the number of miles that are ridden on the motorcycle in any given year.
The type of motorcycle it is, any previous accidents or injuries in any vehicle and the number of claims made can also be factors. The insurance company also will evaluate policy premiums based on the area in which people live. There are areas of the country that are more likely to cause severe injuries, making claims more expensive.
In a Pascagoula motorcycle accident insurance claim or lawsuit, the most common damages an injured person can claim are economic and non-economic damages. These could include costs of medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of use, loss of consortium and loss of enjoyment of life. A motorcycle accident attorney could calculate a victim’s losses and help them recover compensation for their damages.
Call today to learn more about your eligibility for compensation.