Riding a motorcycle can feel exhilarating—speeding down the open road can give you a rush of adrenaline like few other experiences. However, things can quickly turn from exciting to terrifying if you get into an accident. There’s always a possibility of getting involved in a motorcycle accident no matter how experienced or careful you are.
Motorcyclists are much more likely to die or become injured in a crash compared to car occupants, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Getting injured in an accident can greatly affect both your health and finances. Thus, it’s important to get health insurance in addition to practicing motorcycle safety.
But the question is, do health insurance policies cover motorcycle accidents?
Motorcycle Accident Injuries: Are They Covered By Health Insurance?
Yes, most health insurance policies offer coverage for motorcycle accidents. However, the coverage provided by health insurance plans varies greatly depending on the policy.
If your health insurance company agrees to pay for your medical treatment, you will need to pay your co-pays and deductibles. Depending on your policy, this could amount to thousands of dollars.
Health insurance companies might not cover all of your medical and non-medical costs too. For example, they might agree to pay for your doctor’s visits but will refuse to pay for other damages incurred from the accident.
Medicare and Medicaid Coverage for Motorcycle Accidents
Medicaid or Medicare may pay for medical bills caused by motorcycle accidents. However, they can place a lien against any settlement money you received to recover the cost of the care provided as a result of your accident.
If you want your medical expenses to be billed to Medicaid or Medicare, take note of this tip. Once you get to the hospital after a motorcycle accident, make sure to provide your Medicare and Medicaid information immediately. Otherwise, the hospital might charge your payments from your future settlement money instead.
To understand how Medicaid and Medicare liens work, seek help from a personal injury attorney. A competent attorney knows how the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement system works and how to properly handle liens.
Seeking Reimbursement For a Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, you won’t get reimbursement from the at-fault driver without submitting a motorcycle accident claim. You (or your personal injury attorney) must build a strong insurance claim and prove that the at-fault driver was responsible for the accident. Otherwise, the other party’s insurance company will refuse to reimburse you for your damages, pain, and suffering.
You have a legal right to seek compensation for the damages that resulted from the accident if the at-fault driver is proven to be negligent.
So, how do you build a strong insurance claim?
- Ask for a copy of the police report. If the report shows that the at-fault driver caused the accident, then you’ll have a better chance of succeeding in your claim.
- Gather photos and videos of the incident. Dash cams are extremely useful for situations like this. You can also look for security cameras around the area.
- Write down or record the details that happened after the accident. If the other party admits his or her fault and you’re able to record that admission, it can be used as evidence to bolster your case.
To further prove the extent of your injuries, you’ll need your helmet, clothes, and other protective gear. The dents, tears, and scratches on this equipment can also be used as evidence.
Finally, keep copies of your medical records, bills, and receipts from out-of-pocket expenses. If applicable, ask your employer for a statement of lost wages to show that your income was affected by the accident.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can help protect you against drivers who have insufficient or no liability coverage.
Normally, you would file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and receive monetary compensation for the damages. The insurance company pays this amount.
However, if the at-fault driver doesn’t have car insurance or doesn’t have high enough policy limits to cover your damages, then you’ll get little or no compensation.
This is where your own insurance policy can help you. The uninsured (UI) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage on your policy can help you with your expenses if you’re hit by an uninsured driver. We highly recommend motorcycle riders to get sufficient UI and UIM coverage. It costs more to add this to your car insurance policy, but it will ensure that you’ll get compensated after an accident.
Get Help From a Personal Injury Attorney
Riding a motorcycle is riskier than driving an automobile. Thus, you should be a responsible rider and reduce motorcycle injury risks as much as possible. This includes getting a motorcycle license, wearing protective gear, maintaining your vehicle, obeying traffic laws, and getting motorcycle accident insurance.
However, even careful riders get into accidents—often through no fault of their own.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, you need the services of a personal injury attorney. The attorneys at 801-INJURED would be happy to help you work through insurance issues and negotiate with the insurance companies to help you get the recovery you deserve for your personal injury claim.
