Helmets Protect You, Motorcycle Insurance Protects Your Bike

For most people, it is a reflex to buckle the seatbelt when getting in a car. According to a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 81% of people believe putting on a helmet should be just as reflexive when swinging onto your motorcycle.

Yet some states do not require helmets, or had laws and repealed them. Protect yourself by wearing a helmet, but protect your bike with the right amount of motorcycle insurance coverage.

Helmet Laws

Helmets protect riders from brain injury and trauma. The NHTSA says that motorcycle helmets reduce riders' risk of death by 29% and are 67% effective at preventing brain injuries.

Five years ago (2003), Pennsylvania repealed its motorcycle helmet law. Riders over 21, who had their license for at least 2 years, are not required to wear a helmet while on their bike. In 2006, 87 of 188 people killed in Pennsylvania while riding a motorcycle were not wearing helmet. That is 46.3% of deaths (Governors Highway Safety Administration, GHSA).

According to the NHTSA, Arkansas and Texas repealed their helmet laws in 1997. Motorcycle operator deaths rose by 21% in Arkansas - 31% in Texas.

How to Stay Safe

The Motorcycle Safety Association offers the following safety tips for motorcyclists:

  • Always wear a helmet
  • Wear protective gear -- eye protection, jacket, gloves, long pants and high-top boots or shoes
  • Drive defensively, especially when riding through intersections
  • Check your mirrors before changing lanes and stopping
  • Avoid riding in your fellow motorists' blind spots
  • You can also make yourself more visible to other motorists by wearing brightly colored clothing
  • Always have your headlights on

Motorcycle Insurance Policy That Fits Your Needs

Most insurance companies allow you to put together an insurance policy that will provide the type and amount of coverage you need. You may want only want liability coverage, or perhaps you want to add uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. It really all depends on factors such as your age, budget, type of motorcycle and how often you ride.

Motorcycle Collision Insurance

Collision coverage pays for damage to your motorcycle, less your deductible. Even if the damage is your fault, this coverage will still apply. Collision coverage typically covers the fair market value of the motorcycle before the accident occurs.

Comprehensive Motorcycle Insurance

This coverage protects your bike from non-accident related perils; including fire, theft and acts of vandalism. As with collision coverage, the insurance company will pay for damages after you meet your deductible, and will only cover the fair market value of your bike. If you add any additional accessories to your ride (chrome parts, custom paint job, sidecars, etc.), you may want to get additional or optional equipment coverage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage provides protection should you become involved in an accident caused by another driver who is either without insurance or has inadequate insurance coverage. This provisional coverage will help pay for medical treatment, lost wages and other damages to you and your passengers. If your policy includes uninsured motorist property damage coverage, your bike would be protected as well.

You can reduce your odds of getting into an accident by following the safety tips provided by the Motorcycle Safety Association. And you can better protect yourself by wearing a helmet. But the best way to prepare for the unexpected is to be proactive and get a good motorcycle insurance policy.

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