FOCUS AREA: MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

PIP INSURANCE COVERAGE

Most motorcycle owners believe that they will be covered by their automobile insurance or by the adverse driver's insurance if they are involved in a crash. Unfortunately, in Florida, insurance is not required for the owner and rider of a motorcycle. And the PIP coverage a motorcycle owner may have on their car, will not cover the owner if injured on his motorcycle.

As you may know, PIP coverage is Florida's no-fault auto insurance that pays 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages for an automobile accident, no matter who is at fault. This coverage is required if you own a car, but will not cover you if you are injured on a motorcycle. Some insurance companies do offer a special motorcycle PIP that is similar to the coverage offered for an automobile. However, since motorcycle PIP is not required by Florida law, the coverage is not regulated by Florida law. Motorcycle PIP is governed by the terms of the insurance contract.   

RESOURCES AND LINKS
AMERICAN MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION
http://www.amadirectlink.com/index.asp

BIKER’S RIGHTS ONLINE
http://www.bikersrights.com

A COMPARISON OF MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT AND FATALITY RATES BETWEEN MANDATORY HELMET LAW STATES ANDVOLUNTARY HELMET USE STATES
http://www.bikersrights.com/statistics/stats.html

MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOUNDATION
http://www.mrf.org

FLORIDA HELMET LAW 101
http://home.tampabay.rr.com/ourplace/helmet101.htm

FLORIDA MOTORCYCLE CRASH FACTS
http://home.tampabay.rr.com/ourplace/Biker/chart.htm

KELLEY BLUE BOOK
www.kbb.com