Episode 4: In today’s episode, personal injury attorney Jeff Roberts discusses motorcycle accidents and the steps you need to take if you or a loved one is in an accident. Jeff is not only an experienced attorney, but an avid motorcycle rider.
In the previous episode, Jeff talked a lot about insurance coverage and Kentucky no-fault coverage (also called PIP coverage). This is great if you are in a car or a truck wreck because you will automatically have minimum limit of $10,000 covered in medical expenses and/or loss wages. The hard truth is PIP coverage for a motorcycle is something you will have to purchase and tell your insurance that you want that additional coverage. It is also a good idea to get or see if your insurance has passenger PIP coverage. If you do not have PIP coverage, you would not have that extra safety net, which could cost you more money down the road.
Exclusions for Motorcycles
Even if you have a good insurance policy already, there’s usually something that says motorcycles will be excluded and some will even say that it will not cover any other vehicle. The fact of the matter is if you drive a motorcycle, more damage can be done to you in an accident verses being in a car or truck. That is why knowing your insurance policy is important and can ultimately save you if you invest in the right policy.
In most of Jeff’s motorcycle cases, the driver of the car has been at fault. What frequently happens is inattention from the vehicle’s driver. Right now, it is especially dangerous because motorcycles are not out in the winter. When spring and summer arrive, more and more show up and vehicle drivers often forget to look for them. It becomes an out of sight out of mind incident. It is very important to be a cautious driver.
When dealing with motorcycle accidents, a lot of damages can come into play. One of the first being property damage. If your motorcycle gets hit, it’s probably going to have major damage. More importantly you will have extensive medical bills if you are hit while on a motorcycle. Some motorcycle injuries can be extremely catastrophic.
Loss of Consortium Claims
If you have significant injury from a motorcycle accident, the spouse or minor children can have a loss of consortium claim, which is a loss of love and affection. When people die in motorcycle accidents, the spouse or minor children may have that claim as well as a wrongful death claim for the person who died and/or if the person has a very significant injury.
Medical bills add up and the more severe, the more expensive it becomes. Some people will need treatment for the rest of their lives. It’s important for the attorney who will be representing them to try to fight for lost income as well, because the victim may not be able to work again.
Dealing with COVID-19 has been a devastating theme today. People are losing jobs and looking to cut expenses, so there may be more and more people driving without insurance.
Motorcycle wreck cases can be devastating and can leave families terrified of the unknown. Jeff understands that and knows what he can do to help. It is important to preserve the insurance coverage of the motorcycle to help with lost wages early on. The emergency bill can easily go over the $10,000 of the PIP coverage or be close to it, assuming there’s PIP coverage. So, having your attorney notify your insurance company before an application for PIP coverage can allow the family to be more secure because of the loss wages. Jeff is not only well educated in motorcycle cases, but he rides one so he has the perspective needed for these cases.
For more information, visit www.JeffRobertsLaw.com. This podcast is meant to provide information and is not legal advice. Jeff’s principal office is located at 509 Main Street, Murray, Kentucky. Co-host Jim Ray is a non-attorney spokesperson. This is an advertisement.
