When you talk insurance, like Greek, you need to understand the language.  At the minimum you need to know where to go to find out what specific terms mean.  One of the best sites to learn all about insurance is esurance.  They have an excellent glossary and I will be using their definitions throughout this article specifically about the basics of motorcycle insurance.

First you have to consider the state minimum coverage.  Every insurance company in Utah must sell insurance in compliance with the state minimum requirements.  In Utah the minimum coverage for motorcycles is 25 / 50.  What this means is that if you hit someone while on your motorcycle and cause injury then your insurance will pay them $25,000 per person up to $50,000 per crash.  In other words if you cause the crash and injure one person they will cover $25,000.  However, if you cause an accident and you injure 10 people the most the insurance will pay is $50,000.  The chances of you causing injury while riding your motorcycle are definitely there and should be insured against.  The minimum insurance is probably enough.  I say this because the chances are that if anyone is going to be seriously injured in a motorcycle crash it is you - the motorcycle driver.

Put yourself in this situation.  You are negligently hit by a vehicle meaning they are responsible for the accident.  You are injured and have two broken legs and a severe head injury.  You recover but only after incurring $300,000 of medical bills.  The offending driver has only the minimal coverage and their insurance company gladly pays it - $25,000.  You can try to get more money out of the offending driver but chances are if they only have $25,000 coverage they do not have a lot of other assets.  You are now left owing $275,000 to the hospital and physicians.  So what do you do?

My best recommendation is to buy enough insurance in the first place.  In this case that would be underinsured and uninsured motorist (motorcycle) coverage.  Each is defined:

Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory. This type of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient auto insurance coverage. This kind of auto insurance coverage typically pays the difference between the coverage limit you select and the other driver's bodily injury coverage limit. The amount covered by underinsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage

Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage is available in some states, where it's often mandatory. This kind of auto insurance coverage pays for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other general damages when you or your passengers are injured in an accident caused by a driver who has no car insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage also pays for injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents. The amount covered by uninsured motorist bodily injury is capped at the limit you choose when you buy your auto insurance policy.

Both of these coverages are relatively cheap and can save you and your family from financial ruin.

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