Understanding Insurance for Motorcycle Accidents in Utah

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Utah, you will not have the same insurance coverage as if you were in a car. You may want to speak to a personal injury attorney soon after any motorcycle accident. In Utah, all vehicles must have personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This covers medical expenses up to $3,000.00, lost wages and other benefits regardless of who is at fault. Motorcycles are treated differently. Very few insurance companies provide any coverage similar to PIP. This can have a big impact on what will be covered if you are in an accident.

If you are the one at fault for causing the accident, you are on your own when it comes to your injuries. You will need to send everything through you own health insurance to be paid or pay for your treatment directly to the doctors if you do not have health insurance [Note: some insurance companies offer No Fault Insurance but it is rare. Check with your carrier to see if it is available.]

If another person is at fault for causing the accident, you will eventually be able to collect from the other person’s insurance but you will have to wait until all of your injuries are resolved before the insurance company will offer you a settlement. This usually takes a minimum of 4 months because many injuries are still unresolved and it is difficult to determine the full extent of the damages.

The best thing to do is submit all bills to your health insurance first. For all non covered expenses, we recommend that you do your best to pay them or see if the doctor will wait for payment. Do what you can to avoid more damage to your credit than necessary. Unfortunately, there will not be any immediate coverage for lost wages you may suffer following the accident. You will be able to collect lost wages when you negotiate a final settlement.

Because of the lack of PIP insurance, motorcycle accident victims can suffer more than other accident victims. Contact a local personal injury lawyer who is experienced and can answer your questions. Call an Advocate who can help you weather the storm while you are waiting for a settlement.