Under California law, motorcyclists are required to have motorcycle insurance. Motorcyclists must have minimum bodily injury coverage, which includes $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident, and $5,000 for property damage coverage. This insurance requirement was established to ensure that motorcyclists can have the ability to compensate for any injuries or damages they caused in an accident.
Below, our California motorcycle accident attorneys will discuss what happens when a motorcyclist who does not have insurance is involved in an accident. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a motorcycle accident in California and are involved with an uninsured driver, you may be eligible to file a claim against the party at-fault for damages.
At West Coast Trial Lawyers, our motorcycle accident attorneys are always available to offer legal assistance. If you are interested in using our services to ask questions or to schedule a free consultation, you may contact our 24/7 legal team by calling 213-927-3700 or filling out a quick contact form.
California requires all motorcyclists to carry the minimum insurance. Insurance is important because it guarantees that all motorcycle riders will be able to pay for any losses or injuries they cause to others in the event of a motorcycle accident. For obvious reasons, it is not always easy to make sure that all drivers and motorcyclists carry insurance.
California is known as a “No Pay, No Play” state. In 1996, California passed Proposition 213. This law was intended to discourage everyone from driving or riding without insurance by limiting their ability to file for certain types of damages. This law also does not allow convicted felons who were involved in an accident to recover damages for any losses that were sustained while committing a crime or when fleeing the scene of a crime.
In short, if you are a motorcyclist without insurance and are involved in an accident, there will be limits to the damages you will be allowed to recover. For example, when the other driver is held liable for an accident, you may be able to recover some damages, such as medical costs, lost wages, and property loss. However, an injured motorcyclist will not be able to recover any damages for pain and suffering, or disfigurement.
Just because an uninsured motorcyclist does not have any insurance coverage does not mean that the offending driver will not be held liable for any injuries or losses they have caused. Regardless of insurance coverage, an injured individual who was not at-fault for a motorcycle accident still has recourse to recover damages for medical costs and property loss, making contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer extremely important.
However, it is important for an injured motorcyclist who does not have insurance to retain the services of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who is familiar with Prop 213 statutes in order to recover all the damages they may be entitled to.
Even though you can recover some economic damages after a motorcycle accident does not mean you will not face the consequences of riding a motorcycle without an insurance policy.
For example, any collision that involves injuries and property loss in excess of $750 means it must be reported with the DMV. This means the DMV will immediately know you do not have any insurance, which will trigger fines, license suspension, and the possibility of having your motorcycle impounded.
If you have sustained injuries as a result of a motorcycle accident, our skilled motorcycle accident attorneys at West Coast Trial Lawyers can help you recover financial compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact us today calling 213-927-3700 or filling out a contact form to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.
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