Does Uninsured Motorist Insurance Cover St. Louis Motorcycle Accidents?

Uninsured motorist coverage is a way to protect Missouri drivers. However, there are a lot of misunderstandings about this policy.

Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Missouri because around 14% of the drivers in the state don’t meet the auto insurance requirements. This creates a lot of problems for people who get involved in car accidents with uninsured drivers, as they are left to deal with the repercussions by themselves.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a way to protect Missouri drivers. However, there are a lot of misunderstandings about this policy, and how much protection is really offered.

What Does the Law Say?

In Missouri, uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory for all types of vehicles, motorcycles included. The law does not exclude any sort of vehicle from this obligation, but does impose certain minimums:

• $25,000 for bodily injury per person 
• $50,000 for bodily injury per accident

Non-residents are also required to abide by the state auto insurance requirements when driving in Missouri.

As a result, the uninsured motorist coverage will generally kick in no matter what types of vehicles are involved in the collision. If you, as a motorcycle driver, get involved in an accident with an uninsured passenger vehicle, you typically have this insurance protection just as passenger vehicle drivers do when involved in an accident with an uninsured motorcycle driver.

How to Get Compensated

The process of filing a claim for an accident with an uninsured motorist isn’t that different than the standard one. The major difference, of course, is that you contact your own insurance company instead of the at-fault driver’s.

You will need to inform the company of the accident and begin the claims procedure. Even if it is your company, an adjuster will still analyze the case to see whether you are entitled to compensation or not.

Here, it’s essential to look at your policy and see exactly what type of protection you have, and how for it extends. Uninsured motorist coverage usually does not cover any property damage, just bodily injury, so if your vehicle was damaged in the collision you likely won’t be able to cover the repairs through this policy (unless your company specifically offered this coverage).

Speak With an Attorney

Don’t assume the insurance company is on your side simply because you have a contract with them. Auto accident claims are extremely complex, and often the smallest detail of a case can result in a claim getting denied, even if you are technically well within your rights to be compensated.

Insurance companies are free to establish their own procedures as to how their clients can get compensated, and not following these procedures can hurt your claim. For instance, the company may ask the clients to file a claim no longer than a few days after the incident took place. And because you signed their contract, you’ve already agreed to their terms.

To ensure your legal right to compensation is protected, get in touch with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney at The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.LC. for a FREE case evaluation.