Getting Ready for the Ride

Days are getting longer, the weather is warming up and
it’s time to think about pulling out that two wheeled wonder, dusting it off and going on a ride.  Whether you’re a Motor Cycle Enthusiast, a Biker, or just have a moped there are some important things you need to consider before roaring down the road.

Of course, there is the basic maintenance of your Iron Horse.  Make sure the fluids have been changed, the battery is charged up, lights working, tires are in good
condition, etc…Most of which you can do yourself or have a qualified mechanic do for you.

Then there’s your personal protective equipment.  Helmet, goggles, riding leathers, gloves, boots, whatever fits your fancy, freedom or feeling of need.

Finally, don’t forget motorcycle insurance. In all states it is a requirement to have liability insurance to operate a motor vehicle on public roads.  I know it’s a pain to have the government require us to have anything, but what is the real purpose of insurance? The real purpose is to protect your assets.  If you’re involved in an accident where you are deemed “At Fault”, even just a little, then your assets become vulnerable.  So let’s look at the different coverage's available for liability.

In the State of Utah the minimum liability insurance coverage is 25/65.  What this means is $25,000 per person for personal liability and $65,000 per incident for personal liability.  So if you’re involved in an accident where you are at fault you have $25,000 to bring back whole any one person you injured. $65,000 if there is more than one person involved. Anything claimed above these amounts becomes your personal debt.

Let’s put that in perspective with an incident that happened to me a couple of years ago.  I was opening my car door while ducking under a tree branch and caught the corner of the door with my face.  It caused a good 1 inch cut close to my eye and I was bleeding all over the place.  My wife drove me down to the local hospital where I spent about 45 minutes, mostly doing paperwork and waiting my turn, and less than 5 minutes with a doctor.  He said it looked fine and didn’t want to stich it but just closed it with surgical glue.  No shots, no stitches.  The cost?  Nearly $3,000 which my auto insurance luckily covered.  Now, I’m not commenting on medical cost for 5 minutes and some SuperGlue, but think  what the costs can be if you’re talking about an ambulance ride, extended time
in a hospital, time off work and therapy for recovery.  It can become astronomical very quickly.

You can choose other options for Motorcycle Insurance including 50/100, 100/300, 250/500.  Talk to your insurance professional to find out what coverage's may best fit your situation.  The greatest asset you have is your ability to earn future income, and liability insurance is designed to protect that asset.  The last thing you want to do is to spend the rest of your life paying someone else’s hospital bill. 

Enjoy the ride and be safe!
Douglas Boyer - Agent

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