As many of you know, Bike Week is right around the corner. Whether you plan to ride out there or trailer your bike, now is a crucial time to take a close look at your insurance coverage. Considering the high density of enthusiasts and bikes, chances of having an incident are compounded. While there are numerous insurance products which are very important to have, uninsured/underinsured (UM) coverage is of utmost importance. Florida is still very lenient about insurance coverage for motorcyclists and as a result, there are too many riders still on the streets without adequate coverage. UM coverage provides compensation for damages to you caused by someone who carries little or no liability insurance or if you are injured by a "hit and run" driver. In the event that you are injured by someone with little or no insurance, you are able to make a claim with your UM carrier to be compensated for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Also, if you insure one or more bikes or automobiles through the same insurance carrier you may opt for stacked UM coverage, which means that your UM limits can be multiplied by the number of vehicles insured under the policy. Stacking your UM coverage is relatively inexpensive and is one of the best ways to "get more bang for your buck."

DO YOU REALLY NEED UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE?

I am always saddened to have to turn away a severely injured potential client because there is not any insurance available to compensate them for their injuries and losses. I urge all of you reading this article today to pull out your bike and auto insurance policies and make sure that you are adequately protected in the unfortunate event you are the victim of an uninsured or underinsured driver.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage is the most important coverage for motorcyclists to carry. UM coverage provides compensation to you for damages to you caused by someone who carries little or no liability insurance or if you are injured by a "hit and run" driver. I have many people tell me that they don't believe they need UM coverage because they have health insurance. Health insurance is not enough. In addition to medical bills, damages than an accident victim may sustain include lost wages and pain and suffering.

Many people are surprised to find out after they are a victim of an accident that Florida does not require motorists to carry bodily injury coverage, therefore, the chances of being injured by someone without liability insurance are substantial.

In the event that you are injured by someone with little or no insurance, you are able to make a claim with your UM carrier to be compensated for your injuries, lost wages and pain and suffering.

If you carry liability insurance, your insurance company has to offer you the same amount of UM coverage. Always consider purchasing the highest amount of UM offered to you. Clients are always surprised to find out how quickly their medical bills can escalate into the thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars!

Protect yourself and your loved ones. Check your policy today and make sure that you are carrying adequate insurance coverage. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage or need any additional information regarding a motorcycle or automobile accident, please contact our office at (727) 784-8191. We will be happy to answer your questions free of charge.

Attorney Fran Haasch
Palm Harbor
www.lawfran.com