In Louisiana, all motorcyclists must carry insurance. This is crucial for many reasons. Namely, Louisiana is a fault-based state where insurance offers a way for the injured party to recover damages without suing. If you were hurt in an accident, depending on your policy’s details, you could recover damages from your own insurer.
To comply with the state’s requirements (and to protect yourself from financial jeopardy), you should carry motorcycle accident insurance in Louisiana. Here, you can learn about the state’s insurance requirements and what it means if you suffered injuries in an accident.
Louisiana Requires Motorcyclists to Carry Insurance
All Louisiana drivers must carry auto insurance. This applies to commercial drivers and motorcyclists alike. With proof of motorcycle insurance, you can register the bike with the Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicles.
With a valid registration, you can legally ride your bike. Per the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI), you must carry at least:
- $15,000 per person in bodily injury liability coverage
- $30,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage
- $25,000 per accident in property damage liability coverage
Why Does the State Require Me to Carry Insurance?
As mentioned, Louisiana is a fault state for auto insurance claims. So, after suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident, you can file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer. The state requires all motorists to have coverage, so the claims process can unfold smoothly.
Yet, what happens if you get into an accident, and the other party doesn’t have coverage? In that instance, if you have underinsured/uninsured motorist protection coverage, you could seek damages through a claim with that policy. If not, you could sue the at-fault party directly.
Under CC Art. 3492, you generally have one year to file an injury lawsuit. This makes it crucial for you to promptly consider your options following an accident.
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What Does Motorcycle Accident Insurance Cover?
Ultimately, what your motorcycle accident policy covers depends on your situation. If you carry the required insurance, it should pay for the injured person’s losses in a crash. This means you would avoid having to pay for these items out of pocket:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and other revenue streams
- Property damage expenses
- Other related losses
If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, you could recoup these (and other) damages through an insurance claim.
How Insurance Claims Work After Motorcycle Accidents in Louisiana
After your motorcycle accident, you could file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurer to recover damages. Seeking a settlement isn’t easy, however. The process requires you to:
- Promptly notify the involved insurance companies
- Send a demand letter outlining your damages and injuries
- Communicate with claims adjusters
- Supply evidence of your losses
- Adhere to all mandated deadlines
- Understand the liable policy’s details
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They exist to make money and sell policies––not pay for injured people’s damages. This means, while filing your claim, you could have a hard time seeking what you need. In that instance, you may consider hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer. They can manage all dealings with the insurer and fight for a fair outcome.
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A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Negotiate With the Insurer
If you work with a lawyer after a motorcycle accident, you pass on your case’s obligations to a trained professional. They share your goal of recovering fair compensation for your injury-related expenses, including pain and suffering. To advance your case, not only can they file your claim, but they can also:
- Consult with field experts. While gathering evidence of your collision and damages, your lawyer may partner with field experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists. These experts can lend important insight into your accident’s cause.
- Offer help on contingency. Many motorcycle accident firms offer help on a contingency-fee basis, meaning they charge nothing upfront for legal help. In this arrangement, you could retain a lawyer at no out-of-pocket cost.
- Protect you from bad faith insurance practices. Some insurers resort to extreme lengths to deny injured people compensation. With an attorney advocating for what you deserve, you can rest assured that someone is advancing your goals––and not the insurance company’s.
- Manage all case-related communications. Your phone could ring non-stop after filing an insurance claim. You shouldn’t have to deal with calls and text messages at all hours of the day and night. Instead, your lawyer can speak with these parties and give them the required information.
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Meet With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Louisiana for Help
In short, Louisiana requires all motorcyclists to have insurance coverage. If a motorist doesn’t have coverage, they could be personally liable for the injured party’s damages after an accident.
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers offers free no-obligation case reviews to injured motorcyclists in Louisiana. If you want help building and advancing a claim, look no further. Call us today to learn more.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
