Does No Fault Insurance Cover Motorcycle Accidents in New Jersey?
No fault insurance doesn’t cover motorcycle accidents in New Jersey. When a motorcycle rider is in a collision with a car or other type of automobile, the occupants of that vehicle would be covered by the vehicle owner’s no-fault PIP insurance.
However, the motorcycle rider and any motorcycle passenger would not be covered by the automobile’s PIP policy. Motorcycles can’t carry their own PIP insurance in New Jersey.
Coping with the aftermath of a motorcycle accident in New Jersey can be a harrowing experience. Without PIP for your medical care, you will likely have to bring a legal claim to get compensation to cover your losses after a crash. A New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer can make all the difference when it comes to getting the money you need and deserve so you can recover and move forward in your life.
Why Aren’t Motorcycles Covered by New Jersey No Fault Insurance?
The New Jersey statute regarding PIP, Section 39: 1.1 of the state’s code, applies only to “automobiles.” The legal definition in New Jersey of an automobile expressly excludes motorcycles.
You can’t buy no fault insurance for your motorcycle. New Jersey law only permits you to purchase PIP no-fault coverage for vehicles that meet the definition of “automobile,” which include, for example, a sedan, a van, and commercial vehicles.
Can I Use Another No-Fault Policy After a Motorcycle Accident?
After a motorcycle accident, no one’s PIP no-fault insurance can be used for your medical bills and lost wages. If you own another vehicle such as a car and carry PIP insurance on it, that insurance cannot be applied to cover you for an accident while riding your motorcycle.
When the other driver involved in the accident has PIP no-fault insurance, you and your passenger cannot benefit from it if you were riding a motorcycle.
How Can I Protect Myself Without PIP?
Bikers are required to carry insurance for motorcycles in New Jersey, even though the state won’t allow PIP for a motorcycle. You must have at least the minimum coverage:
- $5,000 property damage
- $15,000 bodily injury to one person
- $30,000 total bodily injury per accident
As a motorcycle rider, you are at heightened risk because you cannot avail yourself of PIP. Adding uninsured motorist coverage to your motorcycle policy will give you added protection in the event of an accident in New Jersey. Although all New Jersey vehicles are required to have insurance, some nonetheless drive illegally without insurance.
Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer
If you are in a motorcycle accident, there are options open to you with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
The lawyers of Harrell Law Firm can help you by bringing a claim against the other driver’s liability policy. Bikers tend to sustain devastating injuries in a crash. We can lift the burden off your shoulders of investigating the collision, tracking down police reports, witness statements, medical records, and crash scene information.
The claim would seek money compensation not only for your medical bills, but also for your pain and suffering, relief which is unavailable under no-fault insurance.
If you have concerns about fault in the accident, don’t let that keep you from seeking legal counsel and pursuing a claim. New Jersey is a comparative fault state. So long as you were not more than fifty percent at fault for the accident, you can recover damages.
How Can Harrell Law Firm Help?
At Harrell Law Firm, we will advocate for you to prove how you tried to avoid the accident. If a passenger on your motorcycle died, Harrell Law Firm can bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash.
Your time to bring a claim after a motorcycle accident is limited by law. Call us now for a free consultation. Our firm is wholly dedicated to personal injury law. You pay no fee unless we win for you.mtoor
