Missouri law requires all motor vehicle operators, including motorcycle riders, to maintain vehicle liability insurance coverage that meets the state law’s requirements.
The state law also requires car drivers and motorcyclists to show proof of insurance upon request. Usually, a motorcyclist must show proof of insurance when registering the bike, when renewing the license plate, and when stopped by police officers.
Being uninsured or underinsured can get a motorcyclist in trouble since Missouri is an at-fault motorcycle insurance state. If a motorcyclist was riding in Kansas City or elsewhere in the state without the right insurance coverage at the time of a crash, the rider will face penalties, fines, and potential jail time.
Fact: An estimated 14 percent of motorists in Missouri do not carry insurance coverage.
It is advised to consult with a Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer at Mayer & Rosenberg, P.C., to understand Missouri’s law governing motorcyclist insurance issues.
Missouri’s state law imposes the following requirements for minimum limits on insurance coverage:
Although Missouri imposes higher minimum insurance coverage requirements than many other states, those amounts will likely not be enough to pay for the damages associated with a serious injury or fatal motorcycle accident.
If a motorcyclist’s insurance coverage is not sufficient to cover the losses and damages in a crash, he or she will be responsible for paying all additional costs out of pocket or by tapping into his/her life savings.
If a motorcycle rider is carrying insurance coverage that cannot pay for all the damages and losses incurred by the victims in an at-fault crash, the biker could be sued for medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, property damages, and other costs incurred by the victims.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Kansas City can help calculate the total value of damages and losses. Insurance companies in Missouri routinely undervalue claims to cut costs from claims.
Interestingly, according to research by the Value Penguin, motorcycle insurance rates in Kansas City are about 35 percent higher than the state average in Missouri.
While the mandatory insurance coverage for motorcyclists in Missouri only covers liability, a motorcyclist needs additional coverage that would cover the costs associated with his or her own injury or property damage to his or her bike.
Let our Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer investigate your case and help you navigate through insurance coverage issues.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.