Casualty Liability Coverage Explained

Since your state’s minimum liability policies are unique, make sure you ask your insurance professional what that minimum is. Most agents, brokers and underwriters prefer you keep your limits at the minimum. It may seem like it’s smart to do because “It’s just a bike. How much damage can it do?” We couldn’t disagree more.

In Georgia, for example, those minimum liability limits are $25,000BI/$50,000BI/$25,000PD. The BI is Bodily Injury and the PD is Property or Physical Damage. Those first two numbers are critical to understand. The $25,000 covers any single injured individual. The $50,000 covers all of the injured (and no, it’s not an equal division). The final $25,000 covers property damage, which we’ll explore in more detail in a future post.

To put these terms in a real-world scenario, here is an example of what can happen when you crash your bike: You are rolling down the road on your FJR, and suddenly you manage to slam head-long into a bus full of nuns. Who gets help after you come to rest from your aerial ballet? The nuns get some help and the bus gets some help, but you’re S.O.L. if you have only liability insurance.

Let’s say four of 10 nuns have managed to break bones and two need corrective surgery. Is there enough money of that $50,000 to pay all the medical bills? No way! Your decision to save a few bucks or your agent’s lack of understanding just managed to get you sued.

Most agents, brokers and underwriters prefer you keep your limits at the minimum…we couldn’t disagree more.

We think it’s best to have continuity in all your vehicle coverage. If you own a house worth $100k-plus or a car worth more than $20k and you are not buying $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 policies for your vehicles, you’re set up for a lawsuit. You have assets to protect, and your desire to save a few bucks by purchasing cheap motorcycle insurance will throw you under the nuns’ bus if there’s a bodily injury claim.

Is that really what you want? Think about this: Your liability limits are only a small portion of the premium total if you buy comprehensive and collision coverage. To go from the lowest limits to the highest in casualty liability coverage will usually cost less than $70 for a policy term. Is not being sued worth $70 over six months to a year? If your agent talked you into the minimum limits, ask him or her why, especially if you have auto policies that are at high casualty limits.

Another thing to address is Passenger Liability for your bike. In some states this coverage is optional, which is madness! Why would you exclude your passengers from liability coverage? Do you not love your family or friends? If you ride a bike and exclude passengers yet you travel with passengers, you are just like the squids that most of us make fun of. It’s just that simple.

We’ll look at property damage, medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in future posts to help you select the best motorcycle insurance for your needs. Remember that cheap insurance is quite different than the best rates. Motorcycle insurance is a specialized service. Find an agent, broker or insurer that understands your needs.

Kirk Harrington is a longtime rider and avid motorcycle enthusiast, and he’s one of the nation’s only specialized motorcycle insurance agents, operating from his location north of Atlanta, Georgia.