By Laurie Montoya, President and Founder of BikerDown Las Vegas
The Phrase Everyday should be Motorcycle Awareness Day is a statement that signifies the epidemic of motorcycle riders across this country that are injured daily. Everyone knows of a rider who has gone down, been injured or sadly has passed from a motorcycle accident.
Motorcyclists weigh the risk versus the reward for the freedom of the ride and most would say that if they had their choice they would GO doing what they loved. What happens thought when they are injured and their families are left to pick up the pieces of recovery, how does the family survive when you are looking at 6-8 months of recovery and multiple surgeries? What do they do when the driver of the car that hit them has an irresponsible driver with no insurance or at the very least the state minimum required to be on the road.
The answer is actually very simple – Motorcycle Awareness STARTS WITH ME! – Freedom of the ride in no longer free my friends, it requires riders to have the safety gear to keep them safer on the road than ever before, and it requires them to no longer get on the bike without the adequate insurance so in the event of an accident or fatality, the motorcycle law firm of their choice will be able to get them a recovery settlement that they need to survive. THAT IS THE TRUTH, and THE TRUTH DOESN’T CHANGE no matter what your ride, how you ride or what group or club you are in!
The National Organization BikerDown Foundation and your local chapter of BikerDown Las Vegas is mounting a daily campaign “I AM A BIKER” during Motorcycle Awareness Month in the hopes that it will go viral and show drivers/cagers that there are faces behind those helmets, that we are mothers/fathers, husband/wives and that we are more than just a motorcyclist.
We want to give also give our readers and followers tools and tips on how you can make your ride safer on the road, or in the event of an accident have the insurance coverages that you need.
Today, we will start that campaign with a motorcycle insurance checklist that is vital to your recovery in the event of an accident. We hope that all riders will take the PLEDGE TODAY, to call their insurance carrier and ask these very basic questions
- In the event I am hit by an un-insured driver, what kind of coverage do i have? Do i have un-insured motorist? Did i waive it when i got the policy?
- In the event I am hit by a driver with limited insurance, what kind of coverage do I have?
- If i have a passenger on the back of my bike and we are hit, is the passenger covered?
- Are my medical bills covered in the event of an accident? How much is it to add Med-Pay?
- I have car and bike insurance – are my policies stackable?
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM) – Purchase a minimum of $250,000
- Medical Payments (MedPay) – Get the maximum offered by your insurance company, usually between $5,000 and $25,000
- Umbrella Policy – If you own your home, you need an underinsured motorists’ umbrella policy for $1 million
- Liability – Purchase a minimum of $250,000
- Collision –
- Comprehensive
- Accessories Coverage – This protects all of the customized accessories on your bike. Be sure to get replacement value coverage
In Las Vegas, if you need an insurance review of what you actually have on your policy and a suggestion of what you should upgrade to, i would suggest that you call Full Throttle Law and speak to Dazzlin, Greg Hamblin.
Big Horn Law Las Vegas, attorney Jacqueline Bretell will also do an insurance review. Both of these firms are the BEST of the BEST in Nevada
