Motorcycle crashes often produce serious injuries. When the driver who caused the crash has no insurance, or carries limits so low they can’t begin to cover what a serious injury costs, the injured rider faces a painful reality: the person responsible can’t pay what they owe. Florida’s uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage requirements exist specifically for this situation, and understanding how they apply to motorcycle riders changes what’s actually recoverable after a serious crash.
Florida’s UM Coverage Requirements
Under Florida Statute § 627.727, insurers writing motor vehicle liability policies in Florida must offer uninsured motorist coverage to every policyholder. The insured can reject this coverage in writing, but when it’s in place, it activates when the at-fault driver either has no insurance or has coverage that doesn’t adequately compensate the injured person.
For motorcycle riders who were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, a Boynton Beach motorcycle accident lawyer can identify every available coverage layer and pursue the full amount the policy provides.
Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers in the country, which makes this coverage particularly valuable for riders who share the road with a significant percentage of motorists carrying no liability insurance at all.
How UM and UIM Coverage Work for Motorcycle Riders
Uninsured motorist coverage pays when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage pays when the at-fault driver has insurance but their limits aren’t sufficient to cover the full extent of the injured rider’s damages.
Here’s a practical example: a driver with Florida’s minimum liability coverage causes a crash that leaves a motorcycle rider with $300,000 in damages. The at-fault driver’s policy pays its $10,000 limit. The rider’s own UIM coverage, if they carry $100,000 in limits, can pay up to $90,000 of the remaining gap, bringing the total recovery closer to what the injury actually cost.
The amount recoverable through UM and UIM coverage is capped at the rider’s own policy limits, which is why carrying adequate coverage matters.
What Motorcycle UM Claims Require
Filing a UM or UIM claim against your own insurer isn’t the same as filing with a friendly company. Your insurer has the same financial incentive to minimize payment as any other insurance company, and they will investigate the claim with that objective in mind. Common tactics include:
- Requesting recorded statements that may be used to minimize the severity of the crash or injuries
- Disputing the extent of injuries or their connection to the accident
- Arguing that the at-fault driver’s coverage was actually adequate
- Making early settlement offers before the full scope of damages is known
Having legal representation before any recorded statement is given or any settlement is discussed makes a meaningful difference in what a UM or UIM claim ultimately recovers.
Jacobson Injury Firm is a Boynton Beach personal injury practice where attorney Adam Jacobson personally represents motorcycle accident victims from the first consultation through resolution, handling the complex insurance analysis these claims require without passing clients off to paralegals.
If you were hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver while riding in the Boynton Beach area, reach out to a Boynton Beach motorcycle accident lawyer at Jacobson Injury Firm for a free consultation about your coverage and your options.
