Are motorcycles covered under automobile insurance in Michigan?

Michigan personal injury insurance lawyer and specialist, Michael Baldwin, explains how automobile insurance works when you are involved in a motorcycle accident in Michigan. Motorcycles have unique status under Michigan no-fault law, because they are not included in the definition of motor vehicles, and therefore, a motorcyclist is not obligated to carry compulsory no-fault insurance. Because a motorcyclist is not obligated by law to carry no-fault insurance, there is no PIP coverage available to the motorcyclist in a motorcycle accident unless there was contact with a motor vehicle. As a remedy, the motorcyclist can purchase motorcycle medical coverage benefits to cover their insurance coverage needs. It is important to note however, that we are talking about insurance benefits covering medical expenses, and they do not rise to the level of coverage that PIP benefits would offer to a person injured in a car or truck. Now that we have briefly talked about no-fault insurance coverage, or PIP benefits, let’s talk about a different insurance coverage that an owner or registrant of a motorcycle must carry by law. Under Michigan law, all motorcyclists, wearing a helmet or not, must carry “liability” insurance to cover “loss resulting from … property damage, bodily injury to another person, or death suffered by a person arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of their motorcycle.” What that means is that if the motorcyclist is the “owner/constructive owner” of the motorbike, they must have motorcycle insurance called PLPD, which stands for- personal liability and property damage. Failure to have this required insurance coverage will result in disqualification of no-fault benefits if they have had an accident with a motor vehicle. To put it another way, the motorcyclist must have liability coverage on his or her motorcycle in order to qualify for no-fault auto insurance benefits from the owner/driver of the car or truck involved in the accident, If the motorcyclist does not have liability coverage on their motorcycle, then he or she will be barred from recovering no-fault PIP benefits from that accident. Assuming the motorcycle is insured with liability coverage, and if there’s collision coverage on the motorcycle policy, that coverage will pay for the damage to the motorcycle. If the motorcyclist is at fault for the accident, the motorcycle insurer will provide legal representation for the claim and will pay up to the liability policy limits to any injured parties. However, the motorcycle insurer does not cover Michigan No Fault benefits like an auto insurer does. Next, I want to talk to you about optional first-party medical benefits for motorcyclists wearing helmets. This coverage is not to be confused with mandatory liability coverage. Unlike motorcyclists who choose to ride without a helmet, a motorcycle rider wearing a helmet has the option to choose to purchase medical-benefits coverage. Now, a motorcyclist who is over 21 years of age, is not required to wear a helmet if he or she has motorcycle insurance coverage for “first-party medical benefits” in the following Finally, there are some exceptions to collecting no-fault insurance with a motorcycle and liability coverage requirements have been met. The first exception deals with a parked car. Accidents with a motorcycle and a parked car do not qualify for no-fault insurance coverage. The only coverage available in this situation is if the motorcycle owner purchased optional motorcycle personal injury coverage on their policy of insurance as we have previously discussed. Although, motorcycle personal injury insurance (PIP) will cover accidental medical expenses, it is not the same coverage provided by regular auto Michigan auto No Fault insurance. For example, wage loss would not be included in motorcycle medical as it would be in automobile no-fault coverage. Another exception to collecting no fault insurance in a motorcycle accident is when the motorcyclist is involved in a accident with a pedestrian. In that situation, the motorcyclist may not be entitled to collect Michigan no fault insurance benefits. Likewise, a pedestrian injured by a motorcycle is not entitled to no fault benefits.