Your Guide to Motorcycle Insurance in North Carolina

There are plenty of motorcycle enthusiasts throughout the state of North Carolina. Part of owning and operating a motorcycle is ensuring that the motorcycle is properly insured. Here, we want to discuss laws in North Carolina specifically related to insurance requirements for motorcycles. It is crucial for every motorcycle operator to carry the correct types and amounts of insurance in order to remain legal on the roadway.

What The Law Requires for Motorcycle Insurance

Every motorcycle operator in North Carolina is required to carry insurance in order to legally operate their motorcycles on the roadway. Insurance is compulsory and strictly enforced. In fact, the state of North Carolina requires that individuals show proof of insurance before they can register their motorcycle or any other vehicle.

In North Carolina, the minimum coverage requirements include the following:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for each person
• $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage for all persons in an accident
• $25,000 in property damage coverage
• $30,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person
• $60,000 in uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage for all persons in an accident
• $25,000 in uninsured or underinsured motorist property damage coverage

As you can see here, North Carolina requires fairly extensive coverage when it comes to all vehicles and motorcycles in the state. Whereas most states do not require individuals to carry uninsured motorist coverage, North Carolina does.

Driving without insurance in North Carolina is considered a Class 1 misdemeanor offense. This means an individual could be on the hook for various penalties. Individuals could face a fine ranging from $50 to $150, and their license could also be suspended. Additionally, individuals driving without insurance good face jail time of up to 45 days.

Do You Need Additional Coverage?

There are other types of insurance coverages that individuals can carry in North Carolina. Collision coverage is meant to provide compensation for physical damage to a motorcycle caused by an impact with another vehicle or object. This coverage will pay the lesser of the cost to repair the vehicle or the actual cash value to help replace the vehicle if the motorcycle is totaled.

Comprehensive and collision coverage can also help pay for damages caused by falling objects, theft, fire, hail, contact with animals, etc. 

After an Accident Occurs

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the actions of another driver on the roadways of North Carolina, you need to speak to a skilled attorney as soon as possible. Motorcyclists have a notoriously difficult time securing compensation after an accident occurs. All too often, insurance carriers and others involved in the incident have unwarranted biases against motorcyclists. It is not uncommon for insurance carriers to try to place the blame on the motorcyclist for the incident, even if the cyclist did not play a role in causing the crash.

A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer in Raleigh can step in and help handle every aspect of your claim. An attorney can use their resources to conduct a complete investigation into the incident, gather the evidence needed to prove liability, and vigorously negotiate with insurance carriers to recover complete compensation.