Are Motorcycles Covered Under No-Fault Insurance in New York?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that more than 370,000 motorcycles are registered in New York. The Empire State has more registered motorcycles than over 80% of the rest of the states throughout the country.

If you own one of these registered motorcycles in NY, you need to know what rights you’ll have in the event of a motorcycle accident. More specifically, you should know the answer to the question, “Are motorcycles covered under no-fault insurance in New York?” Familiarizing yourself with your motorcycle accident coverage can make dealing with a crash less chaotic.

Discover more about motorcycle insurance claims and how they work in New York below.

What Is No-Fault Insurance in New York?

New York is one of a dozen states that operates under no-fault insurance laws. No-fault insurance, which is also sometimes referred to as personal injury protection or PIP, is a type of insurance that provides those involved in accidents with coverage regardless of whether or not they’re to blame.

Following a car accident, each of the parties involved must file insurance claims through their respective auto insurance companies to cover medical costs. Generally speaking, no-fault insurance is designed to provide those in accidents with faster claim payouts while minimizing the number of car accident lawsuits filed each year.

Are Motorcycles Covered Under No-Fault Insurance in New York?

If you own a car, truck, or SUV in New York, it’ll receive coverage under the no-fault insurance policy you purchase. But are motorcycles covered under no-fault insurance in New York?

Unfortunately for New York motorcycle owners, the answer to this question is “no.” You won’t have access to no-fault insurance for motorcycles in the state. Article 51 of New York’s Insurance Law excludes motorcycle owners and riders from this type of insurance coverage.

Because there isn’t a no-fault policy for motorcycles in New York, it can leave you in a precarious position if you’re ever involved in a crash. You might not immediately know where to turn for help with paying medical bills stemming from your accident since you won’t have motorbike no-fault coverage to fall back on.

Can You Collect Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident Caused By Someone Else?

Just because the answer to the question, “Are motorcycles covered under no-fault insurance in New York?” is “no,” that doesn’t mean you can’t still attempt to collect compensation following a motorcycle crash caused by another party. New York has negligence laws that enable you to take legal action against an at-fault party in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident.

Because New York is a no-fault state, bringing a motorcycle accident case to court can present complications. You should hire an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in New York to represent you to provide a better chance of succeeding when you file a legal claim.

The right motorcycle accident attorney can help you earn a fair settlement or judgment in your case. It’ll make it possible to collect damages you can use to pay medical bills and cover other costs, such as lost wages.

Call Us To Begin Working With a Trusted Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The answer to the question, “Are motorcycles covered under no-fault insurance in New York?” is “no,” but you shouldn’t let that stop you from exploring your legal options after a motorcycle crash. Even when motorbike insurance policies don’t provide adequate coverage, a motorcycle accident lawyer can investigate your crash and secure the funds you need to recover. Complete this form or contact us at 716-848-8000 for more information about how the firm of Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC can help.