Originally Posted by
alhedges
Does uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage apply if you are on a bike?
Having said that, $10,000 is almost criminally low - the minimum in my state is $40,000, and I think that's much too low.
Yes, to an extent. UM/UIM is intended to substitue the liability that the other driver should have had. In essence, it is a liability policy for the uninsured person that hit you. It applies if they should have had liability that would have covered your injuries. So, it only covers you on your bike if the other person is driving, injures you in a way that would typically allow you to recover damages from a Bodily Injury coverage, and if the amount of insurance the other driver has is less than the amount of the injury. In that case, UM/UIM will pay the difference between your injury and the UM/UIM policy limit. Beware that in some states the limit is inclusive and in others it is additional.
Some examples:
Damages: 150k
Liability of driver 50k
UIM limits 100k
In an inclusive state, you recover 50k from the driver and 50k from the UIM. In an additional state, you cover 50k from the driver and 100k from the UIM policy. Make sure you know what you are choosing when you select your limits and get what makes sense for you.
To be fully covered on you bike, you need health insurance, UM/UIM and PIP if offered in your state. To cover damage you do on your bike, you need a HO or renter policy.