Comprehensive and Collision insurance ordinarily only covers the “stock” fair market value of your vehicle.

A Stock vehicle is a vehicle that has not been modified or accessorized.

Most motorcycle owners tend to add chrome, custom paint, custom engine work, custom pipes, custom grips, etc. If you want these items to be covered by your insurance company in case of a motorcycle accident you must ensure that you add accessory coverage to your policy, otherwise you will only be covered for the stock fair market value of your motorcycle or other motor vehicle in case of an accident.

Some motorcycle insurance companies automatically provide $1,000.00 in accessory coverage and some don’t. I highly recommend that you add up the cost of all of the add-on’s and accessories to your motorcycle, and buy enough accessory coverage to cover the cost of replacing the custom parts.

In the motorcycle world, add-ons and accessories sometimes equal or exceed the entire cost of the stock motorcycle. Make sure you take pictures of your motorcycle after the customization, and keep receipts for all add-on’s and accessories that you have put onto the motorcycle just in case of an accident. You will need to be able to justify the add-on and accessory cost to the insurance company in case of there is damage to your motorcycle for which you need to make a claim to your insurance company.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., Copyright 2006

The post Motorcycle Insurance, Make Sure You Get Accessory Coverage! first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.

Pursuant to California State Law, (Proposition 213) you must have minimum liability insurance coverage of $10,000 Property Damage, $15,000 bodily injury per person, and $30,000 per incident while you are driving on California Roads.

If you do not have minimum liability insurance coverage, you will NOT BE ENTITLED TO GENERAL DAMAGES (pain & suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, etc.), and you may lose your drivers license, and a fine. Even if the accident was not your fault!

Most personal injury attorneys will not represent you on a contingency basis unless you had liability insurance at the time of accident, because the value of your case is limited to out of pocket losses only such as: Property Damage, Medical Expenses, Medication Expenses, Loss of Wages, etc.

Beware, recent changes in the law now require your insurance company to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles if your insurance is terminated. If your insurance is terminated your registration can be revoked, you can lose your drivers license, and face substantial fines.

By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq. , Copyright 2006

The post California Minimum Insurance Requirements first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.