What are the minimum requirements for motorcycle insurance in New Jersey?

Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable motorists that share the roads with others in New Jersey. The New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety reports that more than 12,000 motorcycle accidents happened in the state between the years of 2011 and 2015. New Jersey has a compulsory insurance law for motorcyclists. Under the law, all motorcyclists must carry at least a minimum level of liability insurance to operate their motorcycles on the state’s roads and highways.

What are the minimum motorcycle insurance requirements in New Jersey?
Under New Jersey state law, all motorcyclists in the state must carry insurance in the following minimum liability amounts:

$15,000 for bodily injury per person
$30,000 for bodily injury to two or more people
$5,000 for damage to property

These minimum liability insurance coverage requirements apply if you cause an accident while operating your motorcycle. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another driver, your injury and property claims would be made to that driver’s own insurance company.

Some motorcyclists choose higher liability amounts than the state-required minimums. Other policies might be available in $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 or more. Choosing higher liability amounts might offer you more protection if you cause an accident with your motorcycle.

Optional coverage options
In addition to liability coverage, there may be optional coverages available that you can choose. For instance, you might want to add an uninsured/underinsured motorists policy to your coverage. This type of insurance will pay for your losses in the event that an uninsured or underinsured driver causes your accident and resulting losses. For underinsured motorists, your UIM insurance will only kick in after the liability limits of the other driver’s policy have been exhausted by your claim.

Other types of coverage such as trip interruption coverage, coverage for your safety gear, and others may also be available. Personal injury protection, which is a type of bodily injury insurance that pays for your medical expenses regardless of who was at fault, is generally unavailable to motorcyclists.

Who is responsible for paying after a motorcycle accident?

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident in New Jersey, you won’t be able to rely on PIP coverage since it is not available to motorcyclists. This means that you may have to rely on your health insurance to cover your medical expenses. You may be able to recover your losses by filing a claim or a lawsuit. To learn more about motorcycle insurance and your rights after an accident, subscribe to our Youtube channel.