After a Motorcycle Crash
What happens to your insurance depends on who was at fault, whether you file a claim, and what your policy covers.
Report the crash to your insurer even if you weren't at fault
Call your insurance company and tell them what happened. This isn't the same as filing a claim against your own policy. It's how your insurer finds out about the crash, confirms what your policy covers, and starts dealing with the other driver's insurer if they were at fault.
If you wait, or if you only talk to the other driver's insurance company, you can end up without the coverage you're entitled to. Your own insurer is the one who explains your medical payments coverage, your collision coverage if you have it, and what happens if the other driver has no insurance or not enough.
Who was at fault changes what you do next
If the other driver caused the crash, their liability insurance should pay for your damage and your medical bills, up to their policy limits. You'll deal with their insurance company directly, or your own insurer may do some of that for you if you ask.
If you were at fault, or fault isn't clear yet, your own policy is what pays. That means your collision coverage for the bike, if you carry it, and your medical payments or personal injury protection for yourself. Without that coverage, you're paying out of pocket until fault is sorted out.
Either way, get a copy of the police report if one was filed. It's the record insurers use to decide who pays, and it matters more in a motorcycle crash than a typical fender bender because injuries and damage are often harder to size up from the scene alone.
If the other driver has no insurance or too little to cover what happened, check whether your policy has uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. That's often the coverage that ends up paying when a motorcycle crash leaves real damage and the other driver can't cover it.
Filing a claim can affect your rate, but not filing can cost more
If you file a claim and you weren't at fault, most insurers don't raise your rate for that alone, though this varies by insurer and by state, so ask yours directly how they handle not-at-fault claims.
If you were at fault, a claim is more likely to affect your rate at renewal. That doesn't mean you should skip filing. Paying for a crash yourself to avoid a rate increase can cost far more than the increase would have.
A gap in riding, if your injuries keep you off the bike for a while, doesn't affect your insurance by itself. What matters to your insurer is the crash itself and any claim tied to it, not how long you're sidelined.
If you're shopping for a new policy after the crash, expect to be asked about it directly. Being honest about what happened and how it was resolved matters more to an insurer than the crash having happened at all.
Questions people ask about this
Do I have to tell my insurance company about a motorcycle crash if I don't file a claim?
Most policies require you to report any crash, whether or not you plan to file a claim. Check your policy's notification terms, since not reporting can affect coverage later if the other driver files a claim against you or if injuries surface afterward.
Will my motorcycle insurance go up after a crash that wasn't my fault?
Usually not, but this depends on your insurer and your state, so ask directly how they treat not-at-fault claims. Some insurers track any claim regardless of fault, even if they don't raise your rate for it.
What if the other driver's insurance won't pay for my motorcycle crash?
Ask your own insurer about uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, if you have it, since that's built for exactly this situation. You can also dispute the other insurer's decision, but your own insurer can tell you what your policy allows while that gets sorted out.
Does a motorcycle crash affect my car insurance too?
If your motorcycle and car are insured separately, a crash on the bike generally doesn't affect your car policy's rate. If they're bundled with the same insurer, ask how that insurer handles it, since practices differ.
Can I switch insurers right after a motorcycle crash?
Yes, you can shop for a new policy at any point, including right after a crash, but you'll need to disclose the crash to any new insurer when they ask. Finish dealing with the current claim first if you can, since an open claim is easier to explain while it's still with the insurer who has the details.
See how a crash on your record changes what insurers would charge you now.
Call your insurer this week and report the crash, even if you're not sure yet whether you'll file a claim. Have the police report number ready if one was filed, along with the other driver's insurance information. Ask your insurer directly whether this kind of claim affects your rate, since that answer depends on your insurer and your state. If you're not sure what your policy covers for medical costs or uninsured drivers, ask them to walk through it with you while the crash is still fresh. Once the claim is resolved, that's a good time to compare quotes and see where you stand.
