No matter if you are a weekend road warrior seeking adventure or looking for a cost-efficient way to get around town, there is nothing like riding a motorcycle.

As with any vehicle driven on a public road, you will need motorcycle insurance to protect yourself, your passenger, and others.  Motorcycle insurance in Louisiana can range in rates and benefits, so you will want to shop around to find the best protection for your bike.  Here a few things to understanding when shopping for motorcycle insurance in Lake Charles Louisiana.

Louisiana Motorcycle Insurance Requirements
At a minimum, Louisiana requires motorcycle owners to purchase a liability insurance policy.  Liability coverage pays for damage to others’ injuries or damages to their vehicle if you cause an accident. The least amount of liability insurance you must buy is $15,000 for bodily injury or death to another person; $30,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people, and $25,000 in destruction or damage of their property.

We suggest you consider buying additional liability beyond Louisiana’s state minimum to protect your assets in case the accident exceeds your limits.  Minimum liability may not be enough to pay your legal expenses and claims if you are sued, and a plaintiff could go after your assets to make up the difference. Do check with your insurance underwriter to ensure your bodily injury liability policy covers passengers; some underwriters require a separate passenger liability coverage to insure them.

Another consideration is uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.  Louisiana drivers are known for carrying minimum insurance coverage; adding this coverage can help pay medical bills resulting from an accident caused by a driver who failed to carry insurance or who doesn’t have enough insurance.  Uninsured/underinsured insurance can also include property damage but check with the insurer as you might need to purchase it separately.

Motorcycle insurance options
Coverage options for motorcycle insurance in Louisiana is similar to the standard options you’ll find for auto insurance. In addition to uninsured/underinsured motorist and liability coverage, most insurers provide these options:

Collision: Pays to repair damage to your motorcycle, minus the deductible you choose.

Comprehensive: Pays if your motorcycle is damaged or stolen in an event other than an accident with another automobile.   An example would be a collision with and animal, your deductible still applies.

Medical payments (Louisiana MedPay): is a separate medical payments policy that pays for medical bills if you and your passenger is harmed in an accident. Unlike your personal injury protection, medical payments coverage will not cover lost wages and other associated costs.  Clearly, riding a motorcycle comes with additional risks, no matter how vigilant you are.  Medical payments coverage would come in handy especially if you or your passenger do not have health insurance, high deductible health insurance or simply not enough health insurance.

Most Insurance companies offer add-on options, although it varies.

Trip interruption coverage:  Can reimburse you for transportation, lodging, and food if your motorcycle becomes disabled in an accident more than 100 miles for home (this number can vary, check with your insurer regarding the distance required for approved claims).

Coverage for custom accessories, equipment and parts:  Louisiana insurers include various custom parts and accessories with your comprehensive and collision coverage – generally up to $3,000, this number can vary.  However, for many riders, part of the lure of owning a motorcycle is customizing it.  If the custom paint, chrome parts, or accessories you add are worth more than your motorcycle, you should consider purchasing custom parts coverage, available in increment up to $30,000.

Transport trailer coverage: 
Most insurance companies offer protection for transport trailers up to $7,500.

Roadside assistance:  This can be valuable as it includes labor and towing if your bike breaks down.

Motorcycle insurance lay-up periods
Most insurers offer what is called lay-up insurance for winter months when most drivers store their motorcycles away.  Throughout the lay-up period, your motorcycle insurance in Lake Charles Louisiana will safeguard against theft and other events known to happen while your bike is stored.   This coverage saves you money on your annual insurance policy.  Keep in mind that insurance will not pay if you drive your bike during the lay-up period and are involved in an accident.

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As the name implies, commercial insurance protects businesses, including the owners and their employees. Since every business is different, there is not an across the board insurance policy for all small business owners.

For example, a frozen yogurt shop has different insurance needs than that of a car repair shop or a digital marketing company. That is why many small businesses select a business owner's policy (BOP), which combines general liability insurance, crime insurance, commercial property insurance, general and additional coverages in a convenient package.

A business owners policy might be right for your business if:

• The business is located outside of your home
• You employ fewer than 100 employees with less than $5 million in annual sales
• You own/lease property or equipment that needs protection
• You would like to protect investments in your business

Commercial property insurance protects your business from a small to major loss.
Examples include:

• If a fire that destroys your building and contents inside
• A burst water pipe that damages important documents
• A storm that damages exterior collateral, like your outdoor sign
• Regardless if you own your building, lease office space, or work from home, business property insurance can protect your business's real assets.

Commercial property insurance can protect the future of your business by protecting the following:

• Business building
• Outdoor signage
• Furniture and equipment
• Business inventory
• Business fencing and landscaping
• Damage to others' property

General liability insurance helps cover attorney's fees, medical expenses, and damages you are found legally responsible. General liability insurance can cover defense costs, regardless of fault, and offers protection for judgments, court costs, and more.

GLI (General Liability Insurance) can be easily customized with a variety of options to best suit your business. Because business needs vary so widely, our agents work with you to determine the right type of commercial liability insurance for the various stages of your business. Endorsements are available to meet the specific needs of your business.

Who needs general liability insurance?
General liability insurance coverage provides protection against:

• Lawsuits, settlements, and investigations
• Medical and injury damages and attorney fees
• Abuse coverage for liability

Incidents that are not covered by a standard general liability insurance policy:

• Auto-related coverage
• Employee injuries
• Intentional acts
• Crime-related losses

Crime-related losses are not usually covered by commercial property insurance. You may want to consider purchasing a commercial crime insurance endorsement for the following:

• Forgery or alteration coverage
• Employee dishonesty coverage
• Employee theft of money and securities coverage
• Burglary coverage
• Computer fraud

Commercial insurance definition
Simply put, commercial insurance is a single policy or multiple policies designed to protect business, the owners, and their employees. Most basic business insurance policies include coverage for property, commercial auto insurance, liability, crime and optional insurance coverage:

• Workers compensation
• Business interruption
• Equipment breakdown
• Cybersecurity
• Employee health benefits
• Dental - vision - disability - group life insurance
• Surety bonds for contractors

Commercial insurance FAQs
When determining the insurance coverage, your business needs, consider the following:

• Location
• Number of employees
• Years in business
• Gross annual revenue
• Whether your business rents or owns vehicles
• Whether your business rents, leases or owns the building(s) they operate from

Would you like information on commercial insurance in Lake Charles Louisiana for your business?  Call our office to discuss your unique bunsiness insurance needs (337) 656-2890.

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