Many scooter riders in Tennessee might mistakenly believe that they can simply purchase uninsured motorist (UM) coverage specifically for their scooter. However, as John Griffith of GriffithLaw explains, this is often not the case. Let’s delve into the intricacies of UM coverage and how it applies to scooter riders in Tennessee.
Why You Can’t Usually Get Standalone UM Coverage for Your Scooter
It’s a common misconception that you can insure your scooter with just uninsured motorist coverage. Here’s why that’s generally not possible:
- Scooters are often classified differently than automobiles. Insurance companies typically structure their policies around standard vehicle classifications.
- UM coverage is typically an add-on to a primary auto insurance policy. It’s designed to protect you when you are injured by an uninsured or underinsured driver while occupying your insured vehicle.
- Insurers are hesitant to offer standalone UM policies for scooters due to various risk factors. These factors can include the lower level of protection offered by a scooter and the increased vulnerability of the rider.
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How Uninsured Motorist Coverage Does Apply to Scooter Riders
While you likely can’t get a UM policy solely for your scooter, you may still be protected by your existing auto insurance policy:
- If you have an auto insurance policy on a separate vehicle, your UM coverage may extend to you while you are riding your scooter. This is a crucial point highlighted by John Griffith. Your personal auto policy’s UM coverage often follows you, not just your car.
- The key is your existing auto insurance policy. If you own a car and have uninsured motorist coverage on that policy, that protection generally applies even when you are on your scooter and are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.
- This protection is for your bodily injuries. UM coverage is designed to help cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages resulting from the accident caused by the at-fault uninsured or underinsured driver.
Important Considerations for Scooter Riders
It’s vital for scooter riders to understand the nuances of uninsured motorist coverage:
- Don’t assume your scooter is covered. Just because you own a scooter doesn’t automatically mean you have UM protection for it.
- Review your existing auto insurance policy carefully. Understand the scope of your UM coverage and whether it extends to you while operating other vehicles, like a scooter.
- Contact your insurance agent. Speak with your agent to confirm your coverage and ask specific questions about how your UM policy applies when you are riding your scooter.
- Consider the implications of not owning a car. If you only own a scooter and don’t have a separate auto insurance policy, you likely do not have uninsured motorist coverage. This leaves you particularly vulnerable in the event of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver.
- Tennessee law requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance. However, many drivers are uninsured or carry only the minimum, which may not be enough to cover your injuries.
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