Optional motorcycle insurance detrimental to riders

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Florida law may make it cheaper and easier to own a motorcycle.

But in too many instances, roads become extremely costly for the biker.

With the growth of everything else in the Bay area, the number of bikers on the road is also growing. With that comes more accidents.

Jerry Palladino is a motor officer trainer who teaches motorcycle safety.

"Right now, the biggest age group getting into the most crashes and the most deaths are actually 40-55-year-olds," Palladino said. "And that's generally because they're re-entry riders, people who rode many years ago who want to get back into motorcycle riding."

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles , the number of bikers injured in motorcycle accidents has gone from less than 4,500 in 2000 to more than 6,500 four years later.

The number of bikers killed has risen from just above 200 to almost 400 in the same period.

"The vast majority of crashes are the motorists' fault, and they usually occur in intersections where the vehicle violates the right of way," Palladino said.

Even worse, many of those injured or killed didn't have insurance. In fact, crash statistics show uninsured riders accounted for about 70 percent of motorcyclists injured or killed in recent years. It's the biker who loses in the end.

"If that particular driver has a $10,000 or $20,000 insurance policy, that's probably not going to cover or come anywhere near covering your medical bills," Palladino said. "If you have no insurance yourself, you're just out of luck."

Florida is one of only two states left that don't require motorcycle insurance across the board. When some have the choice of riding for free instead of paying up to thousands of dollars a year, they choose the first, often times to their detriment.

"I've got several motorcycles and I wouldn't ride on the road without having insurance and without having a helmet and protective gear," Palladino said.

Under Florida law, motorcycle insurance is optional for those age 21-and-older and wearing a helmet.

Palladino added 25-year-old and under bikers are less likely to carry insurance. That's because they're riding sport motorcycles that can cost up to $4,000 a year for insurance.

The only other state that doesn't require motorcycle insurance is the state of Washington.

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