Does insurance cover a dropped motorcycle?
Insurance may cover damage from a dropped motorcycle depending on the cause of the drop and the policy's coverage. Dropping a motorcycle refers to your motorcycle unintentionally falling to the ground. Dropping your motorcycle can occur in a wide range of scenarios, including anywhere from a stationary position to full speed. Damage to your bike may be covered by motorcycle comprehensive or collision coverage. If the drop was caused by another party's negligence, their property damage liability coverage may pay for the damage to your bike.
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How much damage is caused by dropping your motorcycle?
Damage to your motorcycle resulting from a drop varies, but generally, the faster you're going during the drop, the more damage that occurs. Stationary or low-speed drops are less likely to cause major damage. In the case of a stationary or low-speed drop, the most common damage is scratches and dents to the engine case, kickstand, foot pegs, forks, brake lever, or brake pedal.
High speed drops can cause significant damage, including a misaligned frame, broken mirrors, bent clutch, or fluid leaks that leave the motorcycle unsafe to ride.
What to check after a dropped motorcycle
There are a few things to always check after dropping your motorcycle.
- Make sure that you're safe and removed from danger before checking on the bike
- Lift the bike, turn your back to the bike and use your legs to lift it upright
- Once your bike is upright and in a safe location, check for any holes in the body or leaking fluids
If there are holes or leaking fluids present, it's best to get your bike towed. If damage is only cosmetic, it may be safe to ride. It's a good idea to take pictures of the damage in case you need to submit an insurance claim.
Should you file a claim for dropped motorcycle damage?
There are a few scenarios in which you may file a motorcycle insurance claim for damage due to a dropped motorcycle:
You didn't see your motorcycle tip over
If you didn't witness the motorcycle tip over, take as many photos as possible, and tell your motorcycle insurer only what you know. Don't make any guesses about how the incident happened. If you intend to submit a claim, an adjuster will examine the bike and attempt to determine the cause of damage. If the adjuster determines that another vehicle is responsible for the damage, you can submit a claim under your motorcycle collision coverage.
If your parked motorcycle was tipped over by heavy winds or knocked over by a falling tree, for example, you may submit a claim through your motorcycle comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage may also cover damage to your bike if it was knocked over during a failed motorcycle theft attempt or by an act of vandalism.
When deciding whether to file a motorcycle insurance claim or not, consider your policy's comprehensive or collision deductible and whether it would be cost effective for you to submit a claim versus paying for the repair out of pocket.
You witnessed your bike being tipped over by a person or vehicle
Before you start taking pictures, call the police. You may need to file an accident report, and a police presence may help keep things calm between you and the person who knocked your bike over. Be sure to get the person's insurance information who tipped your motorcycle over – liability coverage under their motor vehicle, homeowners, or renters policy may cover the damage to your motorcycle.
You dropped your motorcycle while riding
If you drop your bike while riding, it's classified as a roadbed collision. If you have motorcycle collision coverage, it may cover damage to your bike, minus your collision deductible. If your bike is damaged beyond repair in a covered incident, your motorcycle insurer may pay you the fair market value of your bike, minus your policy's deductible.
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