All terrain vehicles, or ATVs for short, are certainly fun to drive. Some are used for work purposes, such as around the farm or hunting. However, most ATVs are purchased as recreational vehicles for weekend fun. Regardless of how you use your ATV, it is important to consider purchasing an ATV insurance policy in order to protect yourself when the unexpected happens to occur. Many ATV owners are under the false impression that they are fully covered under their homeowners or automobile policies. The following information will show you how important ATV insurance is, and what it actually covers.
Bodily Injury Liability
This coverage pays for damages associated with any other parties that are injured or killed in an accident associated with your ATV or off-road vehicle. It will also cover any legal fees resulting from litigation against the policyholder. In both circumstances, this part of ATV insurance will cover up to the claim limits of the policy. The limits of bodily injury liability are typically an amount per person and a total amount per accident, regardless of the number involved. In order to avoid injuries and liability claims related to an ATV, there are a number of things owners can do. Keep your ATV garaged or secured so that only those with permission and supervision can ride it.
Even if someone does not have permission to ride an ATV, you may be found liable for his or her injuries suffered while riding it. It is also extremely important to follow the guidelines of every ATV. Failure to adhere to them might compromise the vehicle’s performance or the rider. For example, every vehicle has weight restrictions. That means you should never overload any haul or cargo. Most four-wheelers are designed for one person. Ensure that the driver is the appropriate size for the ATV. Last but certainly not least; no one should ever operate an ATV under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Property Damage Liability
This coverage is similar to bodily injury liability, except it pays for the cost of any damage an ATV driver might cause to another person’s property. This includes personal property, including any belongings, as well as their home or yard. Property damage liability also has a claim limit per damage incident. The limit is typically as much, or lower than the per-person limit of the ATV policy’s bodily injury liability insurance. For example, if an ATV or UTV insurance policy has a bodily injury limit of $25,000 per person/per accident, the same policy’s property damage limit might be $25,000 or lower.
Medical Payment
This coverage is optional. Medical payments coverage pays for any medical expenses incurred by people riding your ATV. It will cover things like surgeries, X-rays, a hospital stay, and even transportation via ambulance.
Uninsured/Underinsure Motorist
This coverage is optional. In the event that you or someone riding your ATV are injured by someone else who either does not have insurance, or not enough of it, these coverage’s will pay for your expenses. Typically, if someone else were at fault for your injury or damages, their insurance company would cover those costs they are responsible for. However, even when insurance is required by law, some individuals might fail to purchase it. Uninsured/underinsured coverage for ATV insurance also has claim limits. Like bodily injury liability, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage’s have limits per individual and per accident.
Collision
This coverage is optional. It pays to repair any damages to your ATV caused by a collision with another vehicle. It also covers damages if your ATV overturns. Policyholders choose a deductible, which is the amount they pay before their insurer begins to cover cost. The insurance company will cover up to the value of the ATV. In order to keep premiums low, an owner of an ATV with a low value might choose to forgo this coverage, so you may want to determine how much your ATV is worth before adding it to your policy. Collision coverage is often required of owners who financed the purchase of their ATV or are leasing it.
Comprehensive
This coverage is optional. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages to an ATV that are not caused by a collision with another vehicle. It also covers losses due to theft, vandalism, flooding, earthquakes, fires and other issues. Just like collision, comprehensive coverage has a deductible. For example, if someone steals your ATV, you could file a comprehensive claim and your insurer would pay up to the cash value to replace it.
In conclusion, an ATV insurance policy is a smart choice for any ATV owner. If you have any questions, please call (508) 831-0133 to contact an associate at Zawada Insurance. We are happy to walk you through the details of your ATV insurance policy and explain your coverage options. We look forward to helping you with all of your personal and or business related insurance needs.