Does Life Insurance Cover Motorcycle Death?

If you ride a motorcycle, it’s indeed a concerning thought whether life insurance covers motorcycle death? Unfortunately, it’s a fact that two wheeled vehicles are much more prone to lethal blows during a collision than cars and other four wheeled vehicles due to the lack of protective barriers.

Even if you’re riding safely, the negligence of another driver can lead to a fatal traffic accident. Also, due to certain weather conditions, or unprecedented situations you may lose control of your motorcycle, and crash into another vehicle or object.

You may even skid, and fall off your bike, if you somehow lose control of it. There are so many ways riding a motorcycle can turn life threatening. According to NHTSA, motorcyclists are 24 to 28 times more likely to die in a traffic crash.

If you’re a key earning member of your family, or if you have loans, mortgages, and other financial dependencies, and if you rely on motorcycle for transportation then it’s essential for you to know does life insurance cover motorcycle death.

The short answer is yes, life insurance does cover motorcycle death, in fact it covers any motor vehicle death, but there are certain conditions that apply.

Does Life Insurance Cover Motorcycle Death?

Riding a motorcycle comes with undeniable life risks, and if you rely on your motorcycle for transportation, it’s natural for you to be concerned about your family’s financial security. Well, the good news is, life insurance typically covers motorcycle related deaths just like it covers accidental deaths for car accidents, and any other cause.

The primary goal of life insurance is to ensure that your beneficiaries receive financial support after your passing, regardless of how the death occurs. So, unless you’ve violated the terms and conditions mentioned in your life insurance, your beneficiary should not have any problem claiming the life insurance.

While you’re purchasing the life insurance, it is crucial for you to confirm with your insurer that motorcycle deaths are covered as well. There are some life insurance policies that have exclusions for motorcycle deaths, so that’s why it’s very essential to clear it out with your insurer.

Also, before signing the life insurance agreement, and confirming the purchase, thoroughly read the terms and conditions to ensure that motorcycle death is covered. When it comes to covering motorcycle death, you might want to consider Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

The AD&D insurance is a type of life insurance is specifically designed to cover all causes of death, particularly the ones that involve accidents. As motorcycle deaths are mostly due to accidental crashes, this AD&D life insurance is the most suitable coverage.

Apart from death being the worst-case scenario, motorcycle accidents also cause minor to severe injuries, so it's also essential to know does motorcycle insurance cover medical bills.

Also Read: Does Motorcycle Insurance Cover Theft?

If you’re looking for affordable insurance plans with the best coverage options within your budget considering checking our cheap motorcycle insurance and affordable life insurance coverage.  

When Life Insurance Doesn’t Cover Motorcycle Death?

While life insurance usually covers motorcycle death, there are certain conditions, and exclusions that apply. So, to stay on the safe side, and to ensure that you abide by the terms and conditions of your life insurance policy to avoid claim denials, it is essential to know when life insurance doesn’t cover motorcycle death as follows.

High-Risk Behaviors

If you’re found involved in high-risk activities like racing, or dangerous stunts whether it’s a hobby, or a professional sport activity, in case of an accidental death your life insurance claim will be denied. This is specifically because you have been voluntarily involved in high-risk activities which can lead to death.

So, in such cases, it is not deemed as an accident, and that’s why such high-risk behavior makes your beneficiary ineligible for any life insurance claim.

Substance-Related Exclusions

If you’re under the influence of a substance, whether you’re drunk, or high, you’re practically endangering your own life, and most of all disregarding your personal safety by riding a motorcycle.

Even though it’s unfortunate, if you die in a motorcycle accident while you’re under the influence of alcohol or any sort of narcotic, it clearly demonstrates negligence. It may be unintentional, but you put yourself in a dangerous life-threatening situation.

Insurers classify these incidents as preventable and directly linked to risky personal choices, which violate the terms of most standard life insurance policies. As a result, your beneficiary would not be eligible to receive the death benefit.

Suicide Attempt

When it comes to suicidal death, it typically depends on the agreement of your life insurance policy. Most life insurance policies include a clause that excludes coverage for death caused by suicide, particularly for a specific period after the policy is issued, which is typically after 2 years.

Some insurers may exclude claims for suicide altogether, regardless of when it occurs. So, if the policyholder dies from a motorcycle crash involving a suicide attempt within the first two years, there’s a high chance that the beneficiary won’t get any insurance coverage. However, that depends on the conditions stated in your life insurance policy.

Involvement in Criminal Activities

If the policyholder was found involved in a criminal activity whether it’s drug trafficking, or violent crimes such as assault, or murder, the insurer has the right to deny the life insurance claim.

Typically, life insurance has been designed to provide financial support to the beneficiary of the deceased policyholder. So, if the policyholder dies in a motorcycle crash while being involved in any criminal activity, it directly violates the life insurance agreement. And that gives insurers full discretion to reject any insurance claim.

Why is Life Insurance Crucial for Motorcyclists?

According to the NHTSA, motorcycles have a fatality rate of 30.2% per vehicle mile traveled which makes it at least 24 times more prone to fatal accidents than any other vehicle. This means, if you’re riding a motorcycle in the US, then it substantially increased 24 times risk of an accidental death.

In the US, the average annual death due to motorcycle crashes is around 4,500 per year. Given the fatality trend of motorcycle crashes in the last 3 years, there have been 5,620 deaths in 2020, 6,413 deaths in 2021, and 6,218 deaths in 2023.

Unfortunately, in most cases motorcycle crashes lead to fatal injuries, which ultimately leads to an untimely death. By having an active life insurance policy, you can ensure the financial safety of family and loved ones.

As motorcycle deaths are so common, that’s why it’s crucial for every motorcyclist to have life insurance. So, if you’re no longer there to provide for your family after an accidental motorcycle death, the life insurance will cover the following finances.

• Living Expenses: Groceries, utility bills, rent, mortgage payments and other household expenses
• Debt: Loan payments, and credit card bills
• Education: Your children’s education expenses which includes all academic fees
• Loss of Income: Covers your monthly/annual income based on the insurance policy to ensure that your beneficiaries can maintain the same standard of living

Bottomline

Nothing in life is guaranteed, and that’s why it’s always best to stay on the safe side. Whether you ride a motorcycle for work, daily commute, or as a hobby, it is crucial to ensure that your life insurance covers motorcycle death.

In general, most life insurance policies cover motorcycle death, but as some don’t, it’s always best to transparently communicate with your insurer, and read the insurance agreement thoroughly to ensure it.

If you need expert advice on life insurance for motorcycle death, you can find an agent nearby, or fill out the contact form with your query, and one of our agents will get back to you soon!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you get life insurance if you have a motorcycle?

Although motorcycles are relatively riskier than other vehicles, you can still get life insurance with a motorcycle. However, make sure to confirm with your insurer whether their life insurance policy covers motorcycle insurance.

Does life insurance cover motorcycle deaths?

Yes, life insurance does cover motorcycle deaths just like it covers accidental death for any other vehicle, or for any other cause. But there are certain conditions and exclusions which include high-risk behaviors, riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs, suicide, and involvement in criminal activities.

What type of death is not covered by life insurance?

Apart from high-risk behavior, substance related exclusions, suicide, and crime, if your beneficiaries murder you, or are involved in it by staging your motorcycle accident then they won’t get the death benefit from your life insurance.

What is the number one cause of motorcycle deaths?

Speeding, and reckless riding. According to NHTSA, 33% of motorcycle riders got into a fatal accident for speeding. Remember, if the cause of death identifies risky behavior, such as unnecessarily speeding, or racing then your life insurance can get void. So, to stay on the safe side, make sure to obey the traffic rules, and most importantly the speed limit.