Imagine for a moment that you and a friend are spending the weekend splashing through mud on the back of your new ATVs. While speeding across your property, you suddenly hit a large rock hidden beneath the tall grass, throwing you and your passengers off and sending the ATV rolling into your neighbor’s fence.
Not only are you responsible for repairing your neighbor’s fence, but you also find that the accident leaves your friend severely injured and in need of surgery and physical therapy to recover. How will you pay for the property damage, medical bills, and damages? Continue reading to learn more about the risks of owning an ATV and how all-terrain vehicle insurance could protect you against the unexpected.
What is Covered by ATV Insurance?
ATV liability insurance is designed to protect you against any expenses that could arise as a result of an accident you caused while driving an ATV. Medical bills can skyrocket quickly – especially if emergency services, surgery and physical therapy are needed to make a full recovery. Not to mention, there are many liability expenses you could face outside of a person’s medical bills. Examples include court costs, property loss, wage replacement, and compensation for pain and suffering (ATV accidents often lead to personal injury lawsuits.)
Of course, another expense is the replacement or repair of the ATV itself. All-terrain vehicles come in a wide range of sizes and features. The most popular ATV in showrooms today – the 2016 Honda FourTrax Foreman 4×4 – costs more than $7,000. If you are a fan of sport style UTVs, perhaps you have the popular Polaris RZR XP 4 1000 EPS, which costs a whopping $23,000! If you financed your vehicle, chances are your lender requires collision coverage. If you paid cash, imagine crashing your ATV immediately after you purchase it, leaving you with nothing to show for your investment.
Finally, what if you are out riding on a trail and are hit by another ATV? Your own policy may include Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage to protect you from this situation in the event the other party does not carry any liability coverage or doesn’t have enough for the injuries and loss wages you incurred.
What to Look for in ATV or UTV Insurance
We recommend carrying the same liability, um, and uim limits as you carry on your auto policy. In addition, it is very important to make sure your personal umbrella carrier knows about the atv and coverage extends over the ATV/UTV.
Is there any customization over a stock model and if so, how much? It is quite common to add thousands of dollars of accessories to a stock machine. Simply let us know how much has been added.
Before you take out an ATV insurance policy, talk with our office first. Our team helps ATV and UTV owners evaluate their risks and find policies that will pay for collision and liability damages, as well as comprehensive claims for non-accident related losses, such as vandalism and theft. We insure most makes and models – including the high-priced luxury UTV with price tags that exceed the cost of a small sedan.
Don’t put yourself or others at risk. Riding an ATV or UTV is much more enjoyable when you know you are fully insured. Call us today to discuss your coverage options and get a free ATV insurance quote right away. We look forward to serving you soon.