Motorcycle safety and motorcycle insurance go hand in hand. If you’re safe on your bike, you’ll be able to acquire and keep coverage — and at much lower premiums than those who are reckless and disregard the motorcycle laws.
That’s just one reason it’s important to know and observe the helmet laws in GA.
Understanding Georgia’s Helmet Laws
Motorcycle helmet laws in Georgia are really pretty simple when it comes to standard two-wheel bikes and headgear: In GA, all bikers and their passengers must wear protective helmets. This state law has a rather awkward name: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-315.
The state further mandates that all legal helmets must meet the standards set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This means, among other restrictions, the headgear must weigh at least 3 lbs., properly fit the head of the rider, and come with a durable neck strap.
The earlier reference to all riders of “standard two-wheel” bikes pertains to the fact that bike helmets are not mandatory in the State of Georgia for riders or passengers on enclosed three-wheelers usually used on private property. But when you ride a conventional two-wheel motorcycle, you need a legally acceptable helmet.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
You might have a passion for the wind in your face, but operating a motorcycle without a helmet can get expensive and dangerous in Georgia. You could end up paying a fine of as much as $1,000 for a violation.
On top of that, your insurance company will find out and, at renewal time, possibly either cancel your coverage or jack up the cost. That’s done because you’re now considered a high-risk policyholder, so you’ll pay more.
The Relationship Between Helmet Use and Insurance Rates
Insurance companies are all about risk. Ideally, they want to have to pay out in covered claims less than what they collect from you in insurance premiums. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Your insurer goes out of business quickly if it constantly pays out more than it takes in.
Bikers who don’t observe Georgia’s motorcycle helmet law are assumed to ride recklessly and likely disregard other laws and be at a higher risk of causing accidents. That would result in a claims loss for the insurer, so they’re no longer eager to have you as a policyholder.
Also, operating a motorcycle without a helmet can lead to serious head injuries. It’s always better to walk away from a destroyed bike with brain intact.
If your motorcycle insurance in GA includes medical benefits through personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, this will trigger additional claims that might cost the insurer more than when a motorcyclist faces a bike spill with the proper protective headgear.
A good motorcycle insurance agent will promote headgear use and show you other strategies to lower the price of coverage in Georgia.
Determining the Right Motorcycle Coverage in Georgia
Motorcycle insurance is mandatory for bikers in Georgia. Here’s what that coverage might look like.
Liability
The minimal legal level of coverage is liability. This is the least costly level, but you get what you (don’t) pay for. It only covers the property damage and injuries of others when you’re deemed to be at fault for an accident. That means that liability will not cover damage to your own bike or property. If the fault is yours, you’re out of luck when it comes to repairing your own ride.
Comprehensive and Collision
Comprehensive and collision benefits protect your own bike, too, in the event of a crash with another vehicle when the fault is yours.
Furthermore, the comprehensive portion of the coverage extends financial protection against theft, vandalism, storm damage, or any other way your bike might be lost, damaged, or totaled.
UM/UIM
Georgia is an at-fault state, which means that the insurance of the driver who caused an accident pays for the damages.
But what happens if your bike is damaged through collision, at no fault of your own, but the at-fault driver has no insurance or an inadequate level of coverage? You’re out of luck — unless your policy includes uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, or UM/UIM. Carry that add-on benefit, and your insurer will pay the bills if the at-fault driver is uninsured or has limited coverage that won’t handle your claim.
Roadside Assistance
Finally, consider the many positive features of roadside assistance. This add-on grants you 24/7 access to help when you’re stranded on your motorcycle. This might happen if you run out of gas, shred a tire, need a battery charge, or have any other kind of bike-crippling event anytime, day or night, weekend or holiday.