The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies has ranked South Carolina number 4 on their list of the best states to ride motorcycles, following Florida, Georgia, and Arizona. Others on the list include Texas, Hawaii, Nebraska, and Utah.

To determine their top 20 states, Progressive looked at specific data such as:

• Gasoline prices.
• Population density.
• Risk of motorcycle accident.
• Number of good riding days based on precipitation and temperature.
• Percentage of smooth roads.

According to Progressive’s product manager Dan Kamionkowski, “American riding is as diverse as American riders from the city rider to the country cruiser. Some states that you may consider obvious good places to ride were not included in the top 20 when all data were taken into account, but they’re still great options.” For example, sunny California has high gas prices and population density, so they didn’t make the top 20.

South Carolina ranked #5 in lowest likelihood of a motorcycle crash, as well as #5 for lowest gas prices. As motorcycle accident lawyers, we know that the roads and riders in South Carolina are some of the safest in the nation. Kamionkowski stated that Progressive, one of the top motorcycle insurers, published this list to help bikers maximize their time riding.

This list doesn’t surprise anyone who rides in South Carolina. Our state and national parks, historic areas, and sandy beaches are a rider’s paradise. We have scenic roads like nowhere else, such as the Savannah River Scenic Byway, which takes you to Clarks Hill Recreation Area, the Strom Thurmond Visitor Center, and Hamilton Branch and Baker Creek State Parks. All of these areas can be toured in one day as you follow the Savannah River through Sumter National Forest.

Another scenic ride takes you from the historic town of Beaufort through Hunting Island State Park to Fripp Island. You’ll see Beaufort’s historic district, incredible restaurants and shops, barrier islands, plenty of water, and spectacular pull-off areas to take amazing photographs. Beaufort is also the home of the Beaufort National Cemetery, designed by Abraham Lincoln, and Parris Island, a training post for the Marine Corps.

For more information, visit http://www.progressive.com/newsroom/2011/June/best-states-to-ride.aspx.

What is your favorite South Carolina scenic ride?

Here’s What You Need to Know

Have you been reading this blog because you’re new to biking and not sure if it’s right for you? If so, we have a few ideas to help you get off the fence about buying a motorcycle and joining us in the exciting world of biking.

Talk to other bikers.

Don’t be afraid to walk up to bikers and ask them about their experiences. Most of them love to talk motorcycles, especially to anyone who is curious and thinking about becoming bikers themselves. Buy them a beer and ask away, and don’t forget to find out what they wish they had known about motorcycles and what they would have done differently. You want to hear the positive and the negative.

If possible, talk to someone who is approximately your height and weight and find out what kind of bike they ride and why, so you can get started on the next step.

Research different types of bikes.

If you don’t buy the right bike, you won’t want to ride it. There are several different types of bikes, and it’s well worth your time to do your research. Go to websites like Cycle Trader and Motorcycle.com to get a feel for what’s out there. Go to a dealership and sit on a few bikes to decide which handlebars you like. You can also read this post for more ideas to determine your perfect bike.

Know the traffic laws.

As motorcycle accident lawyers, we regularly talk with people who weren’t as knowledgeable as they could have been about traffic laws. Our website has a link to South Carolina motor vehicle law, and we always advise new riders to familiarize themselves with the law before riding.

Put safety first.

Do you plan to wear a helmet? How about leather? The more you can protect yourself in case of accident, the better. Remember that when you’re riding, you’ll be much smaller than a car and not easily seen. You want to assume you’re invisible to drivers, so you’ll always need to leave plenty of space between you and other vehicles. For some, this can be very stressful and cut down on the enjoyment they expected to have while riding.

Taking a motorcycle safety course is a good way to become knowledgeable about ways to help drivers see you and to keep yourself safe in traffic.

Try before you buy.

If you have a friend that’s a biker, perhaps he or she could give you a little taste of what riding is like. You could ride on the back of a bike, or maybe get a riding lesson. Try biking to see if you like it before you jump into it.

Find out how much everything will cost.

Once you’ve determined which bike you’ll need, find out how much everything will cost. Add the cost of insurance, licensing, safety equipment, clothing, and safety courses.

And finally, go with your gut. What is it telling you to do? Are you ready to ride?

Do you have any ideas for those new to motorcycles?

In South Carolina, all motorcyclists are required to carry liability insurance to cover bodily injury and property damage. The minimum amounts are $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 of property damage coverage per accident. This is referred to as 25/50/25. Remember, these are state-mandated minimums.

To determine whether 25/50/25 is sufficient coverage, think of how often and where you ride. Do you usually carry a passenger? Now think of a possible accident during a typical ride, and the bodily injury and property damage that could occur. Knowing that motorcycle riders are often hurt in accidents, do you think that coverage is adequate? Would the minimum property damage coverage replace your bike as well as repair a car you might hit?

Another option to pay for medical expenses is medical payments coverage. This pays for reasonable healthcare and funeral expenses for you and your family, even if you are at fault, for a period of one to three years.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance ensures compensation for accidents where the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured, including hit-and-run accidents. In South Carolina, uninsured / underinsured coverage is portable, meaning it may apply to not only car accidents (whether you are the driver or passenger), but also motorcycle and pedestrian accidents. The law requires uninsured motorist coverage, while underinsured motorist coverage is optional.

In addition to liability insurance, you may wish to purchase collision and / or comprehensive insurance to cover damage to your bike. Collision coverage protects your bike in the event of a crash with an object or other vehicle, while comprehensive coverage covers damage caused by other mishaps such as flood and fire. In both cases, you have a deductible, which is the amount you pay before insurance kicks in. You choose the deductible, which affects the price of your policy. When you add both coverages to your policy, you are “fully insured.”

The first step to ensure you have the proper amount of motorcycle insurance is to look at your riding habits and determine how much will adequately protect you. In order to receive the compensation you and your family are entitled to, it’s important to know what your policy covers.

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The first step to finding the right motorcycle insurance is to do your research. If you’re happy with your current car insurance provider, ask if they also offer motorcycle insurance. If not, ask other motorcyclists what insurance companies they use. Some of the most popular motorcycle insurance companies include:

Allstate: With rates starting as low as $100, Allstate provides motorcyclists with motorcycle coverage that includes Accident Forgiveness, Deductable Rewards®, and new motorcycle replacement.  Allstate also offers the option to receive Motorcycle Medical Payments, or Personal Injury Protection, which provides coverage for medical costs and even for loss of wages should you need to miss work due to your injuries.

To get a free quote for your motorcycle, click here.

Progressive: With policies starting at just $95 per year, it’s no wonder Progressive is rated one of the top motorcycle insurance providers. And one of their biggest perks is that they offer 24 / 7 roadside assistance, should your motorcycle breakdown, for less than $1 per month.

Progressive also insures automobiles, boats, motor homes, travel trailers, snowmobiles, commercial automobiles, homeowners insurance, condominium insurance, renters insurance, and mobile home insurance. They pretty much can cover it all!

To get a free quote for your motorcycle, click here.

Geico: Covering sport, cruiser, and dirt bikes, Geico offers motorcycle coverage for whatever bike you’ve got.  When you choose Geico as your motorcycle insurance provider, you get flexible payment plans that work best for you, as well as motorcycle insurance discount options.

To get a free quote for your motorcycle, click here.

For more information about motorcycle coverage, click here.

When you don’t know the facts about your insurance policy, you run the risk of your insurance provider taking advantage of your situation and benefiting from your lack in understanding your insurance policy. This can result in low compensation for your motorcycle accident.

You’ll find some of the highest accident compensation with your uninsured / underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage ensures that you receive compensation for accidents where you were not at fault and the at-fault driver is underinsured or uninsured. This may also involve hit-and-run accidents.

Whether you’re driving a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or are involved in a pedestrian accident, South Carolina law ensures uninsured / underinsured coverage is applied. In order to receive the compensation you and your family are entitled to, it’s important to be educated on your policy and uninsured / underinsured motorist policies. In cases where you are unsure of your rights and the compensation you are entitled to, contact a local South Carolina motorcycle accident attorney or personal injury lawyer.

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