One of the issues in a motorcycle accident, like a regular motor vehicle accident, is if the party who caused the accident flees the scene. In order to recover, you need to be able to identify the driver and identify who their insurance company is. If they fled the scene, that might not be possible. The only way you’re going to be able to recover in that type of situation is if you carry what’s called uninsured motorist coverage. What that means is when you buy your own insurance, your insurance company offers you the chance to purchase a specific separate type of coverage to handle a situation where the other driver is uninsured.

In California, if you’re able to determine that the person has fled the scene and you’re not able to identify the other driver, that qualifies as an uninsured motor vehicle or motorcycle event, triggering coverage under that type of policy.