What Does Motorcycle Insurance Pay If My Pillion Is Hurt?

If your pillion passenger is injured in a motorcycle accident, the compensation they can receive depends on who caused the accident and what insurance coverage is available.

Standard motorcycle insurance does not automatically cover your legal liability for injuries to your pillion. You may need an optional benefit called Legal Liability to Pillion (LLP). However, if another driver caused the accident, your passenger may be able to claim against that driver’s insurance instead.

Here is how the different types of protection work.

Does Standard Motorcycle Insurance Cover an Injured Pillion?

Not automatically. A standard motorcycle policy generally covers your legal liability for injuries or damage caused to third parties, subject to its exclusions.

However, liability for injuries to a passenger travelling on your own motorcycle is generally excluded unless the policy includes the relevant extension or the circumstances fall within an applicable legal exception.

This means having comprehensive motorcycle insurance does not automatically mean your pillion is covered.

What Is Legal Liability to Pillion (LLP)?

Legal Liability to Pillion is an optional extension that may be added to a motorcycle insurance policy for an additional premium.

It protects you or your authorised rider against certain legal claims made by a pillion passenger who is injured or killed in an accident due to the rider’s negligence.

For example:

• You are riding your motorcycle with a passenger.
• You lose control and cause an accident.
• Your passenger suffers injuries and makes a legal claim against you.
• If your policy includes LLP, the insurer may cover your legal liability, subject to the endorsement’s terms and exclusions.

However, LLP is not the same as personal accident (PA) insurance. It covers your legal liability rather than automatically paying a fixed benefit or every medical bill incurred by your passenger.

What does LLP usually exclude?

The exclusions depend on the insurer and endorsement. For example, an RHB motorcycle policy’s Legal Liability to Pillion endorsement excludes certain situations, including:

• A passenger carried for hire or reward.
• Injuries arising from the passenger’s employment with the policyholder or authorised rider.
• Certain claims involving household members.
• Liability caused by the pillion passenger.

Therefore, read the full endorsement rather than relying only on the benefit’s name.

What If Another Driver Caused the Accident?

If another vehicle’s driver caused the accident, your pillion may be able to claim compensation from that driver’s insurer.

For example, a car hits your motorcycle from behind while you are carrying a passenger. If the car driver is found responsible, your passenger may pursue a third-party bodily injury claim against the car driver’s insurer.

Depending on the circumstances and evidence, compensation may include:

• Medical and hospital expenses.
• Loss of income due to the injury.
• Pain and suffering.
• Other damages recognised under the applicable law.

The amount is not automatically fixed. It depends on the injuries, supporting documents, legal liability and assessment of the claim.

If both drivers share responsibility, the compensation may also be affected by the finding on fault.

Does Personal Accident Insurance Cover a Pillion Passenger?

It depends on who is insured under the personal accident policy.

Some motorcycle insurance products offer optional PA benefits for the policyholder or authorised rider. However, this does not necessarily mean the pillion passenger is covered.

A separate passenger PA plan or other personal accident policy may provide benefits if the passenger is included as an insured person and the accident meets the policy conditions.

Before relying on PA cover, check:

• Who is named or eligible for protection.
• Whether pillion passengers are included.
• Which injuries or events qualify.
• Whether benefits are paid for medical expenses, permanent disability or accidental death.
• The applicable benefit limits and exclusions.

Your passenger may also have separate medical or personal accident insurance that can help with eligible expenses or benefits.

What Should You Do If Your Pillion Is Injured?

If your passenger is hurt in an accident, prioritise medical attention and keep records of what happened.

Follow these steps:

1. Get medical help. Call emergency services if the passenger has serious injuries. Avoid moving someone with a suspected serious injury unless necessary to prevent immediate danger.
2. Report the accident. Make a police report as required and provide accurate details about how the accident happened.
3. Keep evidence. Take photographs of the accident scene and vehicles, and collect witness details if it is safe to do so.
4. Keep medical records. Save hospital bills, medical reports, prescriptions and receipts.
5. Inform the insurers. Notify your motorcycle insurer and, where another vehicle is involved, identify the other driver’s insurer.
6. Check the available coverage. Review your policy schedule and endorsements to confirm whether LLP or any passenger PA benefit applies.

Do not admit legal liability or agree to a settlement on behalf of the insurer without first seeking guidance from the insurer or a qualified legal adviser.

Check Your Pillion Protection Before Riding

If you regularly carry a passenger, check whether your motorcycle policy includes Legal Liability to Pillion. Do not assume that comprehensive insurance or a rider’s personal accident benefit automatically protects the person sitting behind you.

Read the policy schedule, Product Disclosure Sheet (PDS) and relevant endorsements. If the coverage is unclear, ask your insurer or takaful operator to confirm it before you renew.