Glossary

A motion is an application made to a court or judge for the purpose of obtaining a ruling or order directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant.

A motion in limine is a written motion that is usually made before the beginning of a jury trial for a protective order against prejudicial questions, statements, and evidence. This avoids introduction of testimony into trial that is irrelevant, inadmissible, and prejudicial.

Motion practice is habitual application to the court for the purpose of obtaining a favorable ruling in lieu of informally reaching agreement between the parties.

A motion to dismiss is a motion introduced before trial to attack the action on the basis of insufficiency of the pleading, process, venue, joinder, etc. A motion to dismiss is usually filed by the defendant at the beginning of the lawsuit.

Motorcycle insurance is a stand-alone form designed to provide appropriate coverage for a variety of motorcycles and related vehicles, such as trikes, mopeds, scooters, dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, Segway® personal transporters, golf carts, and snowmobiles. A motorcycle is typically defined as (1) a two-wheel land motor vehicle with wheels in tandem (including an attached sidecar) that is designed primarily for use on public roads or (2) a three-wheel land motor vehicle designed primarily for use on public roads. Although motorcycles can be added to the personal auto policy (PAP), coverage gaps can result. Several insurers have developed this insurance for motorcycle owners, which reduces or eliminates these gaps. Some insurers also have specialty policies for off-road cycles, such as dirt bikes.

Motor Carrier Act of 1980 (MCA) requires certain vehicles to carry minimum limits of insurance coverage to satisfy public liability and environmental restoration claims that may arise from accidents. The minimum required limits range from $750,000 to $1 million to $5 million per accident, depending on the type of commodity transported (i.e., nonhazardous or hazardous and, in the case of hazardous substances, the specific category of such).

The motor carrier policy was introduced by Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), in 1993 to address the needs of the motor carrier (i.e., trucking) industry. Coverages available include auto liability, trailer interchange, and auto physical damage; other coverages are available by endorsement. The policy was developed as an alternative to the truckers policy because of the changes taking place in the industry. That is, the truckers policy is applicable only for "for-hire" motor carriers, whereas the motor carrier policy is appropriate for all types of motor carriers—for-hire, private, or a combination of both types of operations.

A motor home policy is a specialized form designed to meet the unique needs of recreational vehicle owners. It provides coverage such as liability, personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorists (UM/UIM), and physical damage including protection for attached accessories, roadside assistance, emergency expense, and personal effects. In addition, the policy can be tailored to those individuals and families who live in their motor homes on a full-time basis (full-timers coverage).

Motor truck cargo is an inland marine form covering loss of property in the course of transit, either by common carrier or on the insured's own vehicles, depending on the form used.

Motor vehicle is a term commonly used in vehicle registration and financial responsibility statutes and is generally defined to mean a device capable of transporting people or property and that is self-propelled by mechanical or electrical power. However, state "motor vehicle" definitions usually contain a list of exceptions of the kinds of vehicles that do not qualify—for example, vehicles that are not designed for use on public roads, vehicles propelled solely by human power, bicycles, motorized wheelchairs or other electric personal assistive mobility devices, farm tractors, implements of husbandry, motorized bicycles, mopeds, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, motor scooters, and vehicles running only on rails or tracks. Each state's "motor vehicle" definition must be examined closely to see what types of vehicles qualify and what types do not. Any nonexempt vehicle that qualifies under a state statutory definition of a "motor vehicle" may be subject to that state's licensing, registration, and/or financial responsibility laws.