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Insurance Coverage in the Event of a Bike Accident

by Richard J. Banta | Jan 20, 2020 | Uncategorized

Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you are a bicyclist involved in a traffic accident, it can be difficult to know what sort of insurance coverage applies. It depends on what vehicles or pedestrians were involved, who was at fault, and what kind of coverage you have.

The following is an explanation of the different types of insurance coverage that may apply in a bicycle accident.

Health Insurance

If you are injured in an accident on your bicycle, your health insurance may handle the expenses related to necessary medical treatment. However, if you seek damages from other insurance after the fact, e.g., the auto insurance company that insures someone who hit you with his or her car, your health insurer may place a lien against any damages awarded. This means that a portion of your award or settlement must go to reimburse your insurer for the medical expenses it paid on your behalf.

Homeowners/Renters Insurance

If you cause an injury to a pedestrian or another bicyclist while on your bike, your car insurance policy will not cover it because it did not involve you driving a motor vehicle. However, if you have homeowners or renters insurance, it will cover you in the event that you cause injury to another person while on your bicycle.

Your Auto Insurance

If you cause injury while on your bicycle, your auto insurance does not cover you. However, if you sustain an injury in a collision between you and the driver of an automobile, your own car insurance policy may apply, but only if you have certain coverage. For example, the driver who hit you may have no insurance at all, or else insufficient coverage to pay damages for your injuries. Uninsured or underinsured driver coverage, which is mandatory in many states, may cover you in this scenario, even if you were on your bike.

You may also be able to recover compensation for your injuries if your car insurance coverage includes personal injury protection. This is generally only required in no-fault states, but is often available in other states as well. In order to claim damages from a bike accident from your own insurance company, certain conditions must be met, which vary by state.

Another Party’s Insurance

If you are hit by a car while on your bicycle and suffer injury, you are often able to claim damages from the driver’s car insurance company. The amount that you can claim may depend on the amount of responsibility you bear for the accident. However, this also varies by state.

A good bicycle accident attorney, like a Woodland Hills, CA bicycle accident attorney, may be able to help you sort out the complicated insurance situation after a bike accident, freeing you up to focus on your recovery. 

 

 

Thanks to Barry P. Goldberg Law for their insight into coverage in the event of a bicycle accident.