Bicycle Accident

Over 130,000 bicyclists get injured in accidents every year. The cost of these accidents exceeds $23 billion in total. If you’re in a bicycle accident, how do you pay for your care and the cost of repairing or replacing your bike?

Bicycle insurance can protect you whether you cycle for recreation or transportation. Keep reading to learn about your options for insurance to cover you if you’re in an accident on your bicycle.

Types of Insurance That May Cover a Bicycle Accident

When you’re in an accident caused by a negligent motorist, there are various types of insurance coverage that can cover your damages. 

That’s why if you’re a regular cyclist, you should be aware of the different bicycle insurance plans to protect yourself in the event of an accident. Bicycle accident insurance can cover the cost of repairs or replacing your bike and medical expenses. 

At-Fault Party’s Car Insurance

If you’re hit by a car that has insurance while riding your bike, their policy should cover you if they’re at fault. This is often covered under their liability coverage. 

However, you need to consider the state’s mandatory minimums, as well. If the driver that hits you only has minimum coverage, it’s possible that your bills may exceed that amount. 

In California, the average cost of a visit to the ER can cost thousands. This amount can quickly add up and become higher depending on tests and services needed. For example, the average cost of treating broken bones in the US is $10,000. However, the minimum coverage required in California for injury or death to one person is $15,000. 

In addition, if you own an e-bike or other bike that costs over $5,000, and the driver that hit you only has minimum coverage, the policy will not pay for all of the damage. In California, the minimum coverage for property damage is $5,000. 

Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance

It might be surprising to read about homeowner’s or renter’s insurance in an article about bicycle accidents. However, typically your bike gets covered under the personal property section of this type of insurance. 

Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance is another option if you’re injured by another bicyclist or pedestrian. Some homeowner’s or renters’ policies liability coverage will help with your medical expenses. 

However, that’s not guaranteed. In addition, while this type of insurance can cover part of the damage to your bicycle, it might not cover it all. The coverage you get from a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy will be dependent on how the policy is written. That’s why it’s important to know your policy well. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

If you’re hit by a driver without car insurance, how do you pay for your bills? In California, drivers are required to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Fortunately, in many situations, your uninsured motorist coverage for your auto policy could pay. 

Your uninsured or underinsured motorist policy can also come into play if the driver’s insurance does not cover the full extent of damages. This is important to check if you’re in a hit-and-run or if an accident is caused by an underinsured driver. 

Once again, with uninsured motorist coverage, you need to consider your limits. If you only have minimum coverage, it might not cover all of your bills, and you will need to find coverage from other sources. 

Personal Medical Insurance 

Medical insurance can help to cover the costs associated with injuries in a bicycle accident. However, you still need to consider the specific medical coverage you have. 

However, you need to keep in mind that the health coverage offered by bicycle insurance companies could be limited. Some policies only pay enough to supplement the deductibles of your personal health insurance policy. 

You might still have out-of-pocket costs that other types of insurance can help pay for. This can include deductibles, medications, and any assistive equipment you may need due to severe injuries. 

Disability Insurance

Around 56% of Americans can’t cover an emergency expense of $1,000 and would need to borrow money to cover it. Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and when you’re in an accident and can’t work, that can become even more dangerous. So what happens if you can’t work after being injured by a negligent motorist in an accident? 

One of your options for covering bills is disability insurance. Whether you have disability insurance through your workplace or as a standalone policy, it can help. 

However, you need to keep in mind that this type of insurance is generally short-term. If the accident resulted in permanent disability or you are unable to return to work for an extended period of time, you’ll need to explore other options. 

In addition, you should consider how much your disability insurance pays. It may not pay the same amount that you would earn while working, but a percentage of damages may be covered.

Help If You’ve Been Injured in a Bicycle Accident

There are many types of insurance that can help cover the costs of a bicycle accident. It’s important to check your policies and know what’s covered in your unique situation. 

If you’re hit by a negligent driver while riding your bike, you shouldn’t have to stress about dealing with insurance companies. Hiring a bicycle accident lawyer can help you with the legal process. Request a free consultation with Daniel Kim today to find out how our law firm can help.