What Will Insurance Cover if I am in a Bicycle Accident?

If you or somebody you love sustains an injury as a result of a bicycle accident, you need to know whether or not insurance will cover the medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. Typically, individuals who sustain bicycle accident injuries in an incident caused by the negligence of another driver will be able to recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance carrier. Additionally, a bicyclist’s auto insurance may also provide coverage for them, even if they were responsible for the incident.

The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Carrier

In the event an individual sustains a bicycle accident injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver, then they will be able to recover compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. In the state of Colorado, all drivers are required to carry the minimum insurance set forth by law, which includes:

• Bodily injury liability of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
• Property damage liability of $15,000 per accident

When a bicyclist is struck by another vehicle, the claim will move forward much like any other vehicle accident claim. Individuals will report the incident either to their personal auto insurance carrier or the at-fault driver’s insurance carrier. However, even though these may be routine claims, we strongly encourage all car accident victims in Denver to work with a skilled Denver personal injury lawyer who can help. These claims can become complicated, particularly if the insurance carrier refuses to offer a fair settlement.

In the event the insurance carrier refuses to offer an adequate settlement, it may be necessary for a bicycle accident victim to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

The Bicyclist’s Insurance Carrier

In the event the bicyclist is injured by another driver, they may be able to turn through their own auto insurance carrier to recover compensation. This can occur in a few ways.

If the other driver was uninsured, a bicyclist can use their uninsured motorist coverage if they opt to carry this type of coverage on their policy. This will typically pay for at least $25,000 worth of medical bills per incident, but the policy limits can be increased. We strongly encourage all bicyclists to ensure that their auto insurance policy is up to date and includes uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Additionally, even though it is not required, individuals in Colorado can opt to have medical payments as part of their insurance plan, often referred to as MedPay. When a person has this type of insurance, they will typically be able to return to their own insurance carrier to recover compensation for some of their medical bills, and they will recover this compensation relatively quickly without having to determine liability.

In the event a bicycle list does not have auto insurance and they sustain an injury in a bicycle accident not caused by another driver, another option may be to turn to their personal medical insurance. We encourage all individuals to check with their insurance policy to see if bicycle accident injuries are covered.

Working With an Attorney

Bicycle accident victims in Colorado need to speak to a Denver bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible so their lawyer can begin gathering evidence needed to prove liability. Those injured by the negligence of another driver should be able to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering damages, property damage expenses, lost wages, and more.