Does auto insurance cover bicycle accidents?

Does auto insurance cover bicycle accidents?

Often it does, because the driver’s policy is what pays when a driver hurts a cyclist. Colorado is an at-fault state. The driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the other people’s injuries and losses. So if a driver causes a crash with a cyclist, their liability coverage is where a claim usually starts.

What does the driver’s liability coverage pay for?

Your losses from the crash, up to the policy limits. That can include medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering. It also covers damage to your bike and gear, which counts as property.

Colorado drivers must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. Many injuries cost far more, which is why your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage matters. (See C.R.S. § 10-4-620.)

What if the driver has no insurance, or too little?

Your own policy may fill the gap. Colorado insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, and your policy includes it unless you turned it down in writing. (See C.R.S. § 10-4-609.) It may cover you when you are hurt as a cyclist, but policies differ. Ask your insurer, or send us your policy and we can look it over.

What is MedPay, and does it help cyclists?

MedPay is optional coverage that pays medical bills regardless of fault. It can help with deductibles and co-pays while a claim moves forward. Whether it applies to you as a cyclist depends on the wording of the policy, so check before you count on it.

Does collision coverage pay for my bike?

Usually not. Collision coverage is written for your car. Damage to your bicycle is typically handled as property damage by the at-fault driver’s insurer, or by a separate policy that lists the bike.

What should cyclists do after a crash with a car?

• Get medical care first and follow your doctor’s plan.
• Photograph the scene, the car, your bike and your injuries.
• Get the driver’s name, plate and insurance, and any witness details.
• Make sure a police report is filed.
• Avoid a recorded statement to the driver’s insurer until you have talked to a lawyer.

Do you need a lawyer for an insurance claim?

Can an insurer blame you for the crash?

Yes, and it is common. Insurers sometimes say a cyclist was in the wrong lane, ran a stop or was hard to see. Colorado compares each person’s share of fault, so evidence matters. Video, witness accounts and the police report can answer those claims early.

Not for every claim, but it helps when injuries are serious or the insurer blames you. Insurers may argue the cyclist was partly at fault. We can handle the claim for you and look at every source of coverage. Talk to us for a free case review.