What to Do If You Are Hit by a Car While Bicycling?

Posted On July 12, 2017 In Personal Injury

Bicyclers may think they are ok after being hit by a car, a recent article on active.com talks about a case involving a Seattle attorney, John Duggan, who was hit on his bicycle. He thought he was unharmed, and didn’t know who was at fault for the accident, so he and the driver parted ways. A half-mile down the road, Duggan started experiencing serious pain and had to go to the emergency room with wrist and shoulder injuries.

Steps You Should Take If Hit on Your Bicycle

• Contact the police: Doing this as soon as possible after an accident gives you reputable documentation of the accident and what caused it, which will be helpful for insurance claims, or if a personal injury lawsuit needs to be filed. Insurance claims often do not reach fair settlements for accident victims, which is when a personal injury lawyer can be beneficial.
• Talk to witnesses: Any witnesses that saw the accident should be asked if they don’t mind including their recollection of the accident to the police. Witness reports can strengthen your case. Be sure to take down the witness names and contact information yourself; the police often fail to include this information in their reports.
• Get the driver’s insurance/contact information: In the story mentioned above, Duggan didn’t ask for the driver’s information because he thought he wasn’t injured and wasn’t sure if the accident was his fault. Even if you do not know, exchange contact information in the preparation for experiencing future health or insurance issues.
• Get medical help: Make sure you get medical attention as soon as possible following an accident. Even if you seem alright, you may experience delayed symptoms.

Will My Car Insurance Cover a Bicycle Accident?

Many times, your car insurance will cover damages caused from being hit on a bicycle. It depends on your insurance policy, but if it includes Personal Injury Protection Coverage(PIP), you may be covered. PIP covers damages regardless of who’s at fault, and can include coverage for lost wages in the case of an injury. Another form of coverage that can help is Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage. With this coverage, your insurance company steps in and covers damages the other driver is liable for, but does not have insurance to cover. Every insurance policy is different, and you can find out by calling our office for a free review of your insurance policy.

It can be of great help to consult a personal injury attorney with years of experience reviewing insurance policies and determining who is at fault for accidents. Lufkin personal injury attorney Mike Love gives free policy reviews and is dedicated to challenging insurance companies so they don’t offer just the minimum amount of coverage for accident victims.