Bicyclists Hit by Uninsured Drivers & 
Hit and Run Drivers

You can protect yourself in case you are struck by a hit and run driver, or by a driver who has no auto insurance, or not enough auto insurance. Your protection is carrying uninsured motorist coverage on your car. Especially if you or your children are avid bicycle riders, it is critical that you carry this coverage, and enough of it, because there are so many uninsured, and underinsured, drivers on the road. We recommend that you carry uninsured motorist coverage with a policy limit of at least $100,000 per person; better still: $250,000 per person.

Bicycle Accident involving an Uninsured Driver

If while riding your bike, you are struck by a driver who is uninsured, you can still receive compensation for your injuries if you own a car and carry uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is an optional coverage which you may have purchased. To find out if you have it, check your policy, ask your agent, or our attorneys can find out for you. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance will act as if they are insuring the driver who hit you. With this coverage, you can collect the same compensation from your own insurance company that you could have from the driver if he/she had been insured. Your insurance company must pay you for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Bicycle Accident involving a Driver with not Enough Insurance

If while riding your bike, you are struck by a driver who has insurance, but the driver's policy limit is not enough to cover the value of your injury claim, you can make an underinsured motorist claim under your auto insurance policy if you carry uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage is the same as underinsured motorist coverage, so if you have one, you have the other.

Your underinsured motorist coverage will only apply to your bicycle accident if your policy limit is greater than the driver's policy limit. If it is, then your underinsured motorist coverage will kick in once you "exhaust" the driver's insurance policy, i.e., after you collect the driver's policy limit.

Bicycle Accident involving a Hit and Run Driver

If while riding a bike, you are struck by a hit and run driver, you can receive compensation for your injuries if you own a car that has uninsured motorist coverage. As long as there was physical contact between the hit and run driver and your body or your bike, your uninsured motorist coverage will apply. It will not apply if you fell while trying to avoid the vehicle, and never made contact with the vehicle.