Bicycles and Insurance

Whether you're an avid bicycler or just a hobbyist, it can be terrifying to get in a wreck, especially if that wreck is with a car. As a bicyclist, you have much less padding and support than the driver of a car, and injury is very common.

If you have recently been injured in a bicycle accident – and especially if you have incurred medical bills and lost time or money due to recovery – you may be due compensation. Knowing what your rights are when it comes to bicycle accidents, and how the driver's insurance can help you make up for your losses, is very important.

Bicycle Accidents Happen All the Time

First and foremost, it's crucial to understand that bicycle accidents happen all the time. This is not a new phenomenon, and it's one that insurance companies definitely have experience dealing with. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “While only 1% of all trips taken in the U.S. are by bicycle, bicyclists face a higher risk of crash-related injury and deaths than occupants of motor vehicles do.”

In fact, the site continues, there were more than 494,000 visits to the emergency department due to bicycle crashes just in 2013. So biking can be dangerous. But that doesn't mean if you've gotten in an accident you're out of luck. You aren't.

Auto Insurance Does Cover Bicycle Accidents

The good news is that automobile insurance covers bicycle accidents. Even if your own insurance won't cover it, the car driver's should. However, that driver's insurance company will probably try to deny the claim and refuse to pay your medical bills, which is why you may need legal help.

Before you can successfully win a case, though, you have to gather the necessary evidence. In the next section we'll talk about the proper ways to respond to a bike accident so you can collect insurance compensation.

How to Respond to a Bike Accident

The first step following an accident is to exchange information with the driver of the car so you can contact them later. Be sure to get their insurance information as well as their driver's license number and name.

The next step is to see a doctor to assess your injuries. Even if you were able to walk away from the scene of the accident, you may have injuries you don't know about that could cause problems later. A full assessment can catch these in time to get compensated for them. Lastly, get in touch with a Salt Lake City bicycle accident lawyer to help you review documents and build a case.

Going forward, remember to stay sharp when you're on your bike. While drivers should keep an eye out for you, you can't trust them to do so. You have to be on the lookout. Places such as construction zones are especially dangerous, because there's a lot going on and cars have extra details to focus on. Be especially vigilant in such situations.

Bottom Line:There's no reason you should have to deal with this situation on your own. Your injury is not something you simply have to bear; you can do something about it. We want to help. Here at George Tait Law, we believe in getting clients what they're owed for what they've been through. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services and your options.

George Tait Law is a law firm and its lawyers represent injured people and their families across Utah including the counties and cities of Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber, American Fork, Beaver, Bountiful, Brigham City, Cedar City, Delta, Draper, Duchesne, Fillmore, Heber, Kamas, Kanab, Kaysville, Layton, Lehi, Logan, Moab, Murray, Nephi, Ogden, Orem, Park City, Price, Provo, Richfield, Riverton, Roy, Salt Lake City, Sandy, South Jordan, St. George, Tooele, Vernal, West Jordan, and West Valley City. George Tait Law and its attorneys are licensed to practice law only in the State of Utah and maintain offices in Salt Lake City, Utah. No attorney client relationship is established by simply visiting this website.