Bicycle Accident Insurance Coverage Explained for Cyclists

Several insurance policies can pay after a bicycle accident, from the at-fault driver’s liability to your own auto coverage, homeowners insurance, and health plan, and none pays for everything. Medical bills arrive before anyone assigns blame, so start with the plan that pays before blame is settled. Knowing which types of insurance cover bicycle accidents helps any bicyclist recover compensation for damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Key Takeaways

The at-fault party’s liability insurance coverage pays for your bicycle accident injuries and property damage once the insurance company accepts responsibility, up to the amount purchased.
PIP or medical payments pays your medical bills and may cover lost wages without waiting for anyone to assign blame.
A health plan that paid the hospital can take that money back out of your settlement through subrogation or a lien, so call a personal injury attorney to review any insurance claim before signing.
Your own uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) insurance coverage protects you on a bike when the one responsible carried too little or fled a hit-and-run accident.
A homeowners insurance or renters policy covers the bike and your financial responsibility to others, never your own injuries from bicycle accidents.

Which Types of Insurance Cover Bicycle Accidents?

Seven types cover bicycle accidents, and which apply turns on who else was involved, not who owns the bike.

Coverage	What it pays	Waits for blame	Can reclaim from your settlement
The at-fault motorist’s bodily injury liability	your injuries and property damage	yes	no
Your PIP	medical bills, and lost wages in some states	no	sometimes, by state
Your medical payments	medical bills to a low limit	no	sometimes, by state
Your UM/UIM	your injuries when the at-fault driver had too little or left the scene	yes, on that negligence	no
Your health plan	treatment, less deductible and copays	no	often, by subrogation or a lien
A homeowners insurance or renters policy	the bike as property and your responsibility to others	no	no
A standalone bike plan	the bike itself	no	no

Twelve states and Puerto Rico have no-fault laws built on personal injury protection (PIP), among them Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Texas law confirms that medical payments also cover a walking or biking accident.

A fall on a pothole or an accident with another bicyclist involves no vehicle, whether cycling for exercise or on the road. Health insurance still covers your treatment, and a homeowners plan covers your bike. If you injured the other bicyclist, the same homeowners section answers their claim. Poor weather and road hazards also cause bicycle accidents, so knowing what insurance might cover such situations matters.

How Much Is the At-Fault Driver Required to Carry?

The at-fault driver must carry only the state law minimum, and that minimum most likely falls short, even $30,000 for one injured bicyclist leaves serious medical costs uncovered after an accident. Texas sets 30,000/60,000 for the entire incident; every other state sets its own.

The same traffic rules apply to motorists and cyclists after any accident. Your share of the blame usually reduces the amount you recover under the comparative negligence system. If the at-fault party’s limit falls short of your expenses and losses, your underinsured UM/UIM coverage and a personal injury lawsuit can reach that driver’s assets to recover compensation for damages.

Does Your Auto Policy Cover You on a Bike?

Your auto insurance policy can cover you on a bike when the driver who hit you had no car insurance, carried too little, or fled after the accident. Does car insurance cover bicycle accidents the same way? It pays only once your insurance carrier accepts that the other person caused the accident.

Highest uninsured rate, 2023	Rate	Lowest uninsured rate, 2023	Rate
Mississippi	28.2%	Maine	5.7%
New Mexico	24.1%	Utah	6.2%
District of Columbia	23.1%	Idaho	6.4%
Michigan	22.3%	Wyoming	6.7%
Tennessee	21.3%	Montana	7.2%

Source: Triple-I

Only 20 states and DC require motorists to carry uninsured auto insurance, and some limit it to people in a vehicle. In Texas, insurance carriers must offer it and it stays on your auto insurance policies unless you reject it.

Call your insurance carrier after a bicycle accident right away, because most insurance companies set claim deadlines. Before you file a claim, read your declarations page for PIP, medical payments, and UM/UIM, and each limit. BALG attorneys find the UM/UIM line blank, or set at the state minimum, more often than any other type. A blank there means you declined it, which may limit your rights after an accident. Compensation in those cases may depend on other policies.

What Homeowners Insurance Covers After Bicycle Accidents

A homeowners insurance or renters plan serves two purposes after bicycle accidents, covering the bike as property and you if you injure somebody in an accident. Under a standard homeowners insurance plan, bikes are covered against perils like theft or accidental damage, minus your deductible. Homeowners insurance might also cover bikes used for everyday activities like exercise.

If you are responsible for an accident that injures a pedestrian or another cyclist, their homeowners claim comes out of your homeowners limit. The average homeowners insurance claim for injuring someone or damaging their property paid $37,174 from 2019 to 2023. The same plan carries a medical payment to others benefit, commonly $1,000 to $5,000, paying minor costs without waiting for responsibility to be argued. Neither part pays for your own injuries, so a bicyclist hit in an accident should look to liability insurance or car insurance to recover compensation for those costs and expenses.

Is Standalone Bicycle Insurance Worth Buying?

A standalone bike plan is worth buying for a valuable bike because it covers theft and accidental damage, not the cyclist. Cyclists and bicyclists with solid UM/UIM coverage find a standalone plan adds little beyond the costs to replace it. Your body is covered in most situations by health insurance, your auto insurance policy, or the other side’s coverage. An accident you cause falls to your homeowners policy unless the standalone plan adds it. Homeowners insurance might also cover accessories and gear for bikes at home.

Talk Through Your Coverage With a Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Attorneys at Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group represent injured cyclists exclusively and review how your coverage, the driver’s policy, and any lien fit together before you sign a settlement. BALG takes bicycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. You don’t pay unless the firm recovers compensation for you. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a licensed attorney in your state. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Contact BALG for a free review of your coverage.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About NYC Injury Lawyer Costs

How much compensation can I get for a bicycle accident?

That question has no standard answer, because it turns on your medical costs, lost income, the severity of your injuries, the available limits, and your share of responsibility. The ceiling is the limits on the insurance policies that apply, not what your losses are worth. A consultation with an accident attorney can give you a clearer picture of the amount your case may be worth.

What is not covered by bicycle insurance?

Standalone policies commonly exclude ordinary wear, mechanical failure, and poor maintenance. Many exclude racing unless you add that cover, and they differ on whether they reach an e-bike, so read the articles and exclusions before you rely on one. Theft of accessories left unlocked is another common exclusion cyclists should know about.

What happens if I hit a cyclist with my car?

Stop and stay at the scene, call for medical help, and report the accident, because leaving can turn a civil claim into a criminal charge. Your auto liability coverage would respond to the injured person’s injury and property damage claim, up to your limits. Your homeowner or renter policy would not apply to this scenario.

What should I do after a bike accident?

The first job is to ensure safety and call for help if anyone is injured. Once the situation is stable, document the scene: photograph everything, collect information from all drivers involved, and get contact details from witnesses. Your second job is to see a doctor promptly, because delayed symptoms are common in bicycle accidents. File a claim quickly and seek a consultation with an attorney who handles bike accident cases to protect your right to full compensation.

Posted by Robert Goldwater

Robert Goldwater is a cyclist representing cyclists. He has practiced personal injury and wrongful death law for more than 20 years, graduating with Honors from Arizona State University Law School, and has helped recover over $1 billion for clients, including injured cyclists.

All articles by Robert Goldwater