Bmach

If you are riding and are involved in a hit and run accident what insurance covers you and what covers your bike and other personal property?

thanks

CliffordK

Is this hypothetical or actual?
If you have health insurance, then that should cover a portion of your medical expenses based on your plan.

It never hurts to ask your auto insurance company if "uninsured motorist" insurance extends to a bike accident.

Homeowners/rental/umbrella policies? These might also help with property damage.

There are bike specific insurance policies. I'm not a big fan of them, but they are worth looking into.

Tony P.

I had a hit and run in Ct. I was fully covered by my auto insurance - ambulance, hospital, therapy. Although it was explained to me, I never really understood why I wouldn't use medical insurance. Interestingly, the hospital tried to put it through my medical who contacted me. Coverage wasn't considered an accident for rate purposes.

merlinextraligh

In Florida, you would be covered by your auto uninsured motorist coverage.

I believe you will find the same result in most states.

As suggested above, easy answer is call your insurance agent.

also reading your policy wouldn’t be a bad idea

merlinextraligh

it’s a question of which coverage is primary. Had you’re medical insurance paid, then they would have surrogated against the auto policy.

And it likely worked out to your benefit, given that your health insurance likely has deductibles and co pays, whereas uninsured motorist coverage should not be subject to a deductible

Notso_fastLane

I've had two bicycle accidents that were hit and runs that landed in me in the hospital. Both times, my auto insurance covered it, not my health insurance.

So first step would be call your auto insurance and ask.

If you don't have auto insurance, check with your healthcare provider. They will likely cover medical, but you'll still have deductibles. Medical won't do anything to replace a bike though, so if you want that covered as well, I'd recommend velosurance.com.

Bmach

Thanks everyone.

SClaraPokeman

The bike lawyer who had a column in Velonews a number of years ago advised that everyone should make sure their uninsured motorist coverage is at the highest level you can get (mine is $500K). He did explain that a bicyclist hit by a un- or underinsured motorist should be covered by it.

of course even $500K coverage could be quickly subsumed in a severe accident--which is where hopefully your medical policy would step in.

If I'm hit by a car, my bicycle is the least of my concerns--cheap and easy to replace.

indyfabz

Quite interesting, everyone. I don't drive much (a bit over 6,736 miles since mid-July, 2016) so I don't pay much attention to auto coverage other than making sure I have good coverage to protect me. I had no idea that auto coverage would step in if I were ever in a hit and run while cycling.

Vintage Schwinn

My neighbor and good friend, and sometimes a riding group member, tennis and golf pal, is retired attorney. His view on this subject is that you ALWAYS want to discuss the situation with a TRIAL ATTORNEY, not simply those Lawyers who mighthave cool, fancy tv jingles and non stop local tv ads---------------------you WANT a
TRIAL ATTORNEY------------------------there is a difference as he states to anyone that will listen, "Some of those jokers (attorneys) simply want any easy settlement with minimal effort from the firm, so it is over and done quickly..(...so they get their third, and move on as it's a numbers game mostly for them). His opinion is that the INSURANCE COMPANIES know who they are dealing with and can easily get the upper hand with the non trial attorneys that the insurance companies know will not be a threat to take them to court if necessary.................thus minimal or settlements that are typically a fraction of what they likely would be with a certified trial attorney (yes, there is an association of trial lawyers...).....................it won't cost you any more (contingency basis ) and the trial attorneys typically routinely get substantially more of a settlement from insurance companies than non-trial attorneys do...................you should not forget that...
I know that the Hawk group folks host a live weekly television viewer call in show called LAW CALL, and they often mention this distiction about TRIAL LAWYERS, as their firm is made up of entirely trial lawyers.
Too often folks stereotype and villify the legal community when in fact they do the best in protecting their client's rights. Never underestimate this because you might need them to work on your behalf someday too. There are just so many things that they can get accomplished, much more easily than you as an inexperienced, ordinary citizen can do. There are time windows and other specifics that can be critical and many of these vary somewhat from state to state, such that you do need to discuss this with a Trial Attorney who currently practices in that particular state.

Podagrower

^This is how it was explained by a lawyer to our group. If you don't have uninsured motorist, your health insurance will cover the healthcare portion, but health insurance will not cover lost wages, pain and suffering, things of that nature.

Iride01 

Somewhat dated as this was in 2011, but some things worth considering and asking............... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/05/...it-by-car.html

OldTryGuy

My bike accident was not a H&R but me crashing into rider ahead paceline when car came into our lane and biker friend slammed on brakes car never stopped. I flew off bike, small broken neck/collar bone other things, bike was OK. As has been mentioned, I collected on Auto.

genec

What if you are a car free cyclist and have no auto insurance?

mr_bill

Look into non-owner auto insurance, which may cover damages to you by a hit and run driver (presumed uninsured or at least uncollectable).
And look into homeowner's or renter's insurance which may cover you if YOU were to hurt someone while riding your bike.

But maybe talk to the folks who've seen a thing or two (or the ones with the lizard, or the ones with hands, or the ones with....)

-mr. bill

Drew Eckhardt 

My auto insurance plus a $1M uninsured motorist option on my umbrella policy.

Notso_fastLane

Your health insurance will cover medical, but you'd be SOL for replacing your bike. I speak from experience.

I-Like-To-Bike

You could buy a new bicycle with the money from your large monetary nest egg accumulated by not having any car expenses; at least that is the financial story I learned on the LCF list.

genec

Ironic, even if you don't have a car, you need "auto insurance" to protect you from other drivers.

noglider 

Thanks for this thread. My wife owns two cars, and I own none. I'll check with the policy to see if it covers me when I'm not driving. Probably not. Then I'll look into non-owners' insurance.

dudeliving

From what I know my bike won't be covered but part of my plan is hospitalization bills in case of road accidents and this includes me riding my bike. I just need to have a proof that it was not intentional and not because of my dumb mistake.

mr_bill

It's been a while since I lived in New York State, but in order to register the two cars you must have insurance, and all* licensed drivers in a household* must be disclosed and covered. New York State doesn't allow excluded drivers for liability, but in rare cases allows excluded drivers for collision damage of the registered vehicle. Do triple check with your insurer, but unless you've taken rare, affirmative action to exclude yourself....

-mr. bill

* "all" and "household" are family members (even extended) living in the same housing unit, or long term guests. (Things get far more complicated around unrelated individuals sharing housing unit, especially if a roomate occasionally or frequently borrows your car. And another layer of complexity with family members living under the same roof but in different units.)

eduskator

I believe my home insurance would cover for my bike, and my provincial DMV department would cover for any injuries & health expenses not covered by our health insurance system.

Note that coverage is different here in Canada from a province to another.

alexsandro22

As I know you can use bike insurance policies. I've used it several times during my trip in high. Anyway it's much more important and effective to visit traffic control courses or smth like that, by the way they also can give you a sertificate you can use for futher insurance.