California requires liability insurance carried by those who operate motor vehicles. There is no insurance requirement imposed on cyclists. After all, bicycles are unlikely to cause severe injuries to other people or massive property damage.
However, cyclists are incredibly vulnerable in traffic and could easily incur injuries that put them in the hospital for weeks or force them to change professions. Many cycling crashes have tragic consequences, and they are frequently the fault of the party in the enclosed vehicle, rather than the cyclist who sustained injuries.
Those involved in or affected by cycling collisions may wonder if they are eligible for compensation provided by car insurance. Does motor vehicle liability coverage protect cyclists after a crash?
The policy of the at-fault driver can pay
Motor vehicle liability coverage applies any time the policyholder is at fault for a wreck. Regardless of whether they hit another vehicle or a pedestrian, the policy covering the driver at fault for the wreck typically pays for the losses of the other people involved in the incident.
A cyclist injured by a motor vehicle collision could pursue insurance compensation from the driver at fault for the crash. In cases involving hit-and-run collisions, the cyclist might be able to use their personal car insurance policy. If they carry uninsured motorist protection, that coverage can pay for what the at-fault driver’s insurance policy should have covered.
Insurance may not be enough
Cyclists need to understand that the basic coverage required under California law may not be enough to reimburse them for their medical costs and lost wages. Although $5,000 in property damage coverage can be enough to replace a damaged bicycle, $15,000 in bodily injury liability coverage may not be enough to pay hospital bills.
When a driver has insufficient coverage, injured cyclists may need to consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Lawsuits can provide compensation based on the total losses incurred, not just the policy purchased by the driver at fault for the wreck.
Injured cyclists may need help reviewing the available coverage and negotiating with insurance providers following a car-bicycle crash. Seeking guidance to better understand how insurance can – and how it may not be able to – help may limit the financial losses cyclists have to absorb when drivers hit them.
