Every year, hundreds of Texas cyclists end up in the hospital for injuries from bicycle accidents. When a bicycle crashes into something or is hit by something else, the cyclist can suffer severe injuries even if they’re wearing a helmet. Have you been involved in a bike accident recently? Are you wondering who will pay for your medical expenses? If you’ve been involved in an unfortunate accident, read on or reach out to a San Antonio, Texas Bicycle Accident Lawyer today to learn about your options.
ARE BICYCLE ACCIDENTS INSURED IN TEXAS?
Most of the time, yes. If you are riding your bicycle and get hit by a person driving a car, then the driver’s insurance will be responsible for paying for your injuries. If the driver doesn’t have insurance or their insurance doesn’t cover all of the expenses, then your own auto insurance can probably cover the rest. Most policies have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, which is usually called UM/UIM. You can also use this if the driver flees the scene. If you have personal injury protection (PIP) under your insurance, this can also be used to cover your medical bills for injuries after an accident, even if you weren’t driving your car at the time of the accident.
Texas is an at-fault state, meaning that most of the time, the driver will only need to cover your expenses if the accident was caused by their own negligence. You can file a claim with their insurance to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, damage to your bicycle, and your pain and suffering. You may also receive restitution if you decide to file a personal injury claim because you may be entitled to more damages in court. You should speak with a seasoned personal injury attorney to review your options.
WHAT IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CYCLIST?
If there are no automobiles involved in the bicycle accident, then you might be wondering if auto insurance can still cover the expenses. If you get into an accident with another cyclist, it depends on who is at fault. If they’re at fault, you may be able to file a claim with their auto insurance, but if you’re at fault, you may need to rely on your own health insurance if your auto insurance covers the other cyclist’s injuries. In single-bicycle accidents (like if you crash your bike into a stationary object) you can only use your auto insurance if you have PIP. Otherwise, you’ll likely need to rely on your health insurance to cover your medical bills, and sometimes you can use your homeowner’s insurance if your bicycle was damaged in the accident.
After reading this blog, you might be considering filing a personal injury claim for the injuries you suffered after a bicycle accident. If that’s the case, you’ll need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Thankfully, Sahadi Legal Group is here to fight for you! Contact us today for quality legal counseling.
