Bike accidents are growing in frequency. As more people take to the roads on their bikes, it becomes more likely you could hit one accidentally. If this happens, you may be unsure of what to do. Most of the time, your auto insurance provides coverage for the losses of the bike rider. There are some limitations. Here are a few key things to know.
Bike Accidents Can Happen to Anyone
While a focused, attentive driver is not likely to strike a bike rider, it’s easier to happen than you may realize. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 783 bike riders died in 2017 as a result of a collision with a vehicle. Consider a simple situation that can happen to anyone.
A young adult is riding his bike down the road on the sidewalk. You are making a left turn onto a street. You do as you should, wait for the light, and turn when there is no traffic. That bike rider, who was two blocks away a moment ago, is flying down the sidewalk. As you turn, the rider hits your vehicle and suffers significant damage. In this situation, it’s unlikely you could stop easily or even see the rider.
Will Auto Insurance Help You?
In a situation like this, the bike may have significant damage. Your car insurance should provide help to you. In most cases, the insurance policy will cover:
Repairs or replacement of the bike
- Repairs or replacement to any of the rider’s gear
- Medical bills for the rider
This falls under your liability insurance. In some situations, you may not have legal liability in the incident. This may occur if the bike rider strikes your car and you did not cause the incident.
In most situations, a police officer should arrive at the scene of the incident. He or she should assess what occurred. You may not get a ticket or face any legal liability if the officer pins the liability on the biker. If he or she says you caused it as the driver, then your liability insurance is likely to help you cover the losses.
Bike riders are everywhere, and the trend is growing. As a result, it is very important to have proper insurance coverage in place. This can help minimize your losses in an accident like this. Even if you cannot prevent it, having coverage should give you peace of mind.