Many Pennsylvania bicyclists don’t realize that one of the best ways to protect themselves after a serious bicycle accident has nothing to do with their bicycle—it’s their automobile insurance.
If you’re hit by a negligent driver while riding your bike, the driver’s insurance may not be enough to cover your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. That’s where your own automobile policy may become one of your most valuable assets.
Pennsylvania drivers are only required to carry minimum liability insurance. Unfortunately, those limits are often inadequate when a bicyclist suffers serious injuries such as broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, or spinal cord injuries.
If the at-fault driver’s insurance is exhausted before all of your losses are paid, your own Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage may provide additional compensation. Likewise, if you’re struck by an uninsured driver or involved in a hit-and-run, Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage may help protect you.
Many people are surprised to learn that UM and UIM coverage can apply even when they are not driving a car. Depending on your policy and the circumstances of the crash, your own automobile insurance—or even a policy issued to a resident family member—may provide valuable coverage after a bicycle accident.
Because insurance policies differ, it is important to have a Galfand Berger personal injury attorney review all available coverage following a serious crash.
Adding or increasing UM and UIM coverage on your automobile policy is often relatively inexpensive, but it can make a tremendous difference if you’re seriously injured by a driver with little or no insurance.
No one expects to be hit while riding a bicycle. Having adequate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can provide important financial protection when the unexpected happens.
If you were injured by a negligent driver while riding your bicycle, don’t assume the at-fault driver’s insurance is your only source of recovery. An experienced Galfand Berger personal injury attorney can review your insurance policies, identify all available coverage, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact our office today for a free consultation to discuss your rights and your legal options. Call us at 1-800-222-8792 or by email at [email protected]. We are located in Philadelphia and Reading, PA and serve clients in PA and NJ.
At Galfand Berger, our personal injury attorneys have been pursuing justice for injured victims throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey for nearly 80 years.
