Because you don’t have a lot of protection while riding a bike on a street shared with motorized vehicles, accidents can be quite devastating. After being in a bicycle accident, you might have minor to severe injuries, and will probably also need to replace your bike. How are you going to afford all that care? Is there some way to seek compensation? The good news is there are many avenues you can go down to seek compensation after your bicycle accident.
The Responsible Driver
If you were hit by a car, you can typically seek compensation from the driver. This might be in the form of filing a claim with his or her auto insurance company, and it might be in the form of filing a lawsuit against the individual him or herself. If you file a claim with the insurance company, be sure you are being offered a fair amount before you accept anything. If you plan to file a lawsuit against the driver, have your lawyer put together a solid case that includes evidence and witnesses to back up your claim.
Your Auto Insurance
Many auto insurance policies contain something called personal injury protection or Med-Pay. These are basically the same benefit and often cover bicycle accidents, regardless of whether the accident included a car, another bike or was a single-bicycle accident. Not every policy has PIP or Med-Pay, so you should be sure to speak with your insurer right away to see what type of coverage you have and what the limit is.
Workers’ Compensation
If you ride a bike as part of your employment, you may be able to qualify for workers’ compensation. This might include a situation in which you make bicycle deliveries around town, but you have to have been working at the time of your accident. If you have already made your last delivery and were on your way home when you were hit, you may not be entitled to workers’ compensation. If you were running a personal errand between deliveries, you also may not be entitled to coverage.
Finding Compensation With a Professional’s Help
When you’re in a bicycle accident, you may not know which way to turn. You might have insurance adjusters calling you, doctors to visit, appointments to make and a variety of other issues to take care of. A lawyer may be able to help you get it all into perspective and make some smart decisions about where to turn for compensation. Contact a bicycle injury lawyer in Canoga Park, CA, such as from Unidos Legales, to help today.
