Does Auto Insurance Cover a Bicycle Crash in Denver?

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Bicycle accidents can be very dangerous, especially for the cyclist. When a car crashes into a bicycle, the cyclist has little to no protection from the impact. As a result, these accidents often result in severe or even fatal injuries. As you try to recover from your injuries after a bike crash, figuring out your legal options can be quite confusing, especially if you do not have the help of an experienced Denver bike accident attorney.

One of the first questions you may have in the aftermath of your accident is wondering how you will be able to pay for your bills and damages. Often, your own health insurance may cover some of your treatment costs. However, you may also be able to seek compensation from the auto insurance policy for the driver who hit you, as well as potentially your own car insurance.

Generally, a car insurance policy may cover such losses as injuries and your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages caused by the accident and your recovery. Each car insurance policy may be different, especially among various insurers, but they will typically cover your accident if you can show that these criteria are met:

• The bicycle accident involves at least one motor vehicle, even if you were on a bicycle. As long as at least one of the vehicles involved in the crash was an automobile, your own auto insurance should cover the accident as well as the vehicle driver’s insurance policy if the other driver was negligent in causing your accident.

• You must have “Med-Pay”, or Personal Injury Protection, coverage on your auto insurance policy. Without any personal coverage, a bicycle accident could leave you severely injured and unable to pay your medical bills, especially if you are unable to pursue compensation from the other driver.

Proving Negligence to Get Compensation for a Bike Accident

Bicycle crashes are generally caused by someone’s negligence. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident that was caused by the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to compensation for any injuries and damages suffered in the crash. When negotiating with the driver’s insurance company, these negotiations frequently focus on proving the driver’s negligence as well as to what degree the driver was negligent. If you are able to agree with the insurer on question of negligence as well as the amount of compensation you may be entitled to, your case may be settled without having to go to trial.

However, if you are unable to agree with the insurance company and reach a settlement, your case may have to go to trial. While most claims are settled out of court, some cases may have to go to court. Here, you may have to prove the vehicle driver breached a duty of care to you and negligently caused the accident and your injuries.

Finally, pursuing compensation for your injuries may include complex legal issues, necessary investigation, and a difficult negotiation process. Thus, you should first discuss your claim with an attorney before negotiating with the driver or an insurance company. A Denver bike accident lawyer may help guide you through this complicated process and may help you seek any compensation you may be entitled to.

Filing a Claim for a Bike Accident

When filing your claim for compensation, three important steps to follow include:

• Get Injuries Evaluated by a Medical Professional: You should immediately seek medical treatment for your injuries. Importantly, you should be sure to keep thorough records of your treatment, diagnoses, and medical expenses as this documentation may be required to pursue compensation for your injuries.

• Notify Insurance of the Accident: After seeking medical treatment, you should also be sure to notify your own auto insurance company of your accident as well as the other driver’s insurer.

• Contact an Attorney: Perhaps the most important step to seeking any compensation you may be entitled to is often contacting an experienced attorney as soon as possible after your accident. An attorney may help you pursue compensation for your injuries. Your lawyer may also investigate your accident by gathering evidence of the scene, witness statements, documentation of your injuries and damages, and other evidence that could be crucial to seeking compensation and proving the other driver’s liability. Finally, your attorney may negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.

GET HELP FROM OUR BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS TODAY

You may need a bike accident lawyer if you or a loved one has been injured while riding a bicycle. Seeking compensation for your injuries can be a difficult process, as insurance companies frequently try to keep their costs low by blaming the bicyclist for the accident and by disputing the extent of your injuries. While your own insurance coverage may cover some of your expenses, the automobile driver may be liable for the accident if that driver was negligent.

At Zinda Law Group, our experienced Denver bicycle accident attorneys are here to assist you with your claim. We help our clients pursue the maximum compensation they may be entitled to as a victim of a bicycle accident.

Call (512) 246-2224 today for a free consultation with one of our bicycle accident attorneys. As one of our clients, you will not pay anything unless we can win your bicycle accident case.