If you were hit by a driver while riding a bike, and that driver is found to be at fault for the collision, their auto insurance should cover your injuries and other costs. But if that insurance is unavailable or there was no other person involved, your own auto insurance policy should cover your injuries.
In particular, you should be able to draw on your policy’s uninsured or underinsured (UM/UIM) motorist coverage, as well as coverage for medical payments, if you have purchased these policies. It does not matter that you were not in your car.
UM/UIM coverage is particularly helpful in two specific situations:
The driver cannot be identified, such as in a hit-and-run collision; or
The driver can be identified but does not carry enough insurance to cover the full cost of your injuries.
You may also be able to use medical payment (MedPay) insurance to pay for your bicycle accident injuries. MedPay is not required in Duluth, but it can be a helpful add-on. This kind of insurance pays for the medical bills caused by injuries to you and anyone else traveling with you, sometimes regardless of who caused the crash. This can be helpful if you do not have health insurance or your health insurance does not adequately cover your injuries.
Unfortunately, auto insurance companies often resist paying claims in unusual situations like bicycle accidents, even when it is clear from the policy that they are required to pay compensation to the victim. Negotiating with the insurance company is just one of the many ways the experienced attorneys at Scholle Law can help you after a bike accident.