Will I Be Protected After My Bicycle Accident?

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As a bicyclist, you are not afforded the same protections, both physically and financially, as other motorists on the road. This is why you may be concerned in the unfortunate event that you are involved in an accident. Continue reading to learn whether you will be covered after your bicycle accident and how an experienced Tampa auto accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A., can help you in retaining the compensation you require. 

Will insurance protect me after my bicycle accident?

In the state of Florida, many motorists are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Simply put, this is a no-fault insurance that may cover a portion of your medical bills if you were to ever be involved in an auto accident. However, bicyclists do not need to have PIP insurance. So, especially if your accident was due to no fault of your own, you must reach out to the at-fault party’s insurance company to obtain your compensation from them. Or, if all else fails, you must file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. 

How do I get covered after my bicycle accident?

According to Florida law, insurance companies must pay PIP benefits to any bicyclist who has been hit by an automobile. So, if your accident involved you colliding with an automobile, you can recover your damages in this way.  But say, for instance, that your accident involved you colliding with a pedestrian. And say that the pedestrian was negligent in their failure to follow traffic signals or by walking in the bike lane. Then, you may seek to recover your damages with the pedestrian’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.  This is similar to a collision with another bicycle. If the other bicyclist was at fault because they were riding in the wrong direction, speeding, or otherwise, then you may seek to recover your damages with the bicyclist’s homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. And lastly, say that your collision was with a stationary object. If this stationary object was that of a tree, pole, or otherwise, then you may have to seek coverage using your personal health insurance policy. But if you collided with this stationary object due to human error, such as if a car was parked illegally in the bike lane, then you may be able to identify the at-fault individual and seek coverage with their insurance policy. 

What is the statute of limitations for filing my claim?

You should file your request for coverage with the appropriate insurance company immediately. This is because insurance companies are notorious for using any excuse possible to deny you your rightful funds. So, the sooner you take care of this, the better.  And if it is necessary to file a personal injury claim to recover your damages, then you must keep in mind Florida’s statute of limitations. This is typically four years from the date of your accident. Nonetheless, we recommend that you contact a skilled Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer today.