So you DO need collision insurance for a bicycle!!!

[Peakster]

Ever since riding my bicycle as my main mode of transportation, I've wondered just what exactly would happen with a collision between a bicycle and a motor vehicle in terms of damage coverage.



In another thread, member DifferentPointofView stated that no-matter what the circumstance, the vehicle is always at fault when involved in a collision with a bicycle. This seemed a little too 'black and white' to me so I investigated for the ultimate answer to this situation.

After being re-directed on the telephone about 9 times (because the people I talked to weren't sure either) I finally reached the head office of the only vehicle insurance provider in my province. This is what they had to say:

In the event that a bicycle causes damage to another motor vehicle in a collision, the incident must be reported to Saskatchewan Government Insurance where fault will be determined. If the rider of the bicycle is found at fault, the damage falls under home insurance.

...and if that person doesn't have home insurance, the damages will be paid out of pocket of the cyclist!

Having no 'bicycle' insurance is a risk I personally wouldn't want to take (and especially in countries where healthcare is paid out of pocket of the consumer). Make sure you guys have good home/health insurance when cycling! The driver isn't always at fault!

[SVOboy]

Wow, good to know...hope I never have it happen though.

[meemooer]

about... 8 or 9 years ago i was on my way to a friends house on my bike. I live right off the main road in town, and the other main road crosses it, and i had to go to the other side of it. Less then a mile total. I waited at the light of the two roads, the traffic stopped, and the crosswalk indicated turned to walk, so i started to ride across. By the time i got to the left turn lane of a 5 lane road, i was hit by a full size conversion van. The lady didn't even stop until 15 feet after the white line on the road. Any on coming cars saw what happened and had already stopped so they didn't hit her. She tried to sue me !! Turns out she had hit two other pedestrians within a year and 3 accidents so they took her license away.
But still, i definitely had the right of way, and she was trying to sue the kid she hit, and fight the tickets.

[roflwaffle]

Collision and uninsured motorist at max are definitely a good idea to have. IIRC, even as a ped, if I get hit by a car and the driver speeds off, my auto insurance covers me since the accident involved a car. Running into inanimate objects otoh, I'm not sure about that one and should prolly call...

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by meemooer

By the time i got to the left turn lane of a 5 lane road, i was hit by a full size conversion van. The lady didn't even stop until 15 feet after the white line on the road. Any on coming cars saw what happened and had already stopped so they didn't hit her. She tried to sue me !! Turns out she had hit two other pedestrians within a year and 3 accidents so they took her license away.
But still, i definitely had the right of way, and she was trying to sue the kid she hit, and fight the tickets.

Oh wow, that is quite the story!

One thing that the head office person told me is that a motorist who is insured with SGI cannot sue me under their 'no fault' insurance even if I'm at fault. The most I'd ever had to pay for is the physical damage to a vehicle (example: they can't sue for lost wages or whatever).

That being said, head office said it is very rare for a cyclist to be found at fault in a bike-vehicle collision. Even if a cyclist cut in front of a vehicle or something like that, there's still the whole "motorists have the responsibility of having a higher awareness for pedestrians and cyclists" clause. Although that isn't set in stone; it's just a generally accepted concept.

[lovemysan]

I find it very sad to know if I ride my bike and get into an accident I can be sued. It won't be long until you'll need insurance to ride a bus. What ever happened to just having an accident? Now days you make a mistake and you get sued.

[Peakster]

Well according to my insurance company, the person in the vehicle can charge me for property damage only. So if there's a $400 ding/scratch on the car from the collision, I only need to pay for that.

The problem is if a cyclist was thrown onto the hood and windshield, it can be a lot more pricey (especially if it's an expensive car).

Originally Posted by lovemysan

What ever happened to just having an accident? Now days you make a mistake and you get sued.

I watched an episode of Judge Judy where a man who collided with a Range rover was sued for the depreciation of the SUV even though the physical damage was covered by insurance (and the owner of the Range Rover won)! Outrageous!

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by lovemysan

I find it very sad to know if I ride my bike and get into an accident I can be sued. It won't be long until you'll need insurance to ride a bus. What ever happened to just having an accident? Now days you make a mistake and you get sued.

You hit the nail on the head. There are no more accidents. It's the age of someone has got to pay.

[ebacherville]

our society has gotten out of control, when someone that is driving a car sues you on a bike for scratching your paint.. if your onm the roads you have risk.. don't like it don't drive..

As for insurance, everything is a risk, if you want to protect your self have insurance , either medical or "collision"

However i cant commute to work on a bike here in rural america , and i for one would never bike in a large city, there are enough bad drivers out there around me when im in a 3000 lb steel cage..

I also try to avoiding motorcycling in cities.. cities are death traps in my opinion.. and in more ways than one.

[DifferentPointofView]

How about if a pedestrian is illegally crossing an intersection and you have a green light, yet you hit them, how would that side? I would like some evidence to prove my teacher wrong! (and it's almost impossible to do so!)