Personal Injury Lawyer
It should come as no surprise that bike accidents are common. By one count, cyclists reported 45,000 such accidents in a single year, ranging from car vs. bike accidents to serious falls. Smart cyclists know the risks and prepare themselves – but many don’t realize some of the resources they have following a bike accident. One surprising resource is homeowner’s insurance. Read on to learn how this seemingly unrelated insurance can protect you following biking accidents.
Understanding Homeowner’s Insurance
Homeowner’s insurance policies were established to cover impacted parties following an accident involving their home. Renter’s insurance is a similar type of coverage, offering protection for belongings and expenses following an incident in a rental property. Typical things covered by homeowner’s insurance include costs associated with:
- Theft
- Accidents
- Limited acts of nature such as lightning strikes
Surprisingly to some, incidents involving bikes are often covered by the personal property section of most homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies.
If You Hit Someone While Riding
If you hit a pedestrian or other rider while on your bike, your homeowner or renter’s policy will usually cover the compensatory damages for the affected parties. This is because sporting activities such as bike riding are considered covered activities. Unfortunately, however, this does not extend to your personal injuries. Those would be covered by your own health insurance.
If Someone Hits You
Usually, automotive insurance will cover liabilities caused by a car hitting you on your bike. But what happens if you are hit by another bike, or have an accident that involves another party but not a car? This is another case in which homeowner’s or renter’s insurance would cover medical expenses and property damage.
If You’re Traveling With Your Bike
Bikes are made to go places and biking accidents aren’t limited to the locality where you live. Fortunately, homeowner’s insurance covers your personal property no matter where it is temporarily removed to. That means if you are involved in a biking accident anywhere in the world, your homeowner’s insurance could still cover damages.
While many people know their insurance and liability when it comes to cars, the same is not always true with regards to bikes. Homeowner’s and renter’s insurance can be valuable assets when it comes to bike accidents, but only if you know how to use them. Call a top rated bicycle accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, Utah if you have experienced an incident to learn more about how to leverage each type of insurance and get what you’re owed.
Thanks to Rasmussen & Miner for their insight into personal injury claims and using homeowners insurance for a bike accident.
