There are a number of accident scenarios in which a motor vehicle accident victim’s own insurance may be utilized. When you’re involved in any type of accident in which you’re hurt due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, it’s important to seek the advice of legal counsel who can guide you through the difficult process of trying to collect money to cover losses such as medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.
When you’re involved in a car accident, it’s important to focus your time and energy on recuperating from any injuries you suffered. You may have lost time from work following the accident, and you may need financial assistance during the recuperation process.
An experienced personal injury lawyer like J. Clay McCaslin can help you with all of this. But if you choose to go through the process without legal advice and by dealing with insurance companies yourself, there are some things you should know.
In this blog post, we will focus on insurance claims when you are hurt in a bike accident.
Bike Accident Scenarios
Let’s take a look at a few different bike accident scenarios and how the victim’s own insurance comes into play. Keep in mind that the law varies in all fifty states, so what may apply here in Oregon may be different in another state.
- Bike vs. car accident. A situation where the driver of a car goes off the road and hits you while you were riding a bicycle in a designated bike area raises a number of questions. If the driver didn’t have car insurance, your insurance would come into play. If you have auto insurance, a claim under your own policy could be filed for “Uninsured Motorist Benefits” (UM). You would be able to pursue compensation for your injuries in a personal injury claim.
- Bike accident caused by a dog. If your bike accident was caused by a dog darting in front of you while you were riding, your own auto or homeowner’s insurance may come into play if the owner of the dog had no homeowner’s coverage or if the owner of the dog was never found.
- Bike vs. pedestrian accident. In a bike vs. pedestrian accident in which a person walks into your path, the other party may be liable for your injuries. In such a case, you would first pursue that party’s auto or homeowner’s insurance. In cases where no such insurance exists, you would need to file a claim against your own insurance policy.
- Bike vs. bike accident. In a bike vs. bike collision, if the other bicyclist does not have insurance, your auto or homeowner’s insurance may be utilized to cover losses suffered due to the accident.
If you’re involved in any type of accident in Portland or anywhere in Oregon, it’s best to schedule a free consultation with J. Clay McCaslin. Attorney McCaslin can quickly examine your case and advise you on the best course of action. Many factors need to be considered before deciding how to proceed, and one of the most important considerations is whether or not the negligent party has insurance and what the insurance will allow in the case of your accident.