When a Cyclist Hits a Pedestrian

When a Cyclist Hits a Pedestrian

In busy cities, bicycle-pedestrian accidents are on the rise as more urban residents turn to bicycles as an alternative to cars and public transportation. Bike sharing programs add bicycles to the streets, making collisions with pedestrians more likely.

If a cyclist collides with a pedestrian both can be assigned blame for the accident. However, just as with vehicles, bicycles must give right-of-way to pedestrians. If they don’t, and the two collide, then the cyclist can be held responsible for the injuries that the pedestrian sustains.

Unfortunately, very few cyclists carry insurance that covers them the way car insurance covers drivers. (Although those insurance policies exist.) Luckily, liability for injury is frequently covered through a homeowners policy or renters policy.

So if you’ve been injured by a bicycle rider, you might be able to recover the cost of your medical bills and lost wages through the riders home insurance policy. While you can try to sue the rider directly, a personal injury lawyer can help you easily recover costs through the rider’s insurance policy.