Florida’s pristine year-round weather makes cycling a popular pastime for many people. But what happens when you’re riding your bike and suddenly get struck by a car? Unlike other vehicle operators, bicyclists are fully exposed to their surroundings, which can result in serious injuries and the need for costly medical interventions.

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident in Florida, you may be wondering if your own personal injury protection auto insurance will cover your injuries or if the other driver is liable for all your costs. In Florida, your auto insurance should cover both bicycle and pedestrian accidents. As long as you have personal injury protection coverage (PIP) for your car, your bicycle accident-related injuries will likely be covered.

Did you recently get into a bicycle accident caused by a negligent driver? It may be in your best interest to contact the personal injury lawyers at Kanner & Pintaluga. Our team of accomplished bike crash lawyers will help you file an insurance claim and get the compensation you need to recovery from your injuries.

What Are the Auto Insurance Requirements in Florida?

Florida law requires drivers to carry two types of auto insurance:

• Personal injury protection coverage (PIP): your PIP covers your medical costs and lost wages up to policy limits if you’ve been injured in an accident.
• Property damage liability (PDL): This type of coverage helps to repair damages to the other driver’s vehicle if you caused the crash.

Personal injury protection coverage is also known as “no-fault” coverage because it pays out regardless of who is at fault in the accident. Since Florida is a no-fault state, having this standard type of coverage ensures at least eighty percent of your medical bills and lost wages (up to the policy limit) will be covered regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

However, there are circumstances where you can pursue the other driver for additional damages.

How Much in Damages Can My Personal Injury Protection Insurance Cover?

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, your ultimate PIP insurance payment will depend on your coverage. Minimum coverage will ensure at least $10,000 of your damages are paid for, including your medical costs and lost wages. You can also choose to purchase a higher policy limit to increase the amount of money you can receive after an accident.

What Are Some Other Policies You Can Receive Coverage from after a Bicycle Accident?

Sometimes, a standard auto insurance policy may not be enough to cover damages from a bicycle accident. Other times, an injured bicyclist may not have auto insurance, as their only means of transportation is their bike. In these cases, it’s possible to receive coverage from a few other types of insurance policies, including:

• Health insurance: your health insurance coverage can help cover your injury-related medical bills regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
• Bodily injury liability insurance: If the negligent driver carried bodily injury liability coverage at the time of the accident, you can file a claim with their insurance carrier. Keep in mind, not all drivers carry this type of insurance, and you’ll also need to prove the driver is at fault to receive compensation.
• Uninsured motorist coverage: Although Florida requires drivers to carry auto insurance, it’s not that uncommon to encounter uninsured drivers. Having UIM coverage can be used on top of your insurance if you haven’t received adequate compensation from your carrier and the at-fault driver was uninsured when the accident occurred.
• Homeowners or renters insurance: While this type of insurance won’t help you with medical bills, it may cover property damage, such as damage to or loss of a bike.

Can I Sue the Driver Responsible for My Accident?

The extent of your injuries and the time you need to recover may mean your insurance coverage is woefully inadequate to cover the damages you sustained. In this scenario you have every right to sue the at-fault driver.

To win your case and be awarded compensation, you’ll need to prove the driver who hit you was, in fact, at fault. You’ll also need to show proof of your damages, such as medical bills, travel costs for medical appointments, lost wages from missed work and personal property damage.

Contact a Florida Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, we want to help you receive the proper medical treatment and rehabilitation you need to recover. Sometimes this is only possible by taking the legal route and suing the party at fault.

At Kanner & Pintaluga, we understand how difficult and convoluted it may be to recover the compensation you deserve. We’re here to help you build a solid case and get the settlement you’re owed.

To learn more, call our law office at 800.586.555.