Bicycling in and around Coeur d’Alene is a great form of transportation and exercise, but no matter how defensive of a bicyclist that you might be, it can also get dangerous quickly. Bicycles present low profiles in traffic. When a motorist does stop after crashing into a bicycle, it’s often admitted that he or she either didn’t see the bicycle, or didn’t see it until it was too late. Speeding and distracted driving are the two most common reasons for this.
Common hit-and-run bicycle accidents
Sometimes motorists don’t stop after hitting a bicycle. They simply leave the scene of the crash, especially at night when it’s difficult to identify the vehicle and driver. Some common hit-and-run accident scenarios might involve motorists who:
- Turn left into a bicyclist at an intersection
- Turn right in front of a bicycle when the bike is on the right of the vehicle
- Fail to yield the right-of-way to a bicycle when entering a roadway
- Rear-end a bicycle when overtaking it
A recent hit and run
Of these scenarios, rear-ending a bicycle when overtaking it is perhaps the most dangerous crash for a bicyclist. The force of a rear-end impact can launch a bicyclist over the bike’s handlebars and onto the ground or against another vehicle or stationary object. Getting hit or run over by a second vehicle has also been documented. Hit-and-run bicycle accidents can occur close to home too. In the recent past, a westbound bicyclist was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Interstate-90 milepost 15.5 in Coeur d’Alene. According to KHQ, Idaho State Police are seeking answers and tips should be called in to them at 208-209-8730.
Uninsured motorist insurance
If you’re a bicyclist, and you own a car in Idaho, you’ll want to make sure that you have uninsured motorist insurance on your vehicle. This coverage is optional in Idaho, so make sure that you have it, and get as much of it as you can. Here’s how it works. If you were a bicyclist who was injured as a result of the carelessness and negligence of a hit-and-run driver, you’re probably covered for bodily injury under your own insurance policy. Bodily injury damages include but aren’t limited to:
- Past and future medical bills and medical bills reasonably expected to be incurred in the future
- Past lost earnings and lost earnings reasonably expected to be lost in the future
- Any permanent disfigurement
- Any permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of a normal life
- Funeral and burial costs in the event of a wrongful death
Don’t expect any loyalty
What happens is that your insurer is now the adverse insurer. Don’t expect to be in good hands or with a good neighbor. Your own insurer that you’ve paid premiums to for all of these years is now your opponent. It wants to pay you as little as possible or even nothing at all. That’s why you’ll need us after being seriously injured through the fault of an uninsured driver. It’s not just you that’s covered either. Most uninsured motorist coverage includes residents of your household who are blood relatives. You and those family members are probably even covered as pedestrians or even skateboarders.
Contact a Coeur d’Alene Personal Injury Lawyer today
Although Idaho law requires every motorist on the road to have minimum liability insurance, many people either ignore the law or allow their car insurance to lapse due to not paying their premiums. Whether the negligent driver who hit you while you were bicycling was insured or uninsured, you’ll still need help from an experienced and successful Coeur d’Alene bicycle accident attorney. Contact our offices by phone or online as soon as possible after any Idaho bicycle accident for a free consultation and case review. Our retainer agreements provide that you don’t even have to pay us any legal fees at all unless we obtain a settlement or verdict for you.
