Insurance coverage for uninsured (UM) or underinsured motorists (UIM) is one of the most practical protections you can have in the event you find yourself in an accident with someone else whose policy isn’t enough to cover your damages or has no insurance coverage at all. While this insurance is nice to have, it’s also optional in California. Especially when you’re involved in a bicycle accident, California’s minimum insurance coverage limits may come up short.

Thus, you may need all the help you can get insurance wise to cover the costs associated with any injury you suffer in a Los Angeles bicycle accident. Having extra coverage, like a UM/UIM policy, could make all the difference in making sure your medical bills are paid and you can get back on the road to recovery.

Maison Law Can Help Protect Your Claim in Los Angeles

Another key element in recovering from your injuries is having the right legal team on your side. At Maison Law, our team of dedicated Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers has expert knowledge of California law and a wealth of experience in dealing with insurance companies. Whether it’s the at-fault driver’s insurance company or your own, we know how to deal with the various obstacles these companies can put between you and getting the financial support you need.

To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.

What is UM/UIM Coverage?

The easiest way to understand UM/UIM coverage is to learn the difference between the two:

Uninsured Motorist (UM) Coverage – Uninsured motorist coverage is a policy that applies when the at-fault driver either has no insurance coverage or doesn’t have the legal minimum liability coverage that California requires. These minimums are:
- - $15,000 for bodily injury coverage or death per person.
  - $30,000 for total bodily injury or death per accident to all people in the other vehicle combined.
  - $5,000 for property damage to the other vehicle.

Most of the time, if the driver doesn’t have the minimum coverage, they don’t have insurance at all. In these instances, your UM policy will pay for injuries and damages to your property.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Coverage – Even if the other driver involved in your accident is insured, they may have only elected the bare minimum required coverage. As a result, the policy limits can often be too low to cover damages for your injuries and damages, which can be pretty significant in a car/bicycle accident.

In the event that you have UIM coverage, but it still doesn’t cover the extent of your damages, you can opt for filing a claim with your health or homeowner’s insurance to try to recover the outstanding medical costs and damages to your bike.

Common Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Injuries

The unfortunate reality of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles that involve vehicles is that they often lead to injuries for the person on the bicycle. Because a bicycle offers relatively little protection from a much heavier, metal vehicle, injuries can range from minor to severe depending on the circumstances of the accident. Further, injuries can occur anywhere on the body of the person on the bicycle. Some of the more common injuries in a bicycle accident include:

Whiplash
Head, neck, and shoulder injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Lacerations
Burns
Fractures and broken bones
Spinal cord injuries
Torn ligaments and strains
Leg injuries
Back strains

Again, every accident is unique. Not only that, but many victims of bicycle accidents suffer multiple injuries that can be permanent in some cases. Whether your injuries are minor or severe, you are going to have to seek treatment for them. That’s why it’s important to know what support you need to recover damages, and what insurance coverage you have.

Damages In a Los Angeles Bicycle Accident

The vast majority of bicycle accidents in Los Angeles are going to have damages. These can range from your medical bills to repair costs for your bicycle. The extent of your damages will likely depend on the severity of the accident and the impact (physical and emotional) that it has on you.

Further considerations should be made to every applicable policy that’s in place. This is where UM/UIM coverage will come into play. If the at-fault driver is either uninsured or underinsured, you’ll need UM/UIM coverage to pay for the following:

Past and future medical bills
Past and future lost earnings
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Any permanent disfigurement or disability
Loss of enjoyment of life
Funeral and burial costs in the event of a wrongful death along with other substantial damages

As you can see, the damages that can result from a bicycle accident can be expensive. When the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, the responsibility for covering these damages will shift to your UM/UIM coverage-if you have it.

Do I Need UM/UIM Coverage In Los Angeles?

While not required, having UM/UIM coverage for your bicycle accident in Los Angeles is highly recommended. Not only can it be a great supplement to any other coverage you have, it provides (and is actually designed to be) a safety net for you in the event of an unfortunate accident.

As previously covered, bicyclists are at a greater risk of severe injuries when in an accident with a car or other vehicle. Even if you are wearing a helmet or other protective gear, the risk of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other catastrophic injuries is very real and requires extensive ongoing medical care that could last the rest of your life.

This coverage is vital for recovering not only damages relating to your medical and financial losses, but damage to your property as well. Bicycles and their corresponding equipment can be expensive, especially for avid bicyclists. High end bicycles and gear can range up to $10,000, so having them damaged in an accident is something that you want to be able to recover.

Probably the biggest reason to opt for UM/UIM coverage is simply for your peace of mind. Even if you take all the necessary steps and precautions out on the road, you still can’t control negligent or reckless drivers that can cause an accident.

Experienced Los Angeles Bicycle Accident Lawyers Will Stand With You

Being in a bicycle accident is almost always demoralizing, but is even more so if the driver is uninsured or doesn’t have the coverage limits necessary to pay for their damage to you. Dealing with your injuries and damage to your property is difficult enough under normal circumstances, but having to rely on an optional UM/UIM policy to pay for potentially expensive costs can be frustrating and scary.

Fortunately, our team of experienced and dedicated Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers at Maison Law know how to approach these types of claims. We can help you figure out what policies you have and whether or not they apply to your claim. Then, we can negotiate with any insurance company on your behalf to make sure you get the support you need.

UM/UIM Coverage For Bicycle Accidents in Los Angeles