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Video: What Insurance Covers a Bicycle Accident in Boston or Massachusetts?
July 21, 2026
Transcript
What Insurance Covers a Bicycle Accident in Boston or Massachusetts?
What insurance policy applies if you’re injured in a bicycle accident in Boston or Massachusetts? The answer depends on how the crash happened, whether a motor vehicle was involved, and what insurance policies are available. In many cases, more than one type of insurance may apply.
I’m Attorney Tracy Paulsen, founder of Rightful Legal. We represent clients throughout Massachusetts who have been injured. Let’s go through the most common bicycle accident scenarios.
Insurance After a Car Hits a Cyclist
What happens if a driver hits you while you’re riding your bike?
The insurance company covering the vehicle may provide personal injury protection benefits, commonly called PIP. PIP can provide up to $8,000 for certain medical expenses and a portion of lost wages, subject to Massachusetts insurance rules and coordination with your health insurance.
You may also have a bodily injury claim against the driver who caused the crash. That claim may include compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent limitations, and future treatment.
The driver’s property damage coverage may also apply to your bike, helmet, clothing, phone, and other property damaged during the accident.
Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident Insurance
What insurance applies if the driver leaves the scene?
This would be considered a hit-and-run bicycle accident and should be reported to the police right away.
If you have a Massachusetts auto insurance policy or qualify as an insured under a household policy, uninsured motorist coverage may apply because the unidentified vehicle can be treated as uninsured.
Uninsured Driver Coverage
What happens if the driver stops but has no insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage under your own auto policy or a qualifying household policy may provide compensation.
Even though you were riding a bike rather than driving a car, that coverage may still protect you depending on the language of the policy and your status as an insured.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
What if the driver has insurance but not enough to cover a serious injury?
Underinsured motorist coverage may apply if it was purchased under an available auto policy.
This can be important when a cyclist suffers a traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, a spinal injury, or another serious injury that exceeds the at-fault driver’s insurance limits.
What If You Do Not Own a Car?
What should you do if you do not own a car and do not have auto insurance?
You may still have access to PIP benefits through the vehicle involved in the crash. If no PIP coverage is otherwise available, the Massachusetts Assigned Claims Plan may provide benefits in certain cases.
Your health insurance may also cover medical treatment, subject to its terms, deductibles, copayments, and reimbursement rights.
Uber, Lyft, and Commercial Vehicle Bicycle Accidents
What if a rideshare vehicle, delivery truck, bus, or company vehicle hits you?
There may be multiple insurance policies involved. Coverage can depend on who owned the vehicle, whether the driver was working, and whether a rideshare driver was logged into the application or transporting a passenger.
These cases require an early investigation because the commercial or rideshare insurer may dispute which policy was active.
Dooring Accidents
What if someone opens a parked car door into your path while you’re riding your bike?
This is commonly called a dooring accident. The insurance covering the vehicle may apply, but the exact coverage can depend on who opened the door, who owned the vehicle, and how the collision occurred.
Bicycle Accidents Without a Motor Vehicle
What if no motor vehicle was involved?
If your bicycle crash was caused by a dangerous roadway, defective bicycle part, construction hazard, or another person’s conduct, auto insurance may not apply.
Health insurance may pay medical expenses, and there may be a separate claim against a municipality, property owner, contractor, bicycle manufacturer, or another responsible party.
Some of those claims have special notice requirements and much shorter deadlines.
Why Multiple Insurance Policies May Apply
The important point is that bicycle accident insurance claims are rarely as simple as identifying one policy.
A proper investigation should examine the driver’s insurance, the vehicle owner’s insurance, other available policies, underinsured motorist coverage, health insurance, commercial coverage, and any other source of potential compensation.
How Rightful Legal Helps Injured Cyclists
At Rightful Legal, we treat every client as though they are our most important client.
I investigate every available insurance policy, preserve the evidence, document the full effect of the injuries, and fight to recover the compensation you deserve. If the insurance company refuses to be fair, I’ll take your case to trial.
If you are searching for information about bicycle accident insurance in Boston or Massachusetts, or you need a Boston bike accident lawyer to determine what coverage applies and understand your rights, please reach out to me directly at 617-821-5856.
