Are You Fully Protected?

The costs of a cycling accident can easily extend beyond hospital bills. I know what hospital stays, medical bills, physical therapy, and rehabilitation after an accident can cost. The astronomical costs of injuries—many of which may require lifetime treatment—can be quite sobering. The safest option for all riders is to carry as much Uninsured Motorist (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage as they can afford. This insurance not only covers you in your vehicle—it follows you and everyone in your family wherever you go. It covers riders when they are cycling. It covers pedestrians as they walk to work. It covers children as they ride in a friend’s car.

Advice from Attorney Thomas Henson

“Cyclists know that every ride holds the risk of a bike-car collision. We understand that danger on an intellectual level, but we don’t dwell on it. We push aside thoughts of an unpredictable outcome too horrible to contemplate. If we didn’t, bikes would collect cobwebs in the garage. But cycling wrecks happen, and when they do, the cyclist often suffers serious—if not catastrophic—injuries.  Still, for most of us, the ride is worth the risk. But before you put on your helmet and hi-res gear, before turning on lights and wrapping up with reflective tape, I urge you to consider another critical element of protection that most cyclists miss: insurance.  I recommend you consult your insurance agent and purchase as much Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage as you can afford. Most policies will allow you to purchase $1 million in UM/UIM coverage for an additional $100 per year—with a $2 million policy generally just a few hundred more. As a devoted cyclist, I have opted for $6 million worth of UM/UIM coverage. This coverage provides peace-of-mind—as I know I will be protected should the unthinkable happen.”