how massachusetts bicyclists can protect themselves with accident insurance - injury lawyers explain

What Every Bicyclist Should Know About Car Insurance

Breakstone, White & Gluck, P.C.Boston, MassachusettsPersonal Injury Lawyers2 Center Plaza, Suite 530Boston, MA 02108

800-379-1244 617-723-7676 http://www.bwglaw.com

What Every Cyclist Should Know About Car Insurance

As a cyclist in Massachusetts, you can protect yourself by purchasing insurance on your personal vehicle. This could provide coverage for injuries, medical expenses or lost earnings when you are hurt by a motorist with inadequate insurance.


Where to Start

What are the two smartest things a cyclist can do with regard to insurance?

• Purchase adequate amounts of Underinsured and Uninsured Motorist coverage

• Purchase adequate Medical Payments coverage


Coverage Selection Sheet

To see a Coverage Selection Sheet, visit: http://www.bwglaw.com/files/coverage_selection_sheet.pdf


http://www.bwglaw.com/files/coverage_selection_sheet.pdf

#3 Bodily Injury by Uninsured Auto

If the other driver has no insurance, then uninsured coverage (#3 on the coverage selections sheet) covers that.


#12 Bodily Injury Caused by Underinsured Auto

If the driver is underinsured, then underinsured coverage, #12 on the coverage selections sheet, covers that.


Household Policy

If you do not own a car, but live in a household with a family member who owns a car, you may be able to make a claim against the uninsured or underinsured benefits on their policy (called a “household” policy.)

bwglaw.com800-379-1244 617-723-7676 http://www.bwglaw.com

#6

You can buy uninsured and underinsured coverage up to the amount of your liability coverage, #6 on the declaration sheet.


#3 Bodily Injury by Uninsured Auto

If the other driver has no insurance, then uninsured coverage, #3 on the coverage selections sheet, covers that.


How Much Should You Buy?

How much should you get? The question will come down to what you can reasonably afford.

If you can afford $100,000 per person/250,000 per accident, buy it. If you can afford more, buy it. You should be able to purchase $500,000 in coverage. And if you can afford an umbrella policy, it's a good investment that does not cost very much.

It’s the basic coverage that costs the most, and it usually costs very little to add a lot more insurance.


Medical Payments Coverage

Med Pay (Coverage #6) is an optional coverage on the car you own or on the cars in your household. Med Pay is used to pay co-pays and deductibles not covered by Personal Injury Protection as well as medical services not covered by your health plan. Med Pay will also reimburse liens from health insurance companies.


Medical Payments Coverage

This is great coverage to have if you are a cyclist for a few reasons. First, the coverage is cheap, perhaps as little as $24 for $5,000 in coverage in 2013. For $33, you can get $10,000 in coverage. You can buy up to $100,000 in Med Pay coverage. That would cost you $71.


Medical Liens

If you are injured in a bike or car accident, health insurance company which pays for your medical treatment will place a lien against your settlement. They have a right under Massachusetts law, and usually under the insurance policy, to be reimbursed from any recovery you may obtain. Med-Pay can help pay off the liens.


No Fault Benefits

Every motor vehicle in Massachusetts is required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP provides up to $8,000 in no-fault insurance. If you are hit by a car or truck, then the PIP coverage on that vehicle will apply.


No Fault Benefits

PIP coverage (Coverage #2 on the coverage selections sheet) usually pays the first $2,000 in medical bills. Medical co-pays, deductibles, and treatment excluded by healthy wage plans will be covered up to $8,000. PIP also pays for a portion of any lost wages and replacement services.


Liability Insurance

Every motor vehicle in Massachusetts must have at least $20,000 in coverage per injured person, and $40,000 per accident (in the trade, that is a 20/40 policy). This minimum coverage is included as Coverage # 1.


Optional Bodily Injury Coverage

You should buy Optional Bodily Injury Coverage, which is Coverage #5. Auto insurers will write policies up to $500/500 ($500,000 that is). On top of that, the driver may be covered under a homeowner's umbrella or excess policy, which may provide an additional $1 million or more in liability coverage.


Property Damage

Property damage will be covered under the responsible party’s car insurance if the accident was their fault.You can also make a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy. Save all of the damaged property until your property damage claim has been appraised and settled.


If You Are Injured

Please call Breakstone, White & Gluck at 800-379-1244 or visit http://www.bwglaw.com. We have over 85 years combined experience successfully representing injured cyclists.


http://www.bwglaw.com/

More Cycling Resources

Visit http://www.bwglaw.com/bikes to read our lawyers’ articles about cycling insurance, cyclist rights and laws.We are committed to bicycling safety in Massachusetts. Read more about our safety programs: http://www.bwglaw.com/lawyer-attorney-2152425.html


http://www.bwglaw.com/bikes

http://www.bwglaw.com/lawyer-attorney-2152425.html



how massachusetts bicyclists can protect themselves with accident insurance - injury lawyers explain

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