So you own a car worth $5,000 or more and that puppy is insured for sure. You own a bicycle for $2,500 or more (in most cases a lot more!), and you realize that you may even spend more time on your bike than you do driving your car. You realize that you might actually be at more risk and in more danger riding your bicycle than you are driving your car. Yet you don’t have bicycle insurance! This just doesn’t make any sense. There are over 2,000 reported bicycle accidents per year in just Arizona! Yes, that is reported accidents that involve a motor vehicle. What happens when you crash your bike – and there is no car involved, or the car drove off, or the driver doesn’t carry any/enough insurance? Who will pay to replace or repair it? Who will pay your medical bills? What happens if your bicycle is stolen? Who will pay for your new bike then? What about roadside assistance on your long rides? Who will pay for that? EXACTLY my point—bicycle insurance should be a must have for every cyclist and would cover you in all of these circumstances. Typically the cost of the insurance is cheap and can be just a couple hundred dollars per year!
There are lots of bicycle wrecks each year that do not involve an at fault driver. There are lots of bicycle thefts each year as well. The accident can even be your fault and potentially you may still be covered. Most of us ride bicycles that worth well over $5,000; especially when you add nice wheels, shoes, helmet, lights, a Garmin computer, clothing, etc. Why the heck wouldn’t you want that insured in case of theft or accident? I know I would. I have all of my bikes insured and have actually had to use the policy as well. So glad I had the insurance when my bike was stolen!
Imagine that one day your riding along with your friends on a little group ride and you are enjoying every second of it when suddenly a cyclist in front of you or beside you decides to swerve to avoid a pot hole, or some road debris (or really anything you can imagine) and you wreck. You end up in the hospital and your bike is totaled. IF YOU HAD BIKE INSURANCE you wouldn’t have to worry about buying that new bike or even having to pay for all or any of your medical expenses. Imagine you go down in a criterium race or any other event including a MTB race or road race, or even a triathlon. With insurance your bike and your medical bills would be covered. How about a stolen bike or even a bike damaged during transportation to and from an event/ride? Again, your bicycle insurance would cover it.
There three major bicycle insurance companies doing business in the U.S. They are Velosurance, Big Ring Insurance, and Spoke Insurance. All three of them offer virtually the same style of coverage plans and options. Velosurance is underwritten by Markel and is therefore my personal top choice. Markel is a very large, well respected, and “A” rated insurance company in the U.S. I feel more secure knowing their long history and happily endorse them.
Here is a typical bicycle insurance coverage summary (this one from Velosurance):
| POLICY COVERAGE | HOME OWNER POLICY | RENTERS POLICY |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insured at Full Value | Possibly | Possibly | Yes |
| Crash Damage | No | No | Yes |
| Theft Coverage | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Theft Away From Home | Possibly | Possibly | Yes |
| Vehicle Contact | No | No | Yes |
| Personal Liability | Possibly | Possibly | Yes |
| Replacement Bike Rental | No | No | Yes |
| Event Fee Return | No | No | Yes |
| Cycling Apparel Insured | No | No | Yes |
| Medical Payments | Possibly | Possibly | Yes |
| Racing Coverage | No | No | Yes |
| Electric Assist Bicycles | No | No | Yes |
| Bicycle Airline Shipping Coverage | No | No | Yes |
Here is a summary from Spoke insurance:
| Bicycle Policy Coverage | SPOKE | Homeowners | Renters | Auto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theft — From Home | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Theft — Away From Home | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Damage | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Liability | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Motor Vehicle Contact Protection | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Uninsured Motorist | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Hit and Run | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Medical Payments | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Racing Coverage | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Rental Reimbursement | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Accessories | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Free Partner Tow | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Electric Bicycles | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| No Loss Renewal Discount | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Both coverage summaries are pretty identical and very typical. I recommend getting quotes from each of the companies and then comparing value, client experience, etc. to help make your final decision. At the end of the day the best advice I could give you is: buy as much insurance as you can afford! UIM/UM coverage on your auto policy along with an umbrella should ABSOLUTELY be a must. Bicycle insurance a no brainer. Again, buy as much as you can afford. It only takes one wreck to change your life for ever. Riding smart and safe while out on your bike would definitely include riding with insurance in my opinion.
The links to the three insurance companies are here:
Arizona Based Bicycle Accident Lawyer Ben Dodge
If you, or someone you know were injured in a bicycle accident caused by road debris, hire a personal injury attorney who is experienced and has a successful track record. Ben dodge, a licensed bicycle accident lawyer in Arizona, has dedicated his entire firm to one purpose: representing cyclists. Bicycle accident cases are the only cases Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC handles. Home based out of the great state of Arizona, Ben can still help cyclists in the entire United States.
Ben Dodge has represented and assisted bicycle accident victims across the entire united states. As an avid and competitive cyclist himself, Mr. Dodge currently participates in national and local cycling events all over the country. It isn’t uncommon to spot him in early morning hours out riding his bike. The day he fell in love with his job was the day he devoted himself completely to bicycle accident cases.
Ben Dodge is a proud member of Bike Law. Bike Law is a national network of elite like minded bicycle accident attorneys founded in 1998. In concert with the mission of Bike Law, Ben represents cyclists injured in bicycle accidents, at the police station, with insurance companies, and in the courts. He advocates for the rights of all cyclists, not just his clients. He teaches the police about bike laws and bike safety, he educates drivers about the rules of the road, and he trains cyclists and clubs to ride more safely.
A consultation with experienced Arizona bicycle accident attorney Ben Dodge is free
In recent years there has been approximately 700 bicycle fatalities in the united states every single year. Approximately 2,000 bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. approximately 30 fatal bicycle accidents are reported in Arizona every year. Bicycle fatalities are terrible and horrific tragedies that affect the lives of too many families and friends to count. Understanding your rights and obligations as a cyclist can bring clarity to your specific accident situation. It will always be in your best interest to be represented by an attorney who knows the bicycle laws and has a successful track record of winning bicycle accident cases. The negotiation tactics and strategies of winning a case are extremely important but should always take a back row seat to the litigation experience and knowledge of court room rules, local, state, and federal rules of civil procedure that can have significant impact on your bicycle accident case. It is wise to be represented by someone well versed in bicycle accident law, local and state bicycle ordinances, rules, regulations, policies, and laws. You should hire someone very familiar with negligence and tort law, civil procedure, and the rules of evidence as they all relate specifically to bicycle accident cases.
Ben dodge always offers a complimentary in person consultation to all local cyclists and a complimentary phone consultation to any cyclist injured in a bike accident. Typically the consultations are schedule from 30-60 minutes depending on the severity of the accident. You can expect to get answers to questions, clarity, information, and reassurance of your personal bike accident liability and potential for recovery. In your free consultation you can generally expect to discuss such topics as:
- your specific bike accident details, diagrams, and pictures from your perspective and then from the perspective of your bike accident attorney.
- the applicable local, state, and federal laws underlying your case.
- your cyclist’s rights, obligations, and any potential liability.
- the process, procedure (in and out of court), and the time frame required to conclude your case.
- the value of your case and what you might expect as compensation.
You can call Arizona bicycle lawyer Ben Dodge of bike accident attorneys, PLC at 1.855.663.3922. Mr. Dodge’s staff is standing and ready to accept your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every single day of the year. Ben will personally return your call within 24 hours. there is never an obligation for a complimentary consultation with Mr. dodge. His passion is in representing cyclists and his entire office stands ready to serve with kindness and patience.
Bike Accident Attorneys, PLC
Call Ben Dodge, the Arizona Bicycle Lawyer today at 1.855.663.3922. Reach him by fax at 1.800.958.8902.
Mr. Dodge can also be reached by email at ben@bikeaccidentattorneys.com
His main Arizona offices are located at:
Mesa Arizona (home base office)
4824 E. Baseline Rd., Suite 124
Mesa, Arizona 85206
Phoenix Arizona office
2415 e. Camelback rd., suite 700
Phoenix, Arizona 85016
Tucson Arizona office
One South Church Avenue, 12th Floor
Tucson, Arizona 85701
Mr. Dodge represents cyclists in the entire state of Arizona including, but not limited to, Mesa, Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Gilbert, Peoria, Glendale, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Tempe, Chandler, Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff, Surprise, Kingman, Page, Lake Havasu City, Payson, Goodyear, Buckeye, Queen Creek, Paradise Valley, Show Low, Winslow, Maricopa, Nogales, Globe, Avondale, Cave Creek, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, Carefree, Wickenburg, Pinetop-Lakeside, Strawberry, Anthem, Safford, and more. Ben Dodge is currently involved with bicycle accident cases all over the country and can assist in representation in all 50 states.