Insurance coverage and bicycle accidents in Canada

On behalf of: admin | Posted in: Bicycle Accidents on: Tuesday, June 30, 2015

As fun and health as bicycling is, it is also a very dangerous activity — particularly because Canada drivers are not always attuned to keeping a watchful eye for cyclists. A bicycle accident can result in very serious injuries, which can leave a cyclist disabled, unable to work or even dead. Every time an injurious bicycle crash like this happens, it is important to review the situation to see if the injured cyclist is covered by insurance — whether the insurance is his or her own or that of an at-fault party to the crash.

Bicyclists are required to follow the rules of the road just like cars, and cars are required to treat bicyclists like another vehicle, but with more care and caution. For this reason, any time a bicycle crash happens, it is important to call police to the scene in order to have them evaluate who was at fault and the extent of the damages.

Generally, Canada bicyclists who are injured in a crash will be able to pursue "accident benefits," which are also commonly referred to as "no-fault benefits." In fact, it does not matter who is faulted for the crash; an injured cyclist may be able to get these accident benefits automatically.

Depending on the nature and extent of a cyclist’s injuries, the injured person may be able to seek income replacement benefits if he or she is unable to work as a result of the crash. For a person whose work situation does not qualify him or her for income replacement, non-earner benefits may also be available if the person cannot carry out a normal life due to the bicycle accident injuries. Caregiver benefits may also be available for the person charged with tending to the injured cyclist’s needs following the accident. In many cases, medical rehabilitation benefits, lost education benefits, housekeeping benefits and attendant care benefits might also be available for injured parties.

In some situations, the above benefits may not always be awarded automatically. In such cases, it could be necessary for an injured cyclist to assert his or her rights to insurance benefits in court.

Source: Huffington Post, "Do You Have Insurance Coverage as a Cyclist?," Simmy Yu, June 29, 2015

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