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Modified on
Oct 19, 2026
If a car hits you while you’re riding, your own auto policy can often help pay for what happened. Many auto policies extend some of their coverage to you even when you’re on a bike instead of in your car. You likely have more coverage available than you think, even on two wheels.
Bleaman Law Firm P.C. reviews policies for injured cyclists across Arizona and can tell you which coverage applies to your crash.
Key Takeaways
- The at-fault driver’s liability coverage is usually the first source of payment.
- Medical payments coverage on your own policy can pay bills no matter who caused the crash.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can step in if the driver can’t pay.
- Arizona treats cyclists as drivers for right-of-way and fault purposes.
A bicycle accident attorney can help you sort out which of these coverages applies to your crash, since more than one can come into play at once.
The At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Pays First
Arizona law gives a person riding a bike on the road the same rights and duties as a driver of a vehicle. When a driver causes the crash, their bodily injury liability coverage is the first place to look for payment. Arizona drivers must carry minimum liability coverage for injuries and property damage.
Those minimums often fall short in a serious bicycle crash, which is where your own coverage starts to matter.
How Fault Gets Decided on the Road
Drivers must give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing. A violation that causes a crash is strong evidence the driver, not the cyclist, caused the harm. Even if you share some blame, Arizona’s comparative fault rule still lets you recover a reduced amount rather than nothing at all.
Does Your Own Policy Help With Medical Bills?
Arizona doesn’t run on a no-fault system, so there’s no automatic injury coverage built into every policy. If you added medical payments coverage, often called MedPay, it pays your medical bills right away regardless of who caused the crash. Many policies extend this coverage to you on a bicycle, not just inside your car, so check your policy wording.
It can cover ambulance rides, emergency room visits, and follow-up care while a liability claim is still being sorted out.
What If the Driver Has No Insurance, or Not Enough?
Insurers must offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on every auto policy sold in Arizona, and the offer must be made in writing. If the driver who hit you has no coverage, or limits too low to cover your injuries, this part of your own policy can make up the difference.
Many riders don’t realize they carry this protection until a bicycle accident attorney checks their declarations page. Don’t wait too long to start that claim, since your policy and Arizona law both set deadlines for pursuing it.
How to Read Your Declarations Page
The declarations page is the summary sheet at the front of your policy. Look for these lines:
- Bodily injury liability limits, which show what your policy pays others
- Medical payments coverage, if you added it, and its dollar limit
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist limits, usually listed separately
- Every named insured and listed driver, since household members may share coverage
If a coverage shows no amount or reads as rejected, it likely isn’t part of your policy.
A Different Vantage Point on Insurance Claims
Marc Bleaman spent years defending insurance companies before representing injured people from his Tucson office. That background means he understands how adjusters evaluate a cyclist’s claim, including arguments about lane position or visibility.
That insider view shapes how the firm pushes back when an insurer tries to shift blame onto the rider instead of the driver.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim after being hit while biking?
A claim filed under your own medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage after being hit by a car isn’t your fault, so it shouldn’t be treated like an at-fault claim. Rate decisions vary by insurer, so ask your agent directly before you file. A bicycle accident attorney can also help explain how a claim might be handled.
What happens if the driver who hit me fled the scene?
A hit-and-run leaves you without anyone to collect from directly, which is exactly when uninsured motorist coverage matters. Report the crash to police as soon as possible, since that report supports your claim.
Will my health insurance also help pay my medical bills?
Yes, health insurance can pay for treatment while a liability or uninsured motorist claim is still being worked out. If you later recover money from the driver’s insurer, your health plan may seek reimbursement for what it paid. Keep careful records of every bill and payment along the way.
Does it matter if I was riding an e-bike?
Usually not much. Arizona treats e-bike riders much like traditional cyclists, and MedPay or uninsured motorist claims generally turn on the car that hit you, not what you were riding. Some policies carve out certain vehicles, so have the exclusions reviewed before you file.
Can I use MedPay and health insurance at the same time?
Often, yes. MedPay can help cover the deductibles and copays your health plan leaves behind. How the two work together depends on your policy terms, so keep every bill and explanation of benefits.
Bleaman Law Firm P.C.: Your Arizona Bicycle Accident Injury Law Firm
Getting hit by a car while riding leaves you with medical bills, a damaged bike, and a tangle of insurance policies to sort through. Working out which coverage pays first, and how much is available, usually means pulling the declarations pages for every policy that might apply.
Our Tucson and Scottsdale offices handle bicycle injury claims for riders across Arizona. Contact our firm today to find out what coverage applies to your crash.
Arizona Bicycle Accident Resources:
