What to Do in a Bicycle Hit-and-Run Accident

There’s nothing like a bike ride in the open air for exercise, for taking the scenic outdoor views, and as an eco-friendly choice for transportation within your community. But the same unenclosed format and 2-wheeled design that makes a bike ride so exhilarating also leave cyclists vulnerable to serious injuries in an accident, especially in a collision with a large, heavy motor vehicle moving at high speed.

While most collisions between motorists and cyclists resolve with the horrified driver stopping to help in any way they can, in some cases, the motorist may leave the scene of the accident to avoid accountability—especially if they were speeding, driving recklessly, distracted, or intoxicated.

When a cyclist is injured in a typical collision with a vehicle, they may experience serious or even grave injuries, but at least they can hold the driver accountable for damages—typically paid through their insurer. But what should an injured cyclist do after a hit-and-run accident?

Bicycle Accident Statistics in Utah

We all think it can’t happen to us, but according to the National Security Council, there were 1,362 bicycle accident deaths in 2022, the most recent year with full data. Of those deaths, 928 were due to a motor vehicle collision. Startling bicycle accident statistics in Utah include the following:

• There were 15 bicycle accident fatalities in Utah in 2022
• 2022 was the deadliest bicycle accident year in Utah records
• 49 bicyclists suffered injuries in Utah in 2022
• Three children died in Utah bike accidents in 2022
• 47% of cyclists in Utah bicycle accident crashes under the age of 25
• Salt Lake City saw more bicycle accidents in 2022 than any other city

Experiencing a bicycle accident is traumatizing, especially if the at-fault driver flees the scene. By taking the right actions immediately after the crash, it helps protect your physical safety and financial future.

Steps to Take After a Hit-and-Run Bike Accident

If a driver fails to follow traffic rules or engages in reckless driving behavior that ends in a collision with you while you’re cycling, you may have such serious injuries that you can do little other than wait for help. But in some cases, you may be able to use your phone or ask a helpful bystander to use your phone for the following:

• Snap a photo of the fleeing vehicle if at all possible, especially their license tag
• Call 911 to report the accident
• Take pictures of your injuries
• Take pictures of your damaged bike and the accident scene
• Use your phone to collect the contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident
• If you have time before help arrives, you can also use your phone to video-record eyewitness statements (with their permission) while the details are fresh in their minds about the make and model of the car and what they witnessed if they saw the accident occur.
• Take careful mental notes or phone-recorded notes of your own memories of the accident and any details you noted

Then, once emergency services arrive, allow transport to the hospital and tell the doctor about all of your injuries and every symptom, even if it seems minor. Ask for a detailed medical report with your doctor’s treatment recommendations and your prognosis. Once you obtain a copy of the police report, save your medical bills, notify your insurance company, and call a personal injury attorney.

Gaining Compensation for Damages From a Hit-and-Run Driver in Utah

Utah is a no-fault state for traffic accidents, including bicycle accidents, so it’s important to notify your own insurance company after a hit-and-run accident. Under the state’s no-fault laws, your own insurance will pay for damages only up to $3,000. After that, the state uses a modified comparative negligence system that allows you to seek damages from the at-fault party as long as you were less than 50% at fault, your damages exceed $3,000, or you’ve sustained very serious injuries like dismemberment, disability, impairment, or disfigurement.

If the police investigators were able to identify and locate the at-fault driver in your hit-and-run accident through your testimony, eyewitness testimony, and/or photos of the scene from your phone or nearby traffic and surveillance cameras, you can pursue further damages from the driver’s insurance company.

In some cases, a hit-and-run accident victim in Utah can file a lawsuit against the driver once they’ve been identified. A personal lawsuit is typically only worth pursuing if the driver has significant financial assets. 

What Damages Can I Recover In a Hit-and-Run Bike Accident Claim or Lawsuit?

A lawsuit against the hit-and-run driver could recover compensation for damages such as the following:

• Property damage to your bicycle
• Medical expenses
• Future medical care costs for further necessary treatment
• Lost wages
• Future income loss/diminished future earning capacity due to disability
• Pain and suffering
• Sometimes other non-economic damages also apply depending on the circumstances

Depending on the nature of the injury, non-economic damages could include awards for disfigurement, loss of limb, loss of one of the senses, PTSD, and diminished quality of life.

Avoid Insurance Company Tactics After a Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident

After a hit-and-run bicycle accident, you will be dealing with your insurance company and possibly that of the hit-and-run driver if they are identified and have insurance. It’s important to understand that insurance adjusters are not on your side, even if they sound compassionate on the phone. Their job is to protect company profits at your expense.

After a hit-and-run bicycle accident, be wary of the following common insurance company tactics:

• An insurance adjuster may call you within days of the accident with a fast settlement offer. This is almost always a lowball offer for less than what’s available to you, often intentionally presented before you know the true scope of your damages
• They may call you on a recorded line and ask you for details about the accident and your injury. Then they can take your words out of context to use against you later
• Insurance adjusters sometimes follow injury victims on social media to “catch” them looking fit and healthy in photographs even if they are smiling for the camera while truly in pain
• If an insurance adjuster asks you to sign a medical authorization, read the fine print. Often, it’s a blanket authorization giving them access to your entire medical history so they can find a pre-existing condition or previous injury they can say is the cause of your symptoms. Instead, give an insurer a copy of the medical report from your bicycle accident
• An insurance company might delay progress on your case for as long as possible. This stalling method sometimes leads to injury victims giving up and accepting low offers

Insurance companies also often dispute medical costs by claiming your doctor’s recommended treatment isn’t necessary for your injury. When an insurance adjuster calls after a hit-and-run accident, it’s always best to direct them to your lawyer.

Call a Utah Personal Injury Attorney With Hit-and-Run Accident Experience

Personal injury attorneys in Salt Lake City, Utah have access to the best resources, including traffic and surveillance camera footage, and accident reconstruction specialists. They can represent your best interests throughout every step of the claims process to seek maximum compensation for your damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.