Cyclists are treated as road users
In every state a cyclist has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver on the road. When a driver turns across a bike lane, opens a door into a rider or passes too close, the driver’s liability insurance pays the injury claim. Your own auto policy may add PIP, MedPay or UM/UIM coverage even though you were on a bike.
Fault arguments to expect
Insurers look for lights at night, riding direction, lane position and signals. Under your state’s fault rule, any share of blame reduces the award. DC lets cyclists recover unless they were more at fault than the driver, a narrow exception to its otherwise strict contributory negligence rule.
Document the bike and the gear
Keep the damaged bike, helmet and clothing. A bike shop’s written estimate supports the property claim, and a cracked helmet is strong evidence of the force of a head impact.
Questions people ask
Who pays when a car hits a cyclist?
The driver’s liability insurer pays for injuries and the bike. Your own auto coverage can fill gaps when the driver has too little insurance.
Does not wearing a helmet hurt my claim?
It does not usually bar a claim, but some states allow the defense to argue it made a head injury worse.