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What happens if you get injured riding in a pedicab? Or Maybe injured by a pedicab? In many Bay Area cities such as Davis, pedicabs are one option for getting around the city and the UC Davis campus without driving a motor vehicle.

Pedicabs typically on Fridays and Saturdays during peak hours taking passengers to various locations in and around the city. Customers like the ability to get around without adding to the pollution and congestion of traditional motor vehicles.

Unfortunately, like other options such as bicycles, e-bikes, and scooters, pedicabs have to operate among the cars thus risking an accident. Pedicab accidents are rare, but they do happen, and when they do, it’s good to know how the law deals with injury liability.

Pedicab Operator Dies in Hit-and-Run

In July of 2018, a pedicab driver in San Francisco died from being struck by a car while traveling on Embarcadero North at Sansome Street when a Honda Civic came from the opposite direction swerving in traffic and stuck the pedicab.

The driver of the Honda fled the scene, and the pedicab driver died in the hospital a few days later. He was carrying a 32-year-old mother and her 5-year-old daughter, and thankfully both were not injured.

Pedicab Liability

In California, pedal vehicles including pedicabs are treated the same as motor vehicles for purposes of traffic codes, rights of way and rules of operation. The city of Davis has rules that require pedicabs to comply with regulations and safety codes before operating on the streets, and each driver is licensed to operate a pedicab.

As a company, they are required to carry insurance for their drivers, and most companies have a $1million policy that covers any liability for their drivers.

However, if the pedicab operator is injured, the insurance policy may not cover his injuries or death. In those cases, the injured driver must seek compensation from the driver who hit them, or their own auto insurance—if they have a policy—if they carry uninsured/underinsured motorists.

This is also available if the driver flees the scene and is never found.

Pedicab Injuries

Because pedicabs operate in traffic, injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to significant brain injuries, fractures, and major organ damage. If you’ve been injured in a pedicab accident, the best thing to do once your immediate medical needs have been met is to talk to an attorney regarding your rights. A good attorney will know where to look for sources of compensation should your injuries be severe enough.

Injured? Contact a Specialist

Bay Area Bicycle Law is the only personal injury law firm in Northern California to specialize exclusively in representing injured cyclists. Years of advocacy for bicycle victims have seasoned our attorneys with the necessary skills, knowledge base and familiarity to handle bicycle accident cases with the utmost level of professional expertise.

Contact us today for a free consultation by email or by calling 415-466-8717. California cyclists who are injured by negligent drivers are entitled to a wide array of compensation. We will always offer you legal advice which is in your best interest.