Montclair CA Cyclist Hospitalized by Hit-and-Run Driver

A man was left lying on the pavement after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run accident. It took place Saturday evening, December 8, 2018, at the intersection of Central Avenue and Orchard Street in Montclair.

Police arrested the suspected driver of the vehicle after he drove his vehicle home and hid it in his backyard. The cyclist was taken to the hospital and listed in critical condition.

Hit-and-Runs and Cyclists

Cyclists are less visible than cars and are at higher risk of being struck and injured than are motorists. So when the driver of a vehicle hits a cyclist and flees, he or she makes the risk of a more serious injury or death much higher.

This is because when a motorist flees, there is often no one left to call for help. Cyclists are often incapacitated after a collision with a vehicle that averages around 4,000 pounds while the average bicycle weighs around 20 pounds.

Insurance Issues With Hit-and-Run Cyclist Crashes

In a typical vehicle-bicycle crash, the vehicle driver is generally more likely to be at fault. This means that the cyclist is able to recover their financial losses from the driver’s insurance policy. However, in a hit-and-run, the insurance company of the driver is unknown unless he or she is caught.

So who covers the loss? Sometimes it ends up that the injured cyclist bears the loss, however, this sometimes happens when it doesn’t need to. This is because most automobile insurance policies covers riding a bicycle when used for transportation. Thus the cyclist can often make a claim on their own policy.

Do I need an Attorney?

Some feel it unnecessary to get an attorney to file a claim against their own insurance policy. However, the insurance agent will treat you no differently than any other person making a claim. In some cases, this is not a problem, however, some agents will tell you things like since it’s your own insurance, they only pay so much, or that it’s your fault. This is nothing personal, it’s just their job to pay out as little as possible.

Bay Area Bicycle Law understands bicycle law and is experienced in both bike accidents and hit-and-run cases. The attorneys at Bay Area Bike Law have the knowledge and experience to help cyclists all over the State of California.

Start putting someone on your side, call us at (415) 466 8717 or click here to contact us online. If you still wonder if we’re the right firm for you or even if you need an attorney, read this this for help answering these questions. Call us today for a free consultation after any crash anywhere in California.