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Will Insurance Cover Me If I’m Hit While Riding a Bicycle?

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How Insurance Applies to Bicycle Crashes in Colorado

You are generally covered by insurance after a bicycle accident in Colorado, but the source of that coverage changes depending on whether a motor vehicle was involved in the bicycle accident.

Because Colorado law treats bicycles as a legal hybrid between pedestrians and motor vehicles, securing financial recovery depends on three primary factors:

  • Who Caused the Crash: Colorado is a fault-based state using a modified comparative negligence rule. You can recover damages as long as you are less than 50% at fault, though your compensation is reduced by your percentage of blame.

  • Auto vs. Bicycle Crashes: If a motor vehicle hits you, auto insurance policies are triggered. The driver’s liability insurance is primary, but your own first-party auto coverages, like Medical Payments (MedPay) and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) are portable and will follow you on a bike.

  • Bicycle vs. Pedestrian Crashes: If your accident does not involve a motor vehicle, standard auto protections like liability and UM/UIM will not apply. Recovery primarily shifts to health, homeowners, or renters insurance, though your own auto MedPay may occasionally provide a safety net depending on your specific policy’s wording.

How Coverage Works: Bicycle vs. Pedestrian Accidents

When a bicycle and a pedestrian collide, the path to compensation is determined by who is found at fault for the incident:

If the Pedestrian is At Fault

  • Your Injuries: Your personal health insurance is the primary source to cover your medical treatment. Your health provider may later pursue the pedestrian’s homeowners or renters liability insurance to recover those costs.

  • Your Bike Damage: Property damage to your bicycle is not covered by health insurance but may be covered under your own homeowners or renters insurance policy.

If You (the Cyclist) Are At Fault

  • The Pedestrian’s Injuries: If you cause the crash, the personal liability coverage on your homeowners or renters insurance policy typically steps in to pay for the pedestrian’s medical expenses and damages.

  • Your Own Injuries: Your personal health insurance will cover your medical bills, subject to your standard deductibles and co-pays.

Disclaimer: Insurance policies vary significantly. Always review your specific policy declarations or contact an experienced Colorado personal injury attorney to confirm your coverage limits after a crash.

First Things First: Who Caused the Crash?

Colorado is a fault-based state, which means the person who caused the accident is responsible for the damages. That sounds straightforward, in practice, insurance companies spend a lot of time and energy arguing about exactly who was at fault and how much.

If a driver hits you while you’re biking and they are clearly responsible (think: running a red light, distracted driving, failing to yield), then their auto insurance is typically the first place we look for coverage. This is called a third-party liability claim and it’s the foundation of most bicycle accident cases. This is where most claims begin and where many disputes also start.

At Ramos Law, we see this all the time. What seems like a straightforward case can quickly turn into a back-and-forth over fault, injuries and coverage.

What does that actually cover?

Colorado requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of:

  • $25,000 per person (injuries)
  • $50,000 per accident (total injuries)
  • $15,000 for property damage

Those numbers might sound decent at first glance, but in a serious bicycle accident where injuries can be significant, they can run out fast. Still, that policy should initially help cover things like your emergency care, follow-up treatment, missed work and even the cost to repair or replace your bicycle.

The key takeaway: If the driver caused the crash, their insurance is step one. But it’s not always the whole solution.

What If the Driver Has No Insurance?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: not every driver on Colorado roads is properly insured. Some have no coverage at all and others carry only the bare minimum, which, as we just talked about, may not go very far.

That’s where things shift from their insurance to yours.

Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)

Colorado law requires insurance companies to offer UM/UIM coverage when you buy a policy (unless you specifically reject it in writing). Many people keep it and that’s a very good thing.

UM/UIM coverage is designed to protect you when:

  • The at-fault driver has no insurance
  • The driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your damages
  • You’re involved in a hit-and-run

Here’s the part that surprises a lot of people:


This coverage often follows you, not just when you’re in your car.

So if you’re out biking, jogging or even walking your dog, your UM/UIM policy may still apply. In other words, the policy you bought for your car can act as a safety net when you’re not in it at all. But coverage depends on the specific terms, exclusions and conditions of the applicable insurance policy. 

At Ramos Law, this is one of the most overlooked coverages we help clients use. People are often surprised to learn they had protection available all along.

What About Your Own Medical Bills Right Away?

Even when liability is clear, insurance claims take time. Meanwhile, medical bills often begin arriving immediately after the accident.

That’s where having the right first-party coverage can make a big difference.

MedPay (Medical Payments Coverage)

In Colorado, insurers must offer Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage unless you opt out. A lot of people keep it because it’s relatively inexpensive and incredibly useful.

MedPay helps cover your medical expenses quickly and without waiting for fault to be determined. That means it can step in to pay for things like ambulance rides, ER visits, imaging and follow-up care almost immediately after the accident.

Think of MedPay as your “take care of this now” coverage. It does not require waiting for lengthy investigations or liability disputes. Instead, it can help cover medical expenses quickly while the broader claim is being resolved. 

We often help clients use MedPay strategically so they can focus on recovery instead of worrying about immediate out-of-pocket costs.

I Wasn’t Driving. Does My Auto Insurance Still Apply?

This is one of the most common questions we hear, and honestly, it’s a fair one.

You weren’t in a car. You were on a bicycle. So why would your auto insurance matter?

The answer comes down to how your insurance policies are written. However, there is a major catch: a motor vehicle must be involved in the crash to trigger most parts of your auto insurance.

If a car or truck hits you while you are riding, your coverage isn’t limited strictly to when you are behind the wheel; it extends to you as an individual. Depending on your policy, you may be covered when you are acting as:

  • A driver
  • A passenger
  • A pedestrian
  • And yes, often a cyclist

In those motor vehicle vs. bicycle crashes, your own UM/UIM or MedPay coverage can act as a crucial safety net. The specifics vary from policy to policy, but it’s very common for these protections to follow you beyond the driver’s seat.

But if you are in a non-car accident—such as colliding with a pedestrian or another cyclist—standard auto protections like UM/UIM will not apply, and recovery shifts to health, homeowners, or renters insurance instead.

Believing you aren’t covered simply because you weren’t driving is one of the biggest misconceptions we see. In many bicycle accidents involving a motor vehicle, you have more protection available than you think.

What If You Were Partially At Fault?

Let’s say the situation isn’t perfectly clear. Maybe the driver was speeding but you also didn’t fully stop before entering the intersection.

Now what?

Colorado uses something called modified comparative negligence, which basically means responsibility can be shared.

Here’s how it works:

  • If you’re less than 50% at fault, you can still recover damages
  • Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault
  • If you’re 50% or more at fault, you’re not eligible to recover damages

So if you’re found 20% responsible, your total recovery would be reduced by 20%. It’s not ideal, but it’s far from the end of the road.

The important thing to understand is that partial fault doesn’t automatically eliminate your case; it affects the amount of compensation you may recover. Insurance companies often try to use this rule to their advantage by shifting more blame onto cyclists. At Ramos Law, we work to make sure fault is evaluated fairly and based on evidence, not assumptions. 

Do Cyclists Need Insurance in Colorado?

No. Colorado does not require bicycle riders to carry insurance. But here’s the practical reality: just because it’s not required doesn’t mean it’s not helpful.

Cyclists are more exposed in crashes, which often leads to more serious injuries. Having access to coverage like UM/UIM and MedPay can make a major difference in how smoothly things go after an accident, especially if the at-fault driver’s insurance falls short.

In other words, you don’t need it but you’ll probably wish you had it if something goes wrong.

What About Non-Car Accidents? (Like Hitting a Pedestrian)

While your auto insurance is vital when a motor vehicle hits you, things change if you are in a crash that doesn’t involve a car at all. For example, if you are riding your bike and collide with a pedestrian, standard auto policies like UM/UIM will not cover your injuries because no motor vehicle was involved.

Depending on your policy’s exact wording, MedPay might offer a safety net, but you will often need to look to health insurance or the at-fault party’s homeowners/renters liability coverage.

👇 Have questions about a specific crash scenario? Scroll down to our Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom of this page to see exactly how insurance handles bike-on-pedestrian accidents, e-bike regulations, and shared fault.

Colorado Bicycle & Pedestrian Crash Statistics

  • 134 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed in Colorado in 2024, making it one of the deadliest years on record for these “vulnerable road users.” 
  • Pedestrians alone accounted for 120 deaths in 2024, while 14 bicyclists were killed statewide.
  • In 2023, fatalities included 133 pedestrians and 20 bicyclists, showing a continued upward trend in recent years.
  • Since 2015, pedestrian and bicyclist deaths have increased by 78% in Colorado, compared to just a 7% increase in overall passenger vehicle deaths.
  • Vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) now make up a significant share of all traffic deaths—about 19–22% in recent years.

These stats come from the Colorado Department of Transportation

Longer-Term Trends (CDOT Data)

  • Between 2006 and 2016, Colorado recorded 13,856 pedestrian crashes, involving over 14,000 people, resulting in 612 deaths and more than 11,500 injuries.
  • More recent CDOT data shows pedestrian fatalities rising from 76 in 2019 to 136 in 2023, while bicyclist deaths fluctuated between 13 and 20 per year.

What These Numbers Mean

These aren’t just statistics. They highlight a clear trend:

  • People outside of vehicles are far more vulnerable in crashes
  • Fatalities involving cyclists and pedestrians are rising faster than overall traffic deaths
  • Even as total traffic fatalities fluctuate, bike riders and pedestrians are making up a larger share of those deaths

Or put more simply: If you’re on a bike or on foot, the stakes are higher.

Real-Life Scenario (Because This Stuff Gets Confusing Fast)

Here’s a hypothetical example of how multiple coverages may apply after a bicycle accident. 

You’re riding your bicycle through Denver. A driver runs a red light and hits you.

  • The driver is clearly at fault → their liability insurance is the first layer of coverage
  • Your injuries are serious, and their policy maxes out → your UM/UIM coverage may step in next
  • You need immediate treatment → your MedPay helps cover costs right away

Instead of relying on just one source of recovery, you may actually have multiple layers working together. Each one plays a different role, and together they help fill the gaps.

I Was Hit While Riding My Bicycle. Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Not always. However, legal representation is often beneficial in serious bicycle accident cases. 

If your accident was minor, your injuries were limited and the insurance company is cooperating, you may be able to handle the claim on your own.

But bicycle accidents tend to be different.

Because cyclists are more vulnerable, injuries are often more serious. And when injuries are serious, insurance disputes often become more complex: questioning fault, minimizing damages or disputing the extent of your injuries. That’s where having the right legal team can make a difference.

At Ramos Law, we focus on understanding injuries at a deeper level. We consider not just what happened, but how it impacts your life. That medical insight allows us to:

  • Build stronger cases
  • Clearly explain injuries
  • Push back against insurance company tactics

We also help identify all available sources of coverage, which is critical in bicycle accident cases where multiple policies may apply.

Most importantly, we handle the legal and insurance side of things so you can focus on recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

In Colorado, your standard car insurance will not cover your injuries if you crash into a pedestrian while riding your bicycle. Because a motor vehicle was not involved in the accident, primary auto coverages like Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) and Medical Payments (MedPay) will not activate.

To understand why your auto insurance doesn’t apply in a bike-vs-pedestrian accident, you have to look at how these policies are legally defined:

  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM): UM/UIM is designed to protect you from drivers who lack adequate insurance. In Colorado, this coverage is “portable” (meaning it can follow you on foot or on a bike), but only if a motor vehicle caused the crash. Because no motor vehicle was involved, UM/UIM cannot be used.

  • Medical Payments (MedPay): MedPay is first-party coverage that pays for medical bills regardless of fault. While Colorado auto MedPay does cover you if you are a cyclist struck by a car, it strictly requires the involvement of a motor vehicle. A pure bicycle-and-pedestrian collision will not trigger this coverage.

What If the Pedestrian Caused the Crash?

If a pedestrian abruptly stepped into a designated bike lane or acted negligently, causing you to crash and injure yourself, they are personally at fault. In this case, you would typically seek compensation through the pedestrian’s Homeowners Insurance or Renters Insurance policy, which usually includes personal liability coverage for accidents caused by their negligence outside the home.

Health Insurance: Your regular Health Insurance will act as your primary safety net to cover your immediate medical care and hospital bills after a bike-vs-pedestrian crash, subject to your normal deductibles and co-pays.”

Yes. If a driver caused the accident, you can file a claim against their auto insurance for your injuries and damages. Even though you were on a bicycle, you still have the same right to pursue compensation as any other accident victim.

You may still have options. If you carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own auto policy, it can apply to you even while you’re biking. This type of coverage is specifically designed to protect you in situations involving uninsured drivers or hit-and-runs.

Yes, your health insurance can help cover medical treatment. However, you may still be responsible for deductibles, co-pays or out-of-network costs. In many cases, health insurers may also seek reimbursement if you later recover money from an at-fault driver’s insurance.

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule. As long as you were less than 50% at fault, you can still recover compensation. However, your total recovery will be reduced based on your percentage of fault.

No, Colorado does not require cyclists to carry insurance. That said, having coverage like UM/UIM or MedPay on your auto policy can provide valuable protection if you’re injured by a driver, especially if that driver is uninsured or underinsured.

Possibly, yes. Many auto insurance policies (especially UM/UIM and MedPay) follow you as a person, not just when you’re driving. That means if you’re hit by a car while walking, jogging or even riding a motorized scooter, you may still be covered under your own policy. The exact coverage depends on your specific policy language, but these protections often extend beyond just being behind the wheel.

Your first priority is safety and medical care. Call 911 so the crash is officially documented and you can get medical attention, even if injuries don’t seem severe right away. If you’re able, try to take photos of the scene, the vehicle, your bicycle and any visible injuries. Get the driver’s information and contact details from any witnesses. In Colorado, the police report and early documentation can become very important later when insurance companies start questioning what happened. If you’re unsure what to do next, this is exactly the type of situation where reaching out to a firm like Ramos Law early can help protect your claim from the start.

Insurance companies are businesses and their goal is to limit payouts, not maximize them. After a bicycle accident, they may question how the crash happened, argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you say or try to shift partial blame onto you under Colorado’s comparative negligence rules. Bicycle crashes often involve more subjective evidence than car-to-car collisions, which gives insurers more room to dispute claims. At Ramos Law, we often see that having detailed medical documentation and a clear liability narrative makes a major difference in how seriously a claim is taken.

Yes, but it can make your case more challenging. Many bicycle accident injuries (like concussions, soft tissue damage or internal injuries) don’t fully show symptoms immediately. Insurance companies often use delays in treatment to argue that injuries weren’t serious or weren’t caused by the crash. That doesn’t mean your claim is invalid, but it does mean documentation becomes critical. If you didn’t seek immediate care, getting evaluated as soon as possible and following through with treatment can help connect your injuries back to the accident in a credible way.

Bicycle-on-bicycle accidents are more common than many riders realize, especially on crowded trails, group rides and urban bike lanes. Liability depends on who acted negligently. For example, a cyclist who suddenly swerves without signaling, rides against traffic or ignores trail rules may be responsible for the crash. Colorado’s comparative negligence rules can also apply, meaning both cyclists may share fault depending on the circumstances. Even though no motor vehicle is involved, injured riders may still be able to pursue compensation through homeowners, renters or umbrella insurance policies.

In many situations, Colorado law treats e-bikes similarly to traditional bicycles, but insurance coverage can become more complicated. Some homeowners, renters and auto insurance policies exclude coverage for motorized or electric-assisted bikes, particularly higher-speed models. Liability may also depend on the class of e-bike involved and where it was being operated. Because e-bikes can travel faster than traditional bicycles, insurance companies often scrutinize these accidents more aggressively when determining fault and damages.

Possibly. Colorado’s “Safety Stop” law allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs in certain situations if the intersection is clear and the rider slows appropriately. Insurance companies may still try to argue the cyclist was careless, but violating traffic laws does not automatically prevent recovery. Colorado’s comparative negligence rules allow injured cyclists to recover damages so long as they are less than 50% at fault for the accident.

A “dooring” accident occurs when a driver or passenger opens a vehicle door directly into the path of a cyclist. In Colorado, the person opening the door is often liable because drivers and passengers have a duty to ensure it is safe before opening a door into traffic. These accidents can cause severe injuries, especially when cyclists are thrown into vehicle lanes or traffic.

In many cases, yes. Your automobile insurance policy may include Medical Payments Coverage (MedPay), which can help pay medical expenses regardless of who caused the crash. MedPay can often provide immediate assistance for emergency care, ambulance bills and treatment costs while the larger injury claim is being resolved.

Not necessarily. Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning fault can be shared between parties. If a pedestrian unexpectedly stepped into a bike lane while distracted, jaywalking or ignoring traffic controls, their actions may reduce or eliminate the cyclist’s liability. Every case depends on the specific facts, including speed, visibility and whether both parties were acting reasonably.

You may have a claim against the government agency responsible for maintaining the roadway. Claims against cities, counties or state agencies in Colorado are subject to strict procedural rules under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA), including notice deadlines that are often as short as 182 days after the crash. Preserving evidence quickly is critical in roadway defect cases.

Often, yes. If a loose or uncontrolled dog caused you to crash, the dog owner may be liable for your injuries. In many cases, the owner’s homeowners or renters insurance policy provides coverage for these claims. Even if the dog never physically touched the cyclist, the owner may still be responsible if the animal’s behavior caused the accident.

Yes. Colorado uses a modified comparative fault system. An injured cyclist can still recover compensation as long as they were less than 50% responsible for the accident. However, the amount recovered is reduced by the cyclist’s percentage of fault. Insurance companies frequently try to exaggerate cyclist fault, which is why evidence and legal representation can be important.

Colorado law does not universally require all children under 13 to ride in the back seat, although it is generally the safest option whenever possible. The applicable safety requirements depend on the child’s age, weight, seating position and the type of restraint system being used. Families transporting bikes on racks or inside vehicles should also ensure equipment is properly secured to avoid additional safety risks.

Colorado law requires motorists to provide cyclists with at least three feet of clearance when passing. Even if a vehicle never physically contacts the bicycle, a driver who passes too closely and forces a cyclist off the road may still be liable for injuries in a “no-contact” accident. You can learn more about Colorado’s bicycle passing law through CDOT’s 3-Foot Passing Law Guide.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change and individual circumstances vary. Consult with a qualified attorney about your specific situation.

Brian Calandra, JD and Senior Partner at Ramos Law breaks down a Car vs Bicycle accident.

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