What if I get hit by a car while riding an e-bike?
What if I get hit by a car while riding an e-bike?
Immediately after the collision:
- Get out of the road and out of immediate danger.
- Seek medical attention if injured: call an ambulance or have someone call an ambulance for you.
- Call the police or have someone call for you to file a police report.
- Exchange details: get the vehicle insurance information from the driver and make sure to get the name of both the driver and vehicle owner.
- Retain copies of all documentation, including the police report and ambulance report, and keep a record of responding officers’ names and details.
- Collect evidence of the crash to the extent that you are able; do not rely on the police to perform a complete investigation.
- This includes identifying witnesses, if possible, photographing any damage or road conditions that may have contributed to the collision, and speaking with any nearby store owners about whether they have security cameras outside that may have spotted the crash.
File the appropriate paperwork to qualify for no-fault insurance if you require medical care:
No-Fault insurance in New York State is set up to compensate people injured by motor vehicles. If you are involved in a crash, you need to file a no-fault application within 30 days of the collision with the vehicle’s insurance company so the claim isn’t denied.
Cyclists should also report the crash to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days, in the event of death or serious injury. For crashes involving motor vehicles, cyclists should file a motor vehicle accident report (MV-104A).
Adapted from New York Bike Lawyer and New York State Department of Transportation