A bicycle crash can change a person’s life in seconds. When the driver at fault carries no insurance, the injured rider and their family are often left wondering who pays for the care that follows. Florida law provides answers, though they are rarely obvious in the first weeks after a collision.
A Sunday Morning Ride That Ended in the Hospital
On March 22, a 56-year-old cyclist was struck by an SUV near Sheridan Street and Chestnut Court. He woke ten days later with a broken arm and a diffuse axonal injury, a severe form of traumatic brain injury.
The financial toll has been heavy. As reported by the Pembroke Pines News, medical bills have exceeded $330,000, and the driver had no insurance.
What Happens When the At-Fault Driver Has No Coverage
Florida drivers are required to carry personal injury protection and property damage liability. Bodily injury liability is not required of most drivers, which is why a serious crash can leave nothing on the other side to collect from.
Uninsured motorist coverage fills that gap. Under Florida Statute 627.727, insurers must offer it with every bodily injury liability policy unless the customer rejects it in writing.
Coverage a Cyclist May Still Be Able to Use
A rider does not have to be inside a vehicle for auto coverage to apply. Benefits may be available through:
- Uninsured motorist coverage on the cyclist’s own auto policy
- A resident relative’s policy in the same household
- Personal injury protection benefits from a household auto policy
- Health insurance benefits, with any reimbursement claim resolved before settlement
- A claim against a third party, such as an employer whose driver was working at the time
Finding all of it takes work. Policies get misread. Adjusters do not volunteer stacked limits.
Brain Injuries Are Not Measured in the First Month
A traumatic brain injury can take years to resolve, and some effects never do. Memory gaps, missed appointments, and long stretches away from work are common. Families also absorb hidden costs when a spouse or partner leaves a job to provide full-time care.
That is why an early settlement figure can be misleading. It reflects what is known at week six, not what a person will need at year three.
Anyone hurt this way should understand the full value of the claim first. A Pembroke Pines, FL personal injury lawyer can gather the medical documentation, identify every policy that might respond, and put a realistic number on future care and lost earnings.
If you or someone in your family was injured by a driver who had no insurance, Loshak Law PLLC can review the coverage available and explain your options. Reach out through our website to speak with a Pembroke Pines personal injury lawyer about your situation.
