Comments on: What To Do If Involved In A Cycling Accident

By: HHF3

HHF3 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:11:20 +0000

I'd like to add: go see a dentist. Found out, over 2 months later, that I had chipped some enamel on my teeth! So go see a dentist after a bike accident, even if you don't think you did anything. I definitely didn't think I had hurt my teeth; turns out I had.

By: mark

mark — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:23:54 +0000

tac cover you for treatment wherever, you are considered a private patient. I treat private patients all the time where TAC is responsible for the bills. Obviously they need to approve procedures etc but they don’t just cover public hospitals

By: HHF3

HHF3 — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:23:43 +0000

I just wanted to say thanks for this post. I had read it when you put it up back in Sept and kinda mentally filed it away. Well I am very thankful you had posted this and that I had read it, because I got hit by, of all things, a police car while cycling to work this morning. I remembered the part on going to get checked out, the last bullet point, and I’m really glad that I did. I just have some bruises and bumps, but it makes it a lot easier with paperwork/insurance/etc. Thanks for this.

By: Domestique

Domestique — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:06:11 +0000

Hi all,

Just to make things a little clearer. If you are involved in a crash / accident and you were on the road and it was “owing to the presence” of a motor vehicle you will be covered by TAC.

If you are injured and or the bike or other property is damaged both parties involved are required by law to exchange names and addresses. There is no requirement for somebody to give you their licence number – unless its the police asking. If the other party doesn’t comply they commit an offence.

If you have a camera- phone use it. Photograph as much as possible. Also consider using the phones recorder for admissions. “Witnesses are a priority make sure you get a contact number and ask what they saw.” It might be different to what you saw – didn’t see. If you are getting the run around call 000 and request police attendance.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:43:15 +0000

The way I understand it, BV covers all injury (to yourself and others) and all third party property. It just doesn’t cover your own bike.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:42:03 +0000

Yeah, Allianz covers theft and damage, but not while riding. I’m often worried about my bike being stolen while I’m riding it!!

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:14:41 +0000

policy wording is critical, as the contents may cover for theft or damage to sporting goods, but not while they are being used for their intended purpose……so I am looking…..cant get car insurance to cover bike, neither motor bike….untapped market I would have thought

By: Justin

Justin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:26:19 +0000

Just to confirm, I checked with BV regarding their insurance policy. From an email they sent me, I quote:

“Please be advised that Bicycle Victoria membership insurance covers you for personal injury and third party property/injury. Our insurance covers you any time you are on a bike.”

Good to know, and I think worth $100 a year.

By: Twoeee

Twoeee — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:39:56 +0000

Mine is white so it is all good.

It includes contents and it is about $100/month. A necessary evil but worth it

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:03:05 +0000

Having had this kind of incident before, Things I do know are that here in SA you are considered to be a vehicle so I have been attended to a few times before, sure you go to a public hospital but anything major here and you go to the same hospital, Once I had the bolt that clamps the bike seat to the post break, only me involved the home and contents paid for all of my damages including the clothes that were cut off. In December I got cleaned up, All I can say from the last one was go through your on contents cover they paid for a new bike just after verifying with the LBS that it was a write off and I should go down and pay the $100 excess and pick up my bike, after his insurance company was going to offer me something like 1/2 price cause my bike was not worth that much in the eyes of his assessor.

By: Aaron Edge

Aaron Edge — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:35:34 +0000

— Great advice, you should get contact info/statements from anyone who witnessed the accident too… that helped me when a motorist (at fault) tried to change his story later.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:06:26 +0000

Yes, only if a car is involved. TAC is primarily funded by vehicle registration. As Cyclists, runners, pedestrians do not pay Rego we are only covered by TAC in Public Hospitals if a vehicle is involved. Otherwise we could all be getting free medical services every time we trip over on the street.