The good news is, if you are hit by a car while biking or walking to a freelance gig, you will have medical insurance and lost income coverage. You may also be able to recoup any related damages with a lawsuit against the negligent parties.
If you were a pedestrian or bicyclist struck by a motor vehicle (car, bus, truck, or taxi), the motor vehicle’s insurance covers you for both medical and lost income. This coverage is automatic on New York insurance policies. It is popularly known as No Fault coverage because the injured pedestrian does not have to show that the other vehicle was at fault. The injured party can even be at fault in causing his or her accident!
No Fault insurance coverage is also referred to as Personal Injury Protection or PIP.
Under no Fault or PIP coverage, if a car hits you, you will not have to pay your hospital bill and any subsequent medical bills for diagnosis, tests, treatments, and surgeries, regardless of whether you were blameless or at fault.
There is also a lost income component of No Fault which provides either 80% of your monthly income or $2,000 a month, whichever amount is less.
No Fault is also available to either the passengers, the owner or the operator of the vehicle. Of course, they have to be injured inside the vehicle in a collision in order for this to apply.
The good news is that not only is No Fault insurance coverage available to you, but you may have the basis for a lawsuit against the negligent operator for pain and suffering, permanent injury, and future losses.
No Fault insurance coverage does have technical requirements and short deadlines for both the initial filing and the reimbursement of medical bills. There also may or may not be a workers’ compensation aspect to the case. It is recommended that you consult an attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
If you are involved in an accident while riding or walking to a freelance gig or another event motor vehicle accident our firm would be happy to talk to you in a free consultation without any obligation.
MARK E. SEITELMAN LAW OFFICES, P.C.
New York, New York
212-962-2626
