Riding a bike while drunk might appear to be safer, but deaths of intoxicated cyclists is a "significant problem," according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. They found that these fatalities haven't declined as much as those of drunk drivers over the years. You can help pave the way for safer roads by staying sober whatever wheel you're behind.
· More than one-fifth of bicyclists killed in crashes are impaired by alcohol
· 815 cyclists were killed in 2015 and they're less likely to be wearing helmets
REAL WORLD CASE STUDY
Derek rode his bike to work every day, mainly for the exercise. One Friday afternoon after a difficult project was completed, he and his coworkers decided a happy hour was in order.
After a few drinks, he decided he better ride home before he lost the daylight. As he was cycling out of town, he ran a red light in front of Heather.
Swerving to avoid him, she collided with another car and sustained a variety of complex injuries, which resulted in decreased mobility and motor function. She was unable to return to work as a university mathematics professor for several months.
Heather's medical bills quickly exhausted the minimum coverage offered by Derek's renters insurance, so she had no choice but to sue him for reimbursement, incurring legal fees paid in advance, out of her own pocket.
Because Derek didn't have significant assets, he declared bankruptcy, putting Heather back to square one. Burdened by debt, unable to work and without compensation for lost wages, she too was forced to declare bankruptcy.
Claim: $925,000
Rewriting the story
If Heather had a personal umbrella with $1MM excess uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), it would have covered the gap left by the underlying policies to take care of her legal fees, lost wages and medical bills.
What You Can Do
Protect yourself with a personal umbrella policy with excess UM/UIM. It kicks in if you’re in an accident and the other driver is at fault and has limited coverage. Call us with questions. 920-898-5731
http://postoffice.personalumbrella.com/t/d-AA86BF92E0F52504
