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A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Cycling liability insurance.
This is something I have been thinking about having for years really but have never been 100% convinced about the need for it, given that cycling is really only an extension of walking or running as a means of leg powered transportation and I certainly wouldn't consider insuring myself for either of those! I was involved in a big accident just over a year ago and received some serious injuries as a result, but that didn't really change my view on the need to have specific liability insurance to cover my cycling activities.
What has made me revisit the situation is a recent accident involving a friend of a friend, someone that I have actually ridden with a couple of times. This has left him with injuries (not too serious
), a wrecked bike (
) and the painful part, a not inconsiderable repair bill for the car he collided with 
.
On a personal level I'm not too concerned about getting a bill for material damage like that, it may be a bitter pill to swallow but it won't ruin me. What I am more worried about is being hit with a large claim for personal injuries or a death. I am primarily a commuter cyclist and ride in a largely urban area so despite being vigilant and careful it is feasible that I could be involved in a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist (pedestrians [and cyclists!] do seem to exit the pavement at the most inopportune moments and with scant regard to their surroundings or safety, especially since the boom in smart phone ownership!). Such a collision is unlikely to be my fault, but given the involvement of some money motivated compensation claim lawyer and a roll of the blame/liability dice I could see myself facing a bankrupting bill for legal defence and compensation as a result of my cycling activities.
So, which is the best? I should perhaps define best....
Wiggle are the cheapest at just over £29, but also have the lowest liability of only £1 million pounds. They include free legal 'advice' whatever that is, it doesn't sound like legal costs are covered? Also mentions an excess payable on every claim, but doesn't seem to say how much?
BC cover upto £15 million and legal defence costs and no excess on claims. BC membership cost is £37 for basic commuter cover but rises to £41 if you want cover for group leisure rides and sportive/charity events.
CUK membership is £46.50 and includes insurance to £10 million and no excess but I can't see any mention of legal cover.
LCC looks to be the most expensive at £49. £5 million liability cover and no mention of legal cover.
Has anyone got any advice or suggestions to improve on the options above? The Wiggle one seems too restrictive to consider, but the others are north of £40 which seems a lot to pay for something that I don't really think is needed and would only be invoked after a long chain of 'what if's' aligned (i.e I was involved in a collision, someone was badly injured and it was proven to be due to my negligence).
This is something I have been thinking about having for years really but have never been 100% convinced about the need for it, given that cycling is really only an extension of walking or running as a means of leg powered transportation and I certainly wouldn't consider insuring myself for either of those! I was involved in a big accident just over a year ago and received some serious injuries as a result, but that didn't really change my view on the need to have specific liability insurance to cover my cycling activities.
What has made me revisit the situation is a recent accident involving a friend of a friend, someone that I have actually ridden with a couple of times. This has left him with injuries (not too serious
), a wrecked bike () and the painful part, a not inconsiderable repair bill for the car he collided with .On a personal level I'm not too concerned about getting a bill for material damage like that, it may be a bitter pill to swallow but it won't ruin me. What I am more worried about is being hit with a large claim for personal injuries or a death. I am primarily a commuter cyclist and ride in a largely urban area so despite being vigilant and careful it is feasible that I could be involved in a collision with a pedestrian or cyclist (pedestrians [and cyclists!] do seem to exit the pavement at the most inopportune moments and with scant regard to their surroundings or safety, especially since the boom in smart phone ownership!). Such a collision is unlikely to be my fault, but given the involvement of some money motivated compensation claim lawyer and a roll of the blame/liability dice I could see myself facing a bankrupting bill for legal defence and compensation as a result of my cycling activities.
So, which is the best? I should perhaps define best....
- Adequate levels of liability cover (£1, 2, 5, 10 million pounds?).
- Legal defence included?
- Appropriate activities (commute, leisure, group rides, charity/sportive rides, etc)
- benefits.
- Value, i.e cost of policy V's levels of cover.
Wiggle are the cheapest at just over £29, but also have the lowest liability of only £1 million pounds. They include free legal 'advice' whatever that is, it doesn't sound like legal costs are covered? Also mentions an excess payable on every claim, but doesn't seem to say how much?
BC cover upto £15 million and legal defence costs and no excess on claims. BC membership cost is £37 for basic commuter cover but rises to £41 if you want cover for group leisure rides and sportive/charity events.
CUK membership is £46.50 and includes insurance to £10 million and no excess but I can't see any mention of legal cover.
LCC looks to be the most expensive at £49. £5 million liability cover and no mention of legal cover.
Has anyone got any advice or suggestions to improve on the options above? The Wiggle one seems too restrictive to consider, but the others are north of £40 which seems a lot to pay for something that I don't really think is needed and would only be invoked after a long chain of 'what if's' aligned (i.e I was involved in a collision, someone was badly injured and it was proven to be due to my negligence).
