Bicyclist injured by hit-and-run driver

In California on Friday, a bicyclist was hospitalized with head injuries after he was struck by a hit-and-run motorist.

Most people recognize that when they are involved in a car accident with an uninsured motorist, they can make an Illinois uninsured motorist claim under their own car insurance policies through their uninsured motorist coverage.  One quirk in the law in Illinois regarding uninsured motorist claims is that you are also covered by your uninsured motorist coverage when you are injured by a hit and run driver.

You also are covered by uninsured motorist coverage even when you are not in your car, such as when you injured while a pedestrian or as in this case while riding a bike.  This is because most uninsured motorist policies in Illinois define who is an "insured" under the policy as being the named insured and any relative residing with him or her.  This is why children who are injured by uninsured motorists are covered by the policy.

Understanding the scope and reach of uninsured motorist policies is one of the advantages you get when you hire an experienced Chicago personal injury lawyer to represent you in cases involving injuries caused by hit and run drivers.