**Pedestrian and bicycle accident victims can claim UM/UIM coverage through their own auto insurance policy.** Illinois law doesn’t require you to carry personal liability insurance as a pedestrian. Your UM/UIM policy covers hit-and-run accidents and underinsured driver collisions.

UM/UIM Claims After Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents in Illinois

Most people do not realize this: if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver while walking or riding a bicycle, your own auto insurance UM/UIM coverage may still apply — even though you were not in a car at the time. This is one of the most overlooked sources of recovery for pedestrian and bicycle accident victims.

This article is part of our complete guide to UM/UIM claims in Illinois.

How Auto Insurance Covers You as a Pedestrian or Cyclist

Most Illinois auto policies cover the named insured and household family members regardless of whether they are in a vehicle at the time of the accident. If you carry UM/UIM coverage on your auto policy and you are hit by an uninsured driver while crossing the street, your policy covers your injuries just as it would if you were behind the wheel.

This also applies to cyclists. If you have an auto policy with $100,000 in UM/UIM coverage and a hit-and-run driver strikes you while you are riding your bicycle, you can file a UM claim on your own auto policy for up to $100,000.

What If You Do Not Own a Car?

If you do not have your own auto insurance, you may still have coverage through a household family member’s policy. Many policies extend UM/UIM coverage to all household members, including those who do not drive. Check the policy definitions of “insured” or “covered person.”

If neither you nor any household member has auto insurance, your options are more limited. You can still pursue the at-fault driver personally, but collecting on a judgment against an uninsured individual is often difficult.

Hit-and-Run Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Hit-and-run claims are especially common in pedestrian and bicycle accidents. Drivers who hit pedestrians or cyclists sometimes flee the scene — and the victim may not get a license plate in the chaos. Your UM coverage treats this as an uninsured motorist scenario, but you must report the hit-and-run to police promptly and provide corroborating evidence.

Higher Injury Severity Means Higher Stakes

Pedestrians and cyclists absorb the full force of a vehicle impact. There is no car frame to protect them. The injuries are often catastrophic: traumatic brain injuries, spinal fractures, crushed limbs, internal organ damage. The at-fault driver’s $25,000 minimum coverage is grossly inadequate for these injuries. Your own UM/UIM coverage may be the only realistic path to adequate compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my auto insurance cover me if I am hit by a car while walking?

In most cases, yes. Illinois auto policies typically cover the named insured and household members for UM/UIM claims regardless of whether they were in a vehicle. Check your policy language or consult an attorney to confirm your specific coverage.

Can a cyclist file a UM/UIM claim on their auto policy?

Yes. If you carry UM/UIM coverage on your auto policy and are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver while cycling, your auto policy’s UM/UIM coverage generally applies.

What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?

File a police report immediately and look for witnesses or surveillance cameras. Your UM coverage treats a hit-and-run as an uninsured motorist scenario. Some policies require physical contact between the vehicles, but pedestrian and bicycle cases may have different rules since direct contact with the vehicle is inherent.

Talk to a Peoria UM/UIM Attorney

Call (309) 672-9000 or contact us online for a free consultation. At Parker & Parker Attorneys at Law, we handle UM/UIM claims on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Catastrophic injuries demand experienced legal representation. Our Peoria personal injury lawyers are here to help.

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