If your property, such as clothing, bicycles, helmets, bags, personal electronics, jewelry, etc., has been damaged because of a crash or a fall then you may be entitled to compensation if this was the result of someone else’s negligence.

Documenting Your Property Damage Claim

            First, you must preserve evidence of the property damage. Avoid throwing anything away until the insurance company has indicated it does not need to inspect the item. Carefully document the damage through photographs taken as close in time to the crash or fall as possible. This is especially important if there is an item you must discard before the insurance company can inspect it, otherwise an insurance company may not be willing to reimburse you. Note that you should replace any bicycle helmet that has been involved in a crash.  If you need help documenting your property damage, contact us before repairing or disposing of items.

            You will also need to prove that the damaged property is yours. Original receipts are the best, but you can also use bank and credit card receipts, or online order receipts or even cancelled checks. If the item was a gift from someone, then you would want to reach out to the gift giver for a receipt, and if the insurance company is particularly difficult an affidavit from your friend or family member might be needed. 

            Lastly, you will need to document how much it will cost to repair or replace the damaged property. A written estimate from a bike shop, jeweler or other appropriate business that details the needed repairs, together with your name, address, and date documents repairs will document repair costs. And internet listings showing the cost of comparable items are acceptable to document the replacement cost of any destroyed property.  

Unfortunately, if you are injured in a crash with an uninsured motorist, or as a result of a hit-and-run, while there may be compensation available for your personal injuries through the Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Fund, it does not cover property damage.