Cyclist insurance. OC is not required, but the policy may be useful

Cyclists, just like other road users, are accidents. Police statistics indicate that only in 2024 there were nearly 3,800 events with their participation, which were partly caused by cyclists. Although the regulations do not provide for compulsory insurance of bicycle owners and users, such protection may be useful in the event of an accident we were both the perpetrator and the victim. Let's check what proposals cyclists can use.

In 2024, it took place 21,519 road accidents, of which cyclists took part in 3765 (increase by 4.7% compared to the previous year). According to the Road Traffic Office of the Police Headquarters, 169 bicycle drivers were killed in them, and 3434 people were injured. Some of these accidents were caused by cyclists, which prompts the question about the legitimacy of compulsory insurance for cyclists in the event of damage caused, but also injuries. There is no legislative work in this direction, but insurance companies often meet the expectations of this group of clients, offering them a diverse range of protection.

Cyclists cause accidents, but they are also their victims

Last year, cyclists caused 1364 road accidentswhich accounted for 6.9% of all accidents in which the driver of the vehicle is to blame. In 2021, this share was 5.9% and although growth does not seem significant, it may worry. According to police data The most common cause of accidents was the failure of the priority of the journey (over 30%), the second in order is excessive speed (17.9%), and the third – incorrect passage (9.2%). Other reasons mentioned in the statistics include incorrect behavior towards pedestrians, incorrect turning maneuver or incorrect overtaking.

According to police data, last year The perpetrators of accidents among cyclists were primarily people aged 60 and more (approx. 25%), the second group is drivers between 40 and 59 years old (approx. 23%). The share of the youngest cyclists (up to 17 years of age) is a total of approx. 18.5%.

Cyclists on the road cause accidents, but the data of the KGP traffic office clearly indicate that they are primarily victims; In 2024 it was recorded 2401 events in which bicycle drivers were injured. Most accidents took place from May to October and was caused primarily by the failure to give priority and incorrect passage through journeys for cyclists.

Does the cyclist have to have OC?

The current legal status does not provide for the obligation to have liability by bicycle users. Such a requirement is used only in relation to motor vehicle owners, but applies more to a vehicle than people (in other words: it is the car that should have a valid OC, regardless of who is driving it, but in the event of an accident the responsibility is borne by the owner). Debates about whether cyclists should have mandatory OC, they usually return on the occasion of police statistics or single, tragic accidents involving cyclists. Supporters of this solution arise about the need to cover the damage, which are caused by drivers, but on the other hand, introducing the obligation to insurance a bicycle would be technically difficult due to the problem with the identification of a specific vehicle. The police do not take a position on this matter, but emphasizes that safety initiatives are worth considering:

The police have no competence to formulate binding positions in the field of insurance policy or designing legislative solutions. Nevertheless, from the point of view of police practice and actions for road safety, any initiative that contributes to raising the responsibility of traffic participants and facilitates the pursuit of victim claims, deserves consideration. – comments comm. Antoni Rzeczkowski from the Road Traffic Office of the Police Headquarters.

Protection for a cyclist – not only NNW and OC

Cyclists are subject to various accidents and random events, as a result of which it is damaged both on the drivers and the vehicles themselves. In the clash with a car or truck, the bike stands in advance of the lost position, so you should think about its additional protection. There are few proposals on the market prepared especially for cyclists, but if they appear, they consist of several elements:

• OC in private lifewhich covers the damage caused by the driver of other traffic participants (including pedestrian).
• NNWprotecting the cyclist against the effects of the accident.
• Cascoensuring benefit, e.g. in the event of damage or theft.
• Assistancehelping in the event of a vehicle failure.

The bike in the apartment or house is usually treated as a homemade and can be covered by a housing policy In the event of random events or theft, but only within the property. Some insurers with a view to cyclists prepare “sewn to tailor” offers that focus on OC and NNW:

NNW and OC in private life can be bought regardless of other property products as a cyclist's insurance. As part of the package, the insurer is responsible, among others, for damages arising in connection with the possession or use of mechanical or electrical: bicycles, scooters, wheelchairs, skateboarding, skates, Skymaster, Segway, Segway Shoes. This also includes damages caused by the children of the insured person – says Elżbieta Woźniak -Sitek, head of the Damage Service Office and Complaints at TUZ Ubezpieczenia.

On the other hand, we will find a fairly unusual NNW policy in Leadenhall Insurance, which provides financial benefits in the event of an accident regardless of the means of transport.

One of the insurance products that cyclists can use is the so -called Drivers Casco. Unlike traditional communication policies, primarily communication accident, assigned to a specific vehicle and bought together with OC or AC, Drivers Casco protects a person regardless of what he is moving. Protection follows the user, regardless of whether he drives a car, a motorcycle, a scooter or just a bicycle. And also when he uses various means of transport. – says Łukasz Brapło, director of key partners at Leadenhall Insurance.

Comprehensive solutions for cyclists can be found in Nationale-Nederlanden and PZU. The first “for two wheels” insurance has in the offer, which, depending on the needs, may consist of the driver of the driver, assistance and casco of the bicycle or connecting these elements, while the additional premium can also be selected in private life. A similar range of protection is provided by PZU as part of the PZU NNW policy, with the possibility of extending to benefit in the event of destruction and theft of a bicycle and transported luggage, as well as civil liability.

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