In Case of an Incident or Crash
If yourself or someone else on a bike is involved in a fall or a collision, check for injuries first—in the case of a serious injury, call 911 immediately. If you are subject to abuse, threats, or physical violence, report it to police immediately—call 911.
What to do next
Remain at the scene
Bicycle operators must remain at the scene of a collision, just like motor vehicle operators.
You must provide your name and address to the other parties involved, or to a police officer upon request.
Collect information
After injured parties have received help and are out of harm’s way, begin gathering information by taking notes and photos/videos.
As soon as possible, collect evidence of the following:
Location and exact time of the collision
Vehicle descriptions and licence plate numbers
Driver’s description and driver’s licence information (directly from the driver’s licence, if possible)
For vehicles with out-of-province license plates, the other party’s insurance company
Details of the incident - a description of the circumstances of the collision, direction of travel by both parties, weather conditions, lighting, and speeds
If you can, draw a diagram of what happened
Names and phone numbers of any passengers and witnesses
Avoid discussing fault at the scene of the collision.
When to Call the Police
If the other party has left the scene before providing all required information
If the collision caused serious injury
If there is a dispute about who is at fault
If there are concerns about the other operator (e.g. impaired, uninsured) or that a criminal offence has taken place
In the case of a hit and run, follow the same procedure as above. Record as much information as you can and report the incident to police.
When to Contact ICBC
If you’re a B.C. resident and your fall or crash involves a motor vehicle:
Call ICBC at 1-800-910-4222 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) as soon as possible.
If you’re involved in or witness to a hit and run, report it to ICBC — call 1-800-661-6844.
In the case of a hit and run, you may be covered by ICBC depending on the circumstances. You must make every reasonable effort to identify the other party.
A bicycle operator may be entitled to recover the cost of damages to their bicycle if it is caused by the negligence of a motor vehicle operator.
If you have an insurance policy covering property and/or personal liability, you may also contact your insurance broker.
When to Seek Legal Advice
If you believe your fall or crash is the result of a Criminal Code violation by another road user
If you have any questions about your legal obligations as a result of a crash
ICBC and Enhanced Care
Any British Columbian involved in a crash with a motor vehicle while cycling is considered an ‘insured person’ under the Motor Vehicle Act, and is eligible for Enhanced Care from ICBC, B.C.’s public automobile insurer.
Enhanced Care provides care and recovery benefits, including therapy costs and income replacement, with no overall limit. These benefits are provided following a crash in Canada or the U.S., regardless of fault or whether the injured person is a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, or is an ICBC policyholder. While legal action is generally not allowed under Enhanced Care, crash victims can still sue at-fault drivers for damages in some cases involving Criminal Code offences.
