How much liability coverage do I need?

Last updated July 13, 2026

Cyclist liability insurance protects and defends you if you are sued or held legally liable for causing bodily harm or property damage to others, such as an accident involving a pedestrian, jogger, animal, motorist, or another cyclist.

Cycling is physical, and accidents happen. Without witnesses or video, officers make an on-the-scene call, and cyclists tend to draw an outsized share of the blame in a bike versus pedestrian collision, or even when a motorist is involved. You don’t have to be wrong to get sued.

Once a lawsuit is filed, you need legal representation, and the liability section of the policy pays for that defense. Paying it yourself is steep, with attorneys running up to $800.00 per hour on a $20,000 retainer. Velosurance offers liability limits from $25,000 to $500,000.

How much liability coverage should I choose?

Match the liability limit to the assets you want to protect and to any personal umbrella policy you own. The $500,000 liability limit satisfies most underlying requirements for a personal liability umbrella, which makes it the practical choice if you have a personal liability umbrella.The details are in cyclist liability and personal umbrella compliance.

How is my liability limit protected during a legal defense?

Your full limit stays intact for a settlement, however long the case runs, because the defense team is paid outside the limits rather than from the limits. That separation is the point: attorneys can run up to $800.00 per hour on a $20,000 retainer, and paying that is exactly what the liability policy is for.

What does cyclist liability protect me against?

The liability coverage responds if you are sued for bodily injury or property damage to someone else. Whether you are in an accident involving a pedestrian, a jogger, an animal, a motorist, or another cyclist, the liability coverage will protect and defend you. Your own crash injuries are handled separately by your personal medical insurance and, if purchased, by the cyclist policy medical gap coverage and vehicle contact protection.