Cycling and E-Scooters: Liability and Accident Cover Explained
For short distances, bicycles and electric scooters have become a practical way to get around. You see them between the Maslak towers, along coastal roads and on university campuses. As use grows, so do the questions: if I fall and get hurt, who pays for treatment? What if I hit a pedestrian? Am I responsible if I damage a rented scooter? This guide sets out a general insurance framework for these questions.
Two separate risks: your injury and damage to others
- Your own injury: bodily harm and treatment costs from a fall, a pothole or a collision with a vehicle.
- Damage you cause: harm to a pedestrian, another cyclist or a parked car you hit.
These risks are handled by different types of insurance, and having one does not mean the other is covered.
Cover for your own injuries
Health insurance
If you have private or complementary health insurance, treatment after an accident is usually assessed under the policy conditions. Complementary health insurance covers the difference fee at SGK-contracted private hospitals under the policy conditions. Foreign residents often hold a private policy for their residence permit; check whether it has exclusions for certain sports or activities. See our health insurance page.
Personal accident insurance
Personal accident insurance provides person-based protection against serious outcomes such as death or permanent disability, and some policies include treatment costs. For frequent riders it can complement health insurance. See our sister site’s guide to personal accident insurance.
If a motor vehicle hits you
If a car hits you while cycling or riding a scooter, that car’s compulsory traffic insurance may apply as damage to a third party. Traffic insurance is compulsory for motor vehicles under Law No. 2918 (Highway Traffic Law). Note the plate, driver and insurance details, take witnesses’ contacts and have the incident officially recorded. See our traffic insurance page.
Damage you cause to others: liability
If you hit a pedestrian or scratch a parked car, the injured party can claim compensation from you. Covering this usually requires a liability cover. Some home insurance policies may include cover for damage the insured and family members cause to third parties in daily life, but whether it extends to bicycles or e-scooters depends on the policy conditions and exclusions; vehicles treated as motorised may be assessed differently. Check your policy summary or ask us, and see our home insurance page.
Rental scooters and bikes
For shared scooters and bikes, the terms of use define the rider’s responsibilities and any insurance the company provides. These differ between companies. Before riding, check:
- Whether the company offers accident or liability cover for riders
- How far you are held responsible for damage to the vehicle
- How to report an accident in the app
- Rules on helmets, age and restricted zones
Rules on e-scooter use, including pavements, speed, age and parking, can change over time. Follow the official and municipal sources for current rules.
Three short scenarios
A fall on the way to work
An employee cycling to the office slips on a wet surface and hurts a wrist. No one else is involved, so only their own injury matters: treatment goes through SGK and any private or complementary health insurance, and personal accident cover becomes relevant if the outcome is serious.
A rental scooter hits a pedestrian
A rider hits a pedestrian on the pavement and the pedestrian is injured. Liability is the key issue, with the rental company’s terms, any liability cover the rider has and the circumstances assessed together.
A car hits a cyclist
At a junction, a car hits a cyclist. The cyclist’s losses may be assessed under the car’s compulsory traffic insurance as third-party damage. Recording the incident and collecting documents shapes the process.
After an accident: checklist
- Check your health first and call for emergency help if needed.
- Photograph the scene, the vehicles and any damage.
- Take the contact and insurance details of those involved, and of witnesses.
- Get a report and invoice from wherever you are treated.
- Report it in the app if you were on a rental vehicle.
- Inform your insurer or agency as soon as possible.
If you ride a bicycle or scooter, we can review how your health, home and personal accident cover handles it. Call +90 530 375 89 61 or message us on WhatsApp; English-speaking support is available.
Get a quote — Related insurance: Health Insurance in Maslak
