Key takeaways.
Cyclists and pedestrians hit by a car get the same ICBC care benefits as any driver or passenger, regardless of fault, once they report the crash and get a claim number.
- You do not need to have been in a vehicle. If a car was involved in the crash, you are covered.
- Care benefits apply regardless of fault. You do not have to prove the driver was to blame to get treatment.
- You get the same pre-approved Enhanced Care treatments as anyone else hurt in a crash.
- The first steps are simple. Report the crash to ICBC, get a claim number, and get assessed.
You are covered even though you were not in a vehicle.
Many people on a bike or on foot assume ICBC is only for drivers. It is not. Under ICBC Enhanced Care, cyclists and pedestrians injured in a crash with a vehicle are eligible for the same care benefits, regardless of fault. You do not need to own a car, hold a policy, or have been the one driving.
What matters is that a vehicle was part of the crash. If that is the case, ICBC opens a claim and your care is covered the same way it would be for a driver or a passenger. ICBC sets this out on its own page for people hurt in a crash as a cyclist or pedestrian.
This page is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. A clinician needs to assess you in person before any treatment plan is set.
The injuries these crashes tend to cause.
Being hit while on a bike or on foot is different from a crash inside a car. There is no seatbelt, no airbag, and no metal frame around you. The injuries tend to be more varied as a result, and no two cases look the same.
In our experience, these crashes often involve direct-impact injuries where the vehicle struck the body, fractures, road rash from contact with the pavement, and in some cases head injury. We mention these only to set expectations. They are common patterns, not a prediction about you. Your own injuries can only be identified by a proper assessment.
The first steps after you are hit.
If you have an urgent injury, get medical care first. Call for help or go to hospital. The steps below are about your ICBC claim and recovery, not emergency care.
Once you are safe, the path is straightforward. Report the crash to ICBC. Get a claim number. Then get assessed so a treatment plan can start. We walk through exactly how to do this, and what to bring, in our guide to getting a claim number and booking.
How physiotherapy helps once acute care is done.
Hospital and emergency care handle the urgent part: fractures set, wounds cleaned, serious injury ruled out. Physiotherapy picks up after that, once any acute medical care is done and you are cleared to begin.
The aim is to get movement back, settle pain, and rebuild the strength and confidence you lost. Because these crashes can produce a mix of injuries, the plan is built around what your assessment finds, not a fixed template. We coach the right amount of movement at the right time and adjust as your symptoms change.
What treatment is covered.
You get the same pre-approved Enhanced Care treatments as anyone else injured in a crash. That means you can usually start approved care, including physiotherapy, in the first weeks without waiting for ICBC to sign off on each visit.
We confirm your coverage with ICBC before your first session and bill ICBC directly, so there is nothing to pay upfront for covered visits. For the full list of what is included and how the early weeks work, see what ICBC covers.
Common questions.
I was a pedestrian hit by a car. Can I claim ICBC?
Yes. A pedestrian hit by a car in BC is covered by ICBC Enhanced Care regardless of whether you own a vehicle or hold an insurance policy. What matters is that a motor vehicle was involved. You can open a claim, get a claim number, and access pre-approved care, including physiotherapy, in the first 12 weeks. The same no-fault rules apply: you do not need to prove the driver was at fault to start treatment.
Can I claim ICBC if I was hit by a car while cycling?+
Yes. If a vehicle was involved in the crash, you are eligible for ICBC care and recovery benefits under Enhanced Care, even though you were on a bike and not in a car. You can open a claim and access pre-approved physiotherapy the same way a driver would.
Does ICBC cover pedestrians hit by a car?+
Yes. A pedestrian injured in a crash with a vehicle is covered the same way. You do not need to own a car or hold an ICBC policy to be eligible, and coverage applies regardless of who caused the crash or whether you were on foot at the time.
Do I need to have been not-at-fault to get treatment?+
No. Care benefits apply regardless of fault. ICBC states that cyclists and pedestrians injured in a crash with a vehicle are eligible for care no matter who caused it, so you do not need to prove the driver was to blame before treatment can begin.
What treatment does ICBC cover for me?+
The same pre-approved Enhanced Care treatments available to anyone hurt in a crash. That includes physiotherapy and other approved care in the first weeks. See our page on what ICBC covers for the current details, since the same session counts and rules apply to cyclists and pedestrians.
What kinds of injuries do cyclist and pedestrian crashes typically cause?+
Being hit while on a bike or on foot is different from a crash inside a car, since there's no seatbelt, airbag, or metal frame around you. In our experience these crashes often involve direct-impact injuries where the vehicle struck the body, fractures, road rash from contact with the pavement, and in some cases head injury. These are common patterns, not a prediction about any individual case, and only a proper assessment identifies what you're actually dealing with.
Do I need to see a doctor before physiotherapy after being hit?+
Hospital and emergency care handle the urgent part: fractures set, wounds cleaned, serious injury ruled out. Physiotherapy picks up after that, once any acute medical care is done and you're cleared to begin. If you haven't had urgent symptoms addressed yet, that comes first, before any physiotherapy assessment starts.
Will my treatment plan look different from a driver's after a crash?+
It can, because cyclist and pedestrian crashes often produce a different mix of injuries than a crash inside a vehicle. The plan is built around what your own assessment finds rather than a fixed template, so two people hit in similar circumstances can end up on different treatment paths.
Related reading
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Reviewed by Sanaz Davarian, PT, MSc, Owner & Director, Registered Physiotherapist, College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC). ICBC-authorized direct billing provider.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. ICBC coverage details, treatment allotments, and claim rules change, so confirm the current terms with ICBC or a legal adviser before relying on them. Treatment suitability is determined case-by-case during clinical assessment. Physiotherapy at Medstar Sport Physio & Health is provided by physiotherapists registered with the College of Physical Therapists of British Columbia (CPTBC).