Washington D.C. Council Considers Giving Bicyclists More Rights

The D.C. Council is considering changing a law to give bicyclists a better chance to recoup medical costs after collisions with cars.

A District liability law currently requires accidents to be 100 percent the driver’s fault for a bicyclist to collect on insurance.

The council’s judiciary committee on Monday began weighing changing that law to give bicyclists the right to argue fault in shades of gray.

Council member David Grosso authored the bill. He tells The Washington Post that the city’s current standard is outdated, unfair and doesn’t take into account the lopsided injuries that result when a bicyclist and a motorcyclist collide.

Insurance industry executives say changing the law will increase insurance rates in the District and cause other liability laws to face challenges.