Motorbike Accident Claim

Motorbike accidents can cause serious injuries and have devastating results because motorcyclists do not have the protection that car drivers and HGV drivers have. Motorcyclists are very vulnerable road users because they do not have the protective cage between them and the object they hit, and also do not have safety measures like seatbelts.

Motorcyclists can be injured by being crushed by other vehicles, by being catapulted into the air, by colliding with other vehicles, barriers or other hazards, by being thrown across the road or by going underneath lorries and trucks. According to statistics and accident records, the five most common motorbike accidents are caused by:-

• A motorcyclist losing control of the motorbike.
• Collisions with other vehicles at junctions.
• A motorcyclist failing to negotiate a left hand bend on a country road.
• A motorcyclist failing to negotiate a right hand bend on a country road.
• Collisions while overtaking.

Any of those types of accidents can cause serious injury, long term health problems, amputations, disability and even death. The most common injuries sustained by motorcyclists are:-

• "Road rash" - This is soft tissue damage which results from a motorcyclist sliding across tarmac, gravel or other road surfaces. This type of injury can be even more severe if the rider was not wearing adequate protection.
• Head injuries - Obviously these can range in severity from whiplash type injuries and cuts to severe brain damage.
• Biker's Arm - Damage to the nerves in the upper arm.
• Spine and neck injuries.
• Fractured pelvis.
• Joint and limb fractures.
• Facial disfigurement or scarring.

Although some motorbike accidents are caused by the carelessness or recklessness of the riders, many accidents are caused by the negligence of others. If you or a member of your family have suffered a motorbike accident which was someone else's fault, you should be able to claim personal injury compensation for the accident. This compensation can be useful in allowing you to get on with your life, to have the medical care you need and to make up for lost earnings or lost future earnings. The following are examples of causes of accidents that you may be able to claim compensation for:-

• Another road user's negligence - If they were driving while using a mobile phone, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, if they were speeding or driving recklessly, or if they had fallen asleep at the wheel.
• Dangerous road - If the road was in a poor state of repair, if it had a dangerous bend or junction, if there was inadequate lighting, if the road signs were poor or confusing or if there were hazards or obstacles that should not have been there.
• Malfunction - If a garage or mechanic had not serviced or repaired the motorbike properly or there was a manufacturing fault.
• Oil spills - If the council has not cleaned up an oil spill on the road surface.

These are just some examples of negligence that can cause motorbike accidents and which can be claimed for. A specialist personal injury solicitor will be able to advise you on your particular case and let you know whether you do indeed have a case for personal injury compensation. Many personal injury lawyers will work on a no win no fee basis, also called a conditional agreement. This generally means that you get to keep 100% of the compensation if you win and that you are not liable for their fees if you lose.

To put a personal injury claim together and to have some chance of success, you need to be sure that the accident was someone else's fault and that you have adequate evidence to back up your compensation claim. Make sure that you reported the accident and that you have details of all the other vehicles and drivers involved. Also ensure that you have the details of any witnesses so that their statements can be gathered. Photos of the scene of the accident can also be useful and medical records of the extent of your injuries will be needed by your lawyer. If you incurred any costs as a result of your accident, you should also keep a record of these and pass any receipts on to your solicitor. It is also important that you start the legal process as soon as possible after the accident.