Anyone who takes a motorcycle out on the road is at higher risk as motorcyclists are more likely to be seriously injured in accidents than those in cars.
Motorcyclists and scooter riders are some of the most vulnerable users of UK roads. The Department for Transport (DfT) found that in 2023, 16,756 bikers were injured in accidents, while 306 were killed.
If you have been hurt in a road traffic accident on your bike or scooter that was caused by someone else, you could be able to make a claim for compensation.
Motorcycle accidents typically fall into two categories: lowside and highside accidents.
Lowside accidents happen when the wheels of the bike slide from underneath you while you’re cornering. It means that the bike ends up on the same side as the direction you were cornering. These injuries are usually less severe than those caused by highside accidents.
A highside accident can be caused by wheels suddenly regaining grip after losing it, as well as the bike’s chain coming off, resulting in you being thrown over the handlebars. These accidents can happen very quickly and can cause severe injuries.
Motorcyclists can also often be difficult for car and other vehicle drivers to see. This can result in many kinds of accidents, including:
Motorcyclists and scooter riders are advised to wear protective gear, including helmets, jackets and boots. But these can’t protect against all accidents and injuries. When accidents happen on two wheels, they can result in severe injuries. These include:
In many cases, a motorcycle accident will involve another road user. When this is a car or other vehicle driver, motorcyclists are more vulnerable. If the accident was caused by the other motorist’s negligence, they could be held responsible. It will be their insurer who pays the compensation, so you won’t be claiming directly against the motorist responsible.
If you were injured in an accident that was caused by another road user, you could be able to make a claim for compensation.
This is even true in the case of a hit and run accident. If you were hit by a car or other vehicle and didn’t manage to get their details, you could still be able to make a claim. The Motor Insurers' Bureau covers compensation for road users hit by unidentified drivers.
Not all accidents are caused by other drivers, though. Many are the result of road surface conditions. If your accident was caused by a problem with the road surface, such as a pothole, you could be able to make a claim against the organisation responsible for maintaining the roads – usually the local council or Highways England.
Meanwhile, a defect in your bike could also cause injury. If you were hurt in an accident caused by a problem with your motorbike, you could be able to claim against the manufacturer.
Motorbike accidents can cause a huge variety of injuries, from slight to very severe. This means it is difficult to say exactly what you might be entitled to in compensation without an initial consultation. To speak to our team of friendly and understanding claims advisors, just give us a free call or request a call back at a convenient time.
For a successful claim, compensation will be split into two parts. These are general damages and special damages.
General damages compensate you for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced as a result of your accident. They aim to compensate for any effect the injury has had on your quality of life.
Special damages reimburse you for any impact the accident has had on your finances. This includes covering any loss of earnings if you’ve been unable to work, any medical expenses, any travel to and from medical appointments and any damaged property – such as your bike or gear.
For a rough idea of what you might be entitled for a motorcycling injury, visit our compensation calculator.
In most cases, you’ll have three years to make a claim after a motorbike or scooter accident. But there are some exceptions, so it’s worth speaking to First4Lawyers about whether you’re able to make a claim.
For example, if you’re claiming on behalf of someone who lacks the capacity to claim for themselves, you won’t face a deadline. Meanwhile, anyone who suffered a motorcycle accident while they were under 18 will be able to start a claim until their 21st birthday.
If you think you have a claim for a motorcycle accident, First4Lawyers can help you work out what the best course of action for you is, based on your individual circumstances. Our award-winning team will talk you through what happened for free.
When you do have a valid claim, we will match you to an expert motorcycle accident lawyer. They will then take over the management of your case, ensuring you have the best professional help during a difficult time.
We work with specialist personal injury solicitors who will work to put together the strongest case possible in order to secure you the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. They work on a No Win No Fee basis, which means there is no upfront cost and no financial risk if your claim is unsuccessful.
Where we offer No Win No Fee services for road traffic accident claims typically customers pay 35% + VAT of the amount recovered by our solicitors.
Success fees are common practice and they were introduced when the law changed in April 2013. This amount is higher than the normal 25% on all other personal injury claims because of changes introduced through the Civil Liability Act 2018.
Your solicitor will arrange for a medical assessment, which will show how severely your injury has affected you. They may also be able to arrange for you to receive medical treatment, such as physiotherapy, if you need it.
To start the claims process, just give us a call, request a call back or start your claim online and we’ll take it from there.
We've helped thousands of people claim compensation for injuries that weren't their fault. Just some of them include:
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