Motorbike Accidents the UK?
FREE Claim Assessment

In UK law, motorbike accidents in the UK are treated the same as any other kind of traffic collision and the same compensation procedures apply. If the motorcyclist has sustained an injury, damage to property or loss of earnings due to the negligence of a third party, he or she is entitled to UK motorbike accidents compensation.

The first priority after any accident is the medical treatment of any injuries and, in cases where immediate medical attention is not necessary for a minor injury, then those involved should still make a visit to their general practitioner for a precautionary examination.

The police do not attend the scene of every traffic accident. In cases where there has been minimal damage or injury they prefer to let those involved work things out between themselves. If involved in UK motorbike accidents which the police did not attend, it is important that the motorcyclist attend their nearest police station and ask for the details of the motorbike accident to be recorded.

One aspect of accidents involving motorcycles in the UK is the perception of motorcyclists as ‘bikers’. They are often seen as more reckless and less safety conscious than regular drivers. This means that in cases where a biker has been injured, even when it is clearly through no fault of his or her own, it is highly recommended that he or she seek the assistance of a claims solicitor when making a motorbike injury claim for motorcycle accidents in the UK.

We operate a free advice line for accident victims. You can call and speak to one of our experienced injury claim solicitors about your case without obligation on or if you cannot call now please fill in the call back form on the right or left of this page.

Who is responsible for my Motorbike Accident Compensation?

The vast majority of traffic accidents in the UK involve speeding or driving under the influence. If injured by a speeding or drunk driver, a motorcyclist may assume that the case is clear cut and consequently be over-confident that a motorcycle accident compensation claim would be successful. However, because of the severity of the injuries sustained there may be a considerable period between the accident occurring and the claim being made - by which time the guilty driver may deny any culpability.

Similarly in cases where the accident was caused by driver negligence - perhaps when the driver was paying more attention to a map, mobile phone or applying lipstick in the rear-view mirror- the motorcyclist has a right to compensation for injury but his UK motorbike accidents claim will be made stronger by medical and police reports.

If you have suffered an injury or damage to property while riding on your motorbike, though no fault of your own, you are well within your rights to seek compensation.

Who you make the case against depends on the circumstances of the accident. Should you have come off the bike and been injured because of poorly positioned road signage or because the road you were driving on was in disrepair, then you must consider who owns the road upon which you were driving at the time. If you were on private property, then the liable party is most likely to be the landowner of that property. If you are on a public road, the claim will be brought against the local authority which has jurisdiction over the area.

If your accident was caused by a diesel or chemical spillage, or debris that has fallen from a truck or work lorry, then the organisation which hired the driver of the lorry has the duty of care to the public to ensure the safe transport of its goods and will be the liable party in a UK motorbike accidents claim for compensation.

A claim for compensation for an injury received after swerving to avoid a jay-walking pedestrian or a dog in the road would be made against the pedestrian or the dog’s owner.

The circumstances of each traffic accident are different, but by far the most common culprit in a claim for motorbike accident compensation is another driver – usually of a standard car.

In many cases, especially those involving speeding, driving under the influence or dangerous driving, the fault will be clear at the time of the accident. However, even with witnesses and evidence, the success of a UK motorbike accident claim is not guaranteed, so should you be involved in a traffic accident there are a number of procedures that you can follow which will strengthen you eventual case for compensation.

Our Promise when you call our Free Advice Line

You can call and speak to a solicitor about your injury claim without obligation by calling us on

What is Covered in a Compensation Claim?

A claim for compensation will include any pain and suffering sustained, psychological trauma, loss of earnings, future loss of earnings and damage to property. In cases where the motorcyclist is unfortunately fatally injured, a claim for compensation can be brought against the negligent party for the loss of household earnings and parental support by the family of the deceased.

After a Motorbike Accident

Not surprisingly, having been in a collision or thrown from a motorbike, you will be dazed and possibly in a state of shock. Even if no blood, wounds or broken bones are visible and you need no medical treatment at the scene, a visit to the casualty department or to your own doctor is advisable to rule out the possibility of concussion or internal bleeding.

The police should be called as soon as possible after the accident. In cases where there is no serious injury, the police might not attend the scene. If they do not, you should go to the nearest police station to lodge your own report of the incident.

The documents recorded both by the doctor and by the police may be called upon later as evidence to support your claim for compensation so be as clear and as detailed as possible in your police report.

Most people have a mobile phone with them nowadays. If not rendered inoperable during the crash, then using the mobile phone camera function to take snaps of the scene and of the other driver’s license plate is a good idea. If your own mobile is out of action, then there may be witnesses who would be willing to take pictures on your behalf. Alternatively, try to make your own sketches and notes of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Although the standard procedure at the scene of an accident is to exchange details, this is not possible in hit and run cases or where one or other of those involved has sustained serious injury. You also cannot trust that information given at such a scene is trustworthy. An unscrupulous person may give false information in the hope of escaping scot-free from the scene. This is particularly true if the culpable driver has already been in trouble with the law for dangerous driving.

Many motor insurance policies include the condition that there should be no admission of liability at the scene. Even if the other driver is clearly at fault, you should not look at apportioning blame at that time. It is worth noting that, when bringing your claim for a UK motorbike accident, the liable party will not be the other driver but their insurance company. It is likely that the insurance company will do everything in their power to reduce the value or oppose your claim.

Simply, make sure anyone who needs it receives medical attention, exchange drivers’ details, co-operate with the police if present and record names and contact details of any possible witnesses. Should your property have been damaged in the incident, make note of this as soon as possible and take photographs for evidence. This includes any damage to your crash helmet, biking leathers and of course, the motorbike itself.

Should You Engage a Solicitor?

Motorcyclists have yet another reason to hire a solicitor. Unfair though it may be, the general perception of motorcyclists is of the archetypal ‘biker’ and this often goes against them even in cases where the other driver is clearly liable. If the insurance company lawyer decides to play the ‘Easy Rider’ card, you will want an experienced lawyer to respond on your behalf.

Speak to a solicitor now about what happened. There is no charge or obligation for this service. Simply call or if you cannot speak now please submit your details in the form above and a solicitor will call you back at the time you specify.

What can I expect?

When you call us, you will be put through to a solicitor who is very experienced in dealing with personal injury claims.

We will listen to you as you tell us about your accident in complete confidence.

We can normally tell you quickly if your personal injury claim is worth pursuing, the likelihood of the claim succeeding, and what will be involved in the claims process, including how long it usually takes.

We can also tell you the general level of compensation for your personal injury and what costs are involved if your claim for UK motorbike accidents does not qualify for “No Win, No Fee” legal representation.

The result of the call is advice about what you should consider doing next.

“No Win, No Fee” UK Motorbike Accident Claims

If we feel that you have a sufficiently strong UK motorbike accident claim, we will offer to represent you under a “No Win, No Fee” agreement. This means that should you lose you claim, you will not owe a penny to us in solicitor´s fees. As when you win your UK motorbike accident claim your legal costs are paid by the defending party, “No Win, No Fee” legal representation is a very popular way of pursuing a claim for a motorbike accident in the UK. You are under no obligation to accept our offer, or take advantage of any of our other legal services when you call our Free Advice Line

Motorbike Accident Compensation

The very nature of motorcycles makes those that drive them particularly vulnerable to serious injury and fatal road accidents. Being less visible than a car, a motorbike has more chance of being in a driver's 'blind spot' and the motorcyclist is in more danger of serious injury should a momentarily inattentive driver choose to turn or stop or even open the door at the wrong moment.

Similarly without the weight and solidity of an automobile, a motorbike is also more sensitive to the road surface. A rut in the road or any chemical or diesel spills can cause even an experienced motorcyclist to veer out of control and sustain serious injury.

Lacking the protective outer shell and restraint of a seat belt that he or she would have in a car, the driver of a motorbike can often be thrown with great force and, as in the recent tragic death of 27 year old motorbike racer, Stephen Larkin, who was thrown into a concrete pillar, the resulting trauma to head or chest can be fatal.

These are shocking statistics. Even more shocking given the mass media safety campaigns is that at least 33% of motorcyclists were not wearing a crash helmet at the time they died or were injured. In fact, as crash helmet use is sometimes neglected on reports, this figure is quite likely to be even higher.

Of all road users, only those protected by the outer shell of a car; the driver and passengers, have a higher percentage of injury than of fatality; but it is not only the lack of outer protection that makes motorcyclists vulnerable. Even when travelling at relatively low speed without the safety restraint of a seat belt there is a high likelihood of the motorcyclists being thrown at force and landing badly. The size and structure of motorbikes makes them more susceptible to skids caused by bad road surface, ice, oil or spills.

Please call our free advice line now on or please fill in the call back form above and a solicitor will call you back at a convenient time. You have nothing to lose by calling for expert advice.