Why It Is Worth Pursuing A Motorbike Accident Claim
Motorcycles only account for 1 per cent of the traffic on UK roads, yet a shocking statistic is that motorcycle accidents result in more than 10 per cent of UK road deaths and injuries in any one year. Many bikers do not realise that they can make a motorbike accident claim. However, motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable of all road users, and injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can have particularly serious consequences. So all bikers need to be aware that if they are unfortunate enough to be involved in a crash, they do have the option of pursuing motorbike compensation claims.

Motorbike Accident Claim
Motorcycle accidents can happen for all sorts of reasons. It is certainly true that many motorists collide with bikers because they are not looking out for them properly, but there are plenty of other causes. For example, riders can come off their bikes because of potholes in the road, as a result of poor maintenance by the Highways Agency or the local council. Alternatively they can be destabilised by liquid spillages of oil, diesel or water, or by solid debris falling from skip lorries. When an accident does involve a collision with a car, van or lorry, the driver of the other vehicle will almost always attempt to blame the motorcyclist, for instance by claiming that the biker was going too fast or overtaking inappropriately. Even if the speed of the bike was a factor, there can still be a motorbike accident claim if the other vehicle committed any fault, so it is very important for the biker to collect names of witnesses, and other evidence, if at all possible.
Motorcyclists who are accident victims often feel it is a waste of effort to pursue motorbike compensation claims, believing that the odds are stacked against them. This is far from true, but because of the special nature of these cases, it is important to choose a law firm with expertise in claims for personal injury, rather than a general solicitor. In February 2011 a female motorcycle accident victim who had received multiple injuries in a collision with a car four years earlier, transferred to a specialist firm because she was dissatisfied with the way the solicitor from the insurance panel was conducting her case. Within a few months, after new evidence was collected and some tough negotiations were carried out, her offer was increased from £25,000 to £100,000.
Another victim, Mr K, really believed the odds were stacked against him after being in a collision with a police officer, who was driving a police car and jumped the red traffic lights at a junction. Mr K suffered multiple fractures to both arms, his left leg and pelvis. The defendant’s legal team argued that the police vehicle was within its rights to jump the red lights, because it had its blue lights flashing and its siren sounding, but Mr K’s solicitors, who specialised in claims for personal injury, successfully demonstrated that there was no proof the lights and siren were on. They were able to obtain a settlement against the police officer of £115,000 plus costs.
A motorcycle crash is more likely to cause serious and permanent damage than almost any other type of road accident, and if you have suffered one that you know was not your fault, you are likely to feel anger and despair. The fact is that you are within your rights to pursue a motorbike accident claim, since you are entitled to be compensated for what you have suffered. However, because the issues are complex, you should not instruct the first solicitor you find in the Yellow Pages. Find a legal firm with expertise in motorbike compensation claims, to help you get the justice you deserve.





