Motorcycle Accident Claims

Despite the regular generalisations of motorcyclists always being the cause, rather than the victim, of crashes - there is much evidence to support the government's campaigns for drivers of other motor vehicles to be more vigilant in making themselves aware of motorcycles themselves and possible situations where they may encounter problems with motorbikes or other smaller form of transportation such as a scooter, moped or other powered cycle.

Call now on 0800 567 7133 or Claim Online!

As a motorcycle rider you're probably used to dealing with the lazy cliche which states that you're usually the cause, rather than the victim, of any road traffic accidents. The truth, however, is more complicated, hence the ongoing Government campaigns aimed at making drivers of other vehicles more aware of the risk they pose to motorcycles, mopeds, scooters and the like.

The average road user, or indeed pedestrian, will probably react to any coverage of motorbike accidents by resorting to the generalisations which lump all motorcycle riders together as one uniform lump. In reality, however, it is not the general riders who are most likely to cause an accident, but those at either end of the experience scale; either young, inexperienced riders, or older riders who've been on the road a long time but have machines which are much more powerful than the average.

Where young riders are concerned, of course, (and the same is probably true of car drivers) inexperience, naivety and youthful overconfidence can often combine to produce poor driving standards. Young drivers may often be involved in more than one, non fatal, accident, caused either by them hitting another road user or object or being hit themselves, an outcome which is made more likely by younger motor cyclists' poorer grasp of safe positioning within the general flow of traffic. More controversial than these, however, are the accidents involving older drivers, which are likely to be caused by the extra power and speed at their disposal and, perhaps ironically, by overconfidence based on experience which may see them taking greater risks.

Almost every road user will have some experience of nearly colliding with a motorcyclist driving with less than proper care and attention, and it's these experiences which form the basis of the image we have of all motor cyclists. Common errors made by motorcyclists include:

• Overtaking into the face of oncoming traffic.
• Driving along between lanes of moving traffic, jeopardising cars which wish to switch lanes.
• Taking blind corners at high speed.

The statistics bear out the extra risk that motorcyclists run when using our roads. According to the Department of Transport, Motorcyclists make up less than 1% of road traffic and yet they suffer 14% of total deaths and serious injuries on the road (DETR, 2000).

This statistical quirk probably explains our common negative view of motorcyclists. We've all had to deal with car drivers acting equally foolishly, but the higher percentage of bad bikers leads us to tar them all with the same brush. Put simply, any given motor cyclist is far more likely to be involved in an accident than the equivalent car driver.

Making a Motorbike Accident Claim

All of the above has to be remembered when making a motorcycle accident claim. When it comes to placing the blame for an accident involving a motorbike, these ideas will result in a degree of bias being felt towards the motorcyclist. The police themselves are responsible for providing these statistics, so they come armed with the knowledge that the motor cyclist is more likely to be at fault. What all of this means is that, if you wish to make an accident claim, proving your side of the case may be more difficult and will require a higher standard of evidence if it is to be believed that you are not to blame. The actual compensation awarded will not be affected by the involvement of a motor cycle; even though the injuries sustained in such cases are often more severe, the amount of compensation you receive will not be reduced because you decided to ride a bike.

All in all, a motorcycle accident compensation claim will be treated in the same manner as any other road vehicle claim. Even the bias that will inevitably inform the thinking of the people involved in your case - such as the police, doctors etc - will make no difference providing you have the necessary level of proof and documentation.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us for free on 0800 567 7133 or fill in the claim form at the top of the page and our experts will guide you through the ins and outs of making such a claim. As far as we're concerned, motorcyclists are as eligible for full and proper compensation as anybody else who uses our roads.

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*Disclaimer: Although this site is updated as often as possible the information provided may not accurately reflect the current laws, procedures and/or facilities available to you. To ensure that you get the most up to date information make sure you consult an actual injury solicitor before pursuing any action. The articles on this site are for informational purposes only and are not intended to advise any particular action or inaction. Please read our terms of use for more information.