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According to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, or RoSPA, motorcyclists make up 1% of all road traffic but account for around 18% of deaths on the road.

Motorbike riders have a higher ‘crash and injury rate’ than occupants of other vehicles, partly because they are more vulnerable to dangerous road conditions and less visible on the road.

 

What are Motorcycle accident claims?

Where the accident was wholly or partly somebody else’s fault, the injured biker may be entitled to substantial compensation.

When an accident occurs, the motorcyclist or pillion passenger doesn’t have the benefit of the airbags, seat belts or impact-absorbing crumple zone of other vehicles.

In a road accident, motorcyclists are around 75 times more likely than car drivers to suffer death or serious injury, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, major trauma and amputation.

Starting your Motorcycle accident claim

Our personal injury team are experts in serious injury road traffic accident (RTA) claims arising out of motorbike or moped accidents, whether the accident took place here or on holiday abroad. 

We have  an impressive track record of successfully securing compensation for severely injured clients in the most difficult and complex of cases.

We have secured rehabilitation and recovered compensation for countless motorcyclists and pillion passengers after road accidents left them with serious injury and life-changing disability. For many, compensation is the lifeline which provides the care and therapies, adaptations to home and vehicles, prosthetics (artificial limbs after amputation) and financial support that is needed to restore independence and rebuild their lives.

Call 0800 124 4845 for a free, no-obligation initial consultation. 

Motorcycle accident claims & compensation frequently asked questions

Who can claim compensation in a motorcycle/motorbike accident injury claim?

Our motorcycle accident claims expertise means that we can help seriously injured clients secure compensation where they are:

  • a motorbike rider making a claim against another driver;
  • a pillion passenger making a claim against another driver;
  • pillion passenger making a claim against the rider/driver of the motorbike on which they were riding pillion (including where the rider is a friend or family member);
  • a motorcyclist or pillion passenger making a claim against the highway authority or other organisation for an accident caused by an unsafe road surface, unlit/unsigned roadworks etc;
  • a motorbike or moped rider or pillion passenger injured in a road accident abroad;
  • a pedestrian, cyclist or driver or passenger of another vehicle that was hit by motorcycle.

What circumstances can lead to a motorbike accident compensation claim?

Road accidents involving motorcyclists and pillion passengers are often complex as they can have a combination of different causes, including the behaviour of drivers and riders, and the road conditions. Where someone suffers severe injury or permanent disability, even where their own or their fellow rider’s actions contributed to the accident, they should seek advice immediately from specialist solicitors, to have the best chance of recovering compensation. 

Motorcycle accident injury claims usually arise after one or more of the following mistakes has occurred.

  • In claims for motorcyclist or their passenger against another driver, where the driver:
    • failed to look before pulling out into path of the motorbike;
    • turned, overtook or reversed into the path of the motorcycle;
    • lost control of their vehicle;
    • ‘tailgated’ or drove too close;
    • failed to stay on their own side of the road;
    • failed to stop;
    • disobeyed a road sign or jumped the traffic lights;
    • was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
    • was speeding or driving too fast for the road conditions;
    • was driving an unroadworthy or unlit vehicle;
    • caused the injury in a ‘hit and run’.
  • Claims by an injured pillion passenger against the driver of the motorbike who:
    • was speeding or driving too fast for the road conditions;
    • was ‘tailgating’ or driving too close;
    • failed to stop at a junction;
    • was overtaking dangerously;
    • lost control of the motorbike;
    • collided with another vehicle;
    • hit a stationary object;
    • pulled out or turned into path of another vehicle;
    • jumped the traffic lights or disobeyed road signs;
    • failed to slow down for an obstruction;
    • was ‘middle of the road cruising’;
    • failed to stay on their own side of the road;
    • was riding an unroadworthy or unlit motorcycle;
    • was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Claims for an injured motorcyclist or pillion passenger against the highway authority or others:
    • failing to maintain safe road surface/conditions;
    • failing to place cones, lights, warning signs on ramps, roadworks, skips and other obstacles.

What injuries lead to motorcycle accident compensation claims?

Motorcyclists are amongst the most vulnerable road users. Their lack of airbags, seatbelts and other impact protection, and the speeds at which they can travel, leave them at much higher risk of severe injury in an accident.

We can recover compensation for clients after their involvement in motorcycle accidents have led to:

  • fatal injury;
  • head injury, brain injury or skull fractures;
  • amputation;
  • spinal fractures;
  • spinal cord injury, paralysis, paraplegia/tetraplegia;
  • major trauma or multiple injury;
  • serious orthopaedic injuries – broken bones;
  • degloving injuries (injuries needing skin grafting);
  • musculoskeletal injuries;
  • internal injuries involving damage to major organs (brain, heart, lungs or liver);
  • facial fractures;
  • psychological injury, PTSD;
  • chronic pain and CRPS.

What compensation can I claim in a motorcycle accident injury claim?

Each client’s compensation claim reflects their individual circumstances. This includes the type and severity of their injury and disability, the costs of meeting their reasonable needs arising from their disability, and their financial loss, from the date of the accident into the future. In addition to these costs, early rehabilitation may be funded directly by the defendant’s insurers, through the Rehabilitation Code.

Depending on the injured person’s injury and circumstances, their claim may include compensation for:

  • pain, suffering and disability;
  • costs of rehabilitation;
  • costs of case management;
  • costs of care and assistance;
  • lost earnings and pension; 
  • additional costs of suitable accommodation or home adaptations;
  • prosthetics (artificial limbs following amputation);
  • extra costs of transport or adapted vehicles;
  • specialist equipment;
  • assistive technology;
  • cost of therapies, such as:
    • occupational therapy (OT);
    • physiotherapy;
    • speech and language therapy;
    • psychological treatment and counselling;
  • costs of private medical or surgical treatment;
  • Court of Protection and deputyship costs;
  • other losses and reasonable expenses arising from the injury;
  • funeral costs, bereavement award and loss of dependency (where the accident caused fatal injury).

Contributory negligence - can I claim if I was partly to blame for the motorcycle accident or my injuries?

The fact that the injured person contributed in some way to the accident or injury does not usually prevent them from bringing a claim. In each case, we investigate liability (who was at fault for the accident) based on factual evidence, such as police reports, witness evidence and expert evidence, so that we can prove that the defendant is liable to compensate our client.

The defendant’s insurers and legal team do the same, and may deny that their client was to blame for the accident or, more often, argue for a discount (percentage reduction) to the compensation on the basis that our client was partly to blame for their own injuries. This is known as contributory negligence.

In a claim for a motorcyclist, contributory negligence might relate to failing to wear a helmet, driving too close or overtaking. We always fight unreasonable allegations of contributory negligence if the action (for example, failing to wear a helmet in a claim for a leg injury) made no difference to our client’s claim.

In rare cases, where there is arguably split liability for an accident, the injured person’s actions might prevent them from succeeding with their claim. These might include where they were racing with the defendant, or where they knew that the rider of the vehicle on which they were riding was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Where someone has been severely injured in an accident, we always advise that you speak to our compassionate and experienced lawyers before ruling out the possibility of making a claim. 

Can I claim against someone who is a friend or family for my injuries as a pillion passenger?

When a pillion passenger suffers a life-changing injury in an accident caused by the driver of the motorbike they were riding on, compensation may be the lifeline to securing rehabilitation and meeting other needs that are essential to their recovery.  Even so, we understand that in situations where the accident involved friends or family, making a decision to claim is far from easy. We see this most often when passengers are injured by the negligent driving of a vehicle by friends or members of their family.

In these situations, it helps to talk things through with our understanding and experienced lawyers. We can often see a way through and reassure our clients that the other party’s response to the claim will be handled, and any liability to pay compensation met, by the driver’s insurers.

Recent cases include:

  • £1m settlement for a motorcyclist who needed multiple surgical operations, including a below-knee amputation and skin graft, after being hit by a turning car. Our client suffers from phantom limb pain and psychological symptoms including PTSD.
  • £625,000 compensation for a motorcyclist who suffered multiple orthopaedic injuries to his lower back, pelvis, arms and legs, and a psychological injury, when he was hit by an oncoming car on the wrong side of the road.
  • £500,000 compensation for a teenage motorcyclist who suffered multiple severe injuries to his leg and ankle and PTSD after his leg was hit by the defendant driver’s car as it did a U-turn in a line of stationary traffic. Settlement was achieved even though the car driver alleged that our client was overtaking dangerously and denied liability for the accident.
  • £135,000 compensation plus funded rehabilitation for a motorcyclist who suffered upper limb fractures, scarring and psychological injuries in a collision with a car which turned across his path. 
Get help today
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Meet your specialist team

Our specialist Motorcycle accident claims & compensation team are considered leaders in the field and have a significant amount of expertise.
Kim Milan

Kim Milan

Senior Partner

Claire Roantree headshots

Claire Roantree

Partner

Martin Anderson

Martin Anderson

Associate Solicitor

Beth Hatton headshoot

Beth Hatton

Paralegal

Roshni Patel photo

Roshni Patel

Paralegal

Kim Milan
Claire Roantree headshots
Martin Anderson
Beth Hatton headshoot
Roshni Patel photo

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Awards & accreditations

Our medical negligence and personal injury teams have been nationally recognised for over 20 years because of their expertise, empathy and commitment to securing maximum compensation for our clients.

              Lifetime Lawyers Logo Brake | The Road Safety Charity

What our clients say

"Exceptional"

Kim at Boyes Turner was recommended to me after I had received ineffective service from another company. From the outset, Kim has been professional, reassuring and supportive. I have always had faith in her ability to get the best outcome, not only financially, but also in helping my rehabilitation from a traumatic brain injury. She is friendly and empathetic, with unquestionable professional integrity. She was quick to grasp the important issues in my case, was meticulous in her investigating the details and analysing them, realistic in what the outcomes were likely to be and achieved a successful outcome.

I would not hesitate in recommending her and Boyes Turner.

Boyes Turner Client

"Amazing people"

Almost 5 years ago my sons suffered a life changing brain injury accident. A new life for everyone, so many unknowns so many difficult decisions. I met Claire and the team shortly after the accident. So many questions answered but more than that, amazing lovely people. Claire has been guiding me and the family throughout this ordeal with such compassion, there every time I needed her we couldn’t of asked for a nicer person. I have met many others with in Boyes Turner and all have been genuine lovely people, I’m now working with Ruth and Lindsay from the court of protection. Again, I can't say enough about them amazing lovely people. They truly do won't the best for my son and they did and continue to do so.

Barry Williams

"Personal Injury Claim"

Claire is exceptionally knowledgeable in the personal injury legal domain, especially in the specific area of my injury. From our very first conversation, she was clear in explaining the potential different routes that the process could take and provided me with expectations of what I could expect along the journey.

She ensured that all bases were covered, organising meetings, discussions and necessary specialist appointments, in order to bring together the case and take it forward. Claire was then able to use her extensive pool of contacts, to appoint an "area leading" barrister, to represent me.

Overall, I was very pleased with appointing Claire and Boyes Turner to act as my solicitor for the legal claim that I pursued. Thank you for all of your support.

Boyes Turner Client

"Boyes turner workplace injury claim"

I approached Claire Roantree of Boyes Turner in regards to making a claim about a workplace burns injury. It was something that had scarred me physically and mentally and taken a huge toll on the lives of me and my family. Claire wasted no time in finding out what happened and made sure I was treated by known experts and quickly finding an answer to my burns scarring and how I could be treated to help manage my pain. Claire also helped me by appointing a psychiatrist to understand my situation and help me cope with post traumatic stress disorder. As well as taking as much stress of the claim away, she was thorough in every situation, making sure I had the best possible claim, and handled it all expertly, I am so very grateful to her and her team. They have helped guide my life back into a positive direction and I can't thank her enough!

Boyes Turner Client

"Personal Injury claim"

Excellent service from Claire and her team at all times. We were kept up to date at each stage of our claim. The outcome was much better than we expected and we would not hesitate to recommend Boyes Turner to family and friends.

Boyes Turner Client
Rated Excellent 4.8/5