If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered an injury like a broken hip, fractured hip or broken pelvis, you could be entitled to claim compensation if another road user caused the accident because they were negligent. Therefore, in this guide, we’re going to look at the types of injury that could be sustained, the types of accident that could cause them and we’ll also use a personal injury claims calculator to show how much compensation can be awarded for a hip injury.
Legal Helpline could help you claim for injuries from a motorcycle accident. Our advisors offer free advice and a no obligation assessment of your claim. They could also introduce you to one of our panel of solicitors if your claim is strong enough. If the solicitor agrees to take on your case, they’ll work on a no win no fee basis. To discuss your claim right away, please call 0161 696 9685 today.
Alternatively, please continue reading this handy guide about claiming for a fracture after a motorcycle accident to find out more.
Jump To A Section
- Serious Injuries And Broken Hips Caused By Motorcycle Accidents
- Hip Fracture Anatomy
- How Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?
- 5 Types Of Injury Caused By A Motorcycle Accident
- Case Study: £300,000 Compensation Awarded For A Broken Hip And Other Injuries
- Back Injury And Broken Hip Compensation Calculator
- No Win No Fee Broken Hip Motorcycle Accident Claims
- How To Claim Compensation For Injuries Caused By A Serious Motorcycle Accident
- Talk To The Legal Helpline Team
- References And Resources
Serious Injuries And Broken Hips Caused By Motorcycle Accidents
Broken hip injury
A broken hip (or hip fracture) is a break in the thigh bone that’s close to the hip joint. They can be caused by a fall or collision involving impact to the hip area. According to this NHS guide, a broken hip won’t always show bruising or prevent you from walking. However, they suggest that if you suspect you have fractured your hip, you should call 999 and wait for an ambulance.
The main hip fracture symptoms to look out for include:
- Pain in the hip area.
- Not being able to put weight on your leg.
- Being unable to move, lift or rotate the leg.
- The injured leg looking shorter than the other.
- Or the injured leg turning outwards.
When you attend a hospital, the fracture will be confirmed by either an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan. Depending on the type of fracture you’ve sustained, you may require hip replacement surgery. Alternatively, broken hips can be repaired using screws, plates and rods.
Hip Fracture Anatomy
The hip allows the upper leg to rotate and bend at the pelvis. It is a ball and socket type joint made up of the acetabulum (socket), femoral head (ball) and the femur (thighbone).
When talking about a hip fracture, we’re talking about the fractures to the femoral head or the top of the femur. Fractures to the acetabulum are treated differently.
How Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?
According to motorcycle accident statistics released by ROSPA, a road safety charity, there five common reasons for motorcycle accidents. These are:
- Accidents at junctions.
These are particularly common at T-junctions in rush hour. They can occur when a driver pulls out from the junction into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Accidents at T-junctions are more likely than at roundabouts, crossroads or other junctions. In 2016, UK police reports stated 64% of motorcycle accidents occurred at junctions. - Overtaking accidents.
According to the ROSPA report, 15% of motorcycle accidents occurred while they were overtaking in 2016. This could happen when a motorcyclist overtakes when there isn’t enough time to do so and causes the collision. This type of accident is also common when ‘filtering’ or overtaking stationary traffic. - Accidents on bends.
There are a few different reasons for accidents involving motorcyclists on a bend. The first is where an oncoming vehicle has cut the bend and collides with the motorbike. In this case, the other road user could be found liable for the accident. Other examples include where a motorcyclist takes the bend too wide an either loses control and crashes or collides with an oncoming vehicle. In these scenarios, the motorcyclist would be liable, and no claim would be possible.
- Loss of control.
This is an example of an accident which is caused by the motorcyclist themselves. Loss of control can be caused by excessive speed, reckless or careless behaviour. - Excessive Speed.
One of the main causes of motorcycle accidents is too much speed. While many motorcycle accidents occur at low speed, a bad motorcycle accident causing the most serious injuries can be caused by excessive or inappropriate speed. As well as endangering themselves, a motorcyclist riding at excessive speeds will also increase the risk to other road users.
5 Types Of Injury Caused By A Motorcycle Accident
Now that we’ve looked at the most common accidents, here is a list of the most common injuries caused by a motorcycle accident.
- Head injuries.
While a car driver is usually restrained by their seatbelt during a collision, a motorcyclist is not. Therefore, the risk of hitting their head following a collision is very high. This could be against the ground, a tree, a wall or another vehicle. Head injuries can include concussion, a cracked skull and brain damage. - Road rash.
This is caused when a motorcyclist slides across the road after coming off their bike. The skin can be cut, bruised or grazed where the concrete or tarmac breaks through the clothing. - Muscle damage.
Muscle damage, tendon damage, ligament damage and soft tissue damage can all occur following a motorcycle accident. The simplest way to reduce the risk is by wearing the correct protective clothing. - Biker’s arm.
In many cases, the first instinct when a biker comes off their bike is to put the arms out to break a fall or slide. However, this can lead to fractures and nerve damage in the arms. - Leg injuries.
As discussed throughout this guide, a heavy impact following a motorbike accident could lead to leg, hip and pelvis injuries. This is fairly common when the rider hits the ground and can range from soft tissue damage and up to a broken hip.
Case Study: £300,000 Compensation Awarded For A Broken Hip And Other Injuries
We’re now going to look at a case study to demonstrate how a bike rider who suffered a broken hip, as well as serious ongoing back injuries, was awarded £300,000 in compensation. The rider, Mr Wilson, was riding to work on an Autumn morning when a car driver pulled out of a T-junction and collided with Mr Wilson’s bike. He was thrown from the bike and landed heavily on the road.
Mr Wilson was taken to hospital by ambulance where it was discovered he’d suffered a broken hip, a fractured spine and sustained serious soft tissue damage to his back, neck and shoulders. At the time of making the claim, Mr Wilson had undergone surgery on his back and hip. His hip was repaired using a metal plate and screws. Both injuries have now been treated but the prognosis is that Mr Wilson will suffer pain and mobility issues for the rest of his life.
The driver of the other vehicle admitted liability for the accident when a claim was made against them. Mr Wilson’s solicitor asked for compensation for the initial injuries but also sought damages for the ongoing pain and suffering. Also, the claim included a large amount for loss of earnings. This was partly because there was an initial period of time off work which went unpaid and also because Mr Wilson, now struggles to stand for long periods of time which means his ability to work in the future has been affected. Therefore, part of the compensation was for future lost income too.
Back Injury And Broken Hip Compensation Calculator
When you begin your claim, you might be wondering what sort of broken hip compensation amounts might be paid. Well, using the broken hip compensation calculator table below, you can see some example payouts.
| Type of Injury | Severity | Typical Compensation Range | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pelvis / Hips | Severe | £73,580 to £122,860 | The most extensive type of pelvis injury including a ruptured bladder, dislocated lower back joint and a hip injury resulting in spondylolisthesis. |
| Pelvis / Hips | Severe | £58,100 to £73,850 | An example in this bracket is a traumatic myositis ossificans with formation of the ectopic bone around the hip. |
| Pelvis / Hips | Severe | £36,770 to £49,270 | Injuries such as athritic femur fracture requiring a hip replacement of a fracture of the acetabulum. |
| Pelvis / Hips | Moderate | £11,820 to £24,950 | Cases of injuries which lead to the requirement for hip replacement. |
| Pelvis / Hips | Minor | £3,710 to £11,820 | These injuries are those that are significant but there is not lasting disability. |
| Pelvis / Hips | Minor | Up to £3,710 | Minor soft tissue injuries of the hips or pelvis with complete recovery. |
It’s important to note that, as seen with the case study, these figures make up one part of the claim. They’re called general damages and are awarded for the pain and suffering your injuries caused. You could also receive compensation for things like medical expenses, travel costs and lost income too.
No Win No Fee Broken Hip Motorcycle Accident Claims
One thing people worry about when claiming for fractured hips in a motorcycle accident is the cost of hiring a solicitor. It’s for this reason our panel of solicitors work on a no win no fee basis. By doing so, more people are able to make a claim. This is because the amount of stress is reduced as is the financial risk.
When a solicitor agrees to take on your claim, they’ll provide you with a contract to sign. This is known as a conditional fee agreement (CFA). The CFA explains that you won’t pay any solicitors fees unless you receive compensation.
The CFA will also explain that you’ll have to pay a success fee if you are compensated. This is a percentage of your compensation that’s used to cover the solicitor’s fees. If your case is won, the solicitor will deduct their success fee before sending the rest of the compensation to you.
How To Claim Compensation For Injuries Caused By A Serious Motorcycle Accident
Making a claim for a pelvic fracture will require you to collect some evidence. This needs to prove what happened, who was to blame and the injuries you sustained.
Therefore, you could gather things like:
- Witness statements.
- Photographs of the accident scene.
- Dashcam footage.
- Medical records.
- Photographs of your injuries.
Once you have as much evidence as possible, why not call our team of advisors? They’ll review your evidence with you and advise on your options. If they connect you with one of our panel of personal injury lawyers, they will:
- Work on a no win no fee basis.
- Keep you updated throughout the case.
- Try to ensure the claim is handled as swiftly as possible.
- Work hard to try and make sure you receive a full and fair compensation amount.
Finally, you should consider the personal injury claims time limit. In most cases, you’ll have 3-years from the date of your accident to make a claim.
Talk To The Legal Helpline Team
Thanks for reading our guide about claiming for a broken hip in a motorcycle accident. We hope that you’ve found the information useful and that you’re ready to begin a claim with Legal Helpline today. If so, you can contact us by:
- Calling one of our specialist advisors on 0161 696 9685
- Chatting with us using our live chat facility.
- Or, you could arrange a call back by completing this claim form.
When you get in touch to discuss your hip fracture settlement claim, we’ll provide free advice and assess your claim. If we, believe you have a chance of winning your claim, you could be introduced to one of our panel of personal injury solicitors. If they take on your claim, it will be on a no win no fee basis.
References And Resources
You’ve now come to the end of this guide about claiming compensation for a broken hip in a motorcycle accident. To assist you further, here are some more helpful guides.
Motorcycle Accident Claims – This guide provides information on other motorcycle accident injuries and explains when you could claim.
Road Traffic Accident Claims – Information on personal injury claims for different types of traffic accident.
Emergency Service Vehicle Claims – This guide covers making a personal injury claim when you’re involved in an accident with an emergency vehicle.
Trusted External Resources
Finally, here are some resources from some external websites:
Hip Fracture NHS Guide – Information on the diagnosis, treatment and recovery times for a broken hip.
ROSPA Road Safety – Guidance and advice on road safety from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.
Motorbike Rules – Information from the government on the requirements for riding a motorcycle or moped.
Case Study Article By Brett