Skip to content 
Being injured in a motorcycle collision can disrupt routines you once took for granted, especially if pain means you cannot ride for a time or anxiety about returning to traffic makes journeys you once handled independently feel much more difficult. You can make a motorcycle accident claim if another road user’s negligent actions caused the injuries you suffered in the collision. Motorcycle accident claims require careful attention, and that is why Legal Helpline’s panel of personal injury solicitors keep each part of the case connected rather than treating the crash and its consequences separately.
Our panel will work to make sense of how another vehicle came into your path and how the force of coming off the bike connects with the injuries recorded afterwards. Instead of leaving you to work out how a few seconds of road positioning or the fact that you still cannot ride comfortably affect the claim, they can keep those issues tied to the same account and explain why each one matters. Contact our advisors today for a free consultation to find out whether a solicitor from our panel could represent you on a No Win No Fee basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What Are Motorcycle Accident Claims?
- Can I Claim Compensation After A Motorcycle Accident?
- How Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?
- Who Could Be Responsible For A Motorbike Collision?
- What Injuries Can Motorcycle Accidents Cause?
- How Much Compensation Could A Motorcycle Accident Claim Be Worth?
- What Evidence Could Support A Motorbike Injury Claim?
- How Long Do I Have To Claim After A Motorcycle Accident?
- How Legal Helpline’s Team Can Support Motorcycle Accident Claims
- Could I Make A Motorcycle Accident Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- More Information
What Are Motorcycle Accident Claims?
Motorcycle accident claims are personal injury compensation claims made by riders or pillion passengers injured because someone else failed to take sufficient care for their safety.
Motorcyclists have significantly less physical protection than occupants of enclosed vehicles. Without a surrounding vehicle body to absorb the impact, a rider or passenger may be thrown from the bike and strike the road directly. This can result in injuries of much greater severity than those of the occupants of the vehicle that hit them.
Were you injured while riding a motorbike or travelling as a pillion passenger? Reach out to one of our advisors for a free conversation about whether you can claim.
Can I Claim Compensation After A Motorcycle Accident?
Yes, you can claim compensation after a motorcycle accident if another road user failed to take reasonable care and caused your injuries. To help you understand your position, eligibility for motorcycle accident claims rests on 3 requirements:
Another road user had a responsibility toward your safety
Drivers and riders are expected to use the road with reasonable care and follow the rules that apply to them. As such, they must adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
They failed to meet the standard expected on the road
Failing to fulfil those legal responsibilities might involve a car driver emerging from a side road without giving way to an approaching motorcycle or changing lanes without checking that a rider was already travelling alongside them.
That road user’s failure caused your injuries
You must show that the road user’s failure caused you to be injured while riding your motorcycle. This can include an existing condition worsened by the impact.
You may recognise these circumstances in your own road traffic accident but still be unsure whether you have grounds to claim. If you have any questions about claiming motorcycle accident compensation, speak to one of our advisors at any time.
How Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen?
Motorcycle accidents can happen when a driver moves into a rider’s path, leaving too little space or time to avoid a collision. The events leading to motorcycle accident claims can unfold in different ways, including:
Vehicles emerging from side roads
Pulling out from a junction without noticing an approaching motorbike can leave the rider with little time to brake before striking the side of the vehicle.
Sudden lane changes
When a van moves across while a motorcyclist is alongside it, the rider can become squeezed between the van and the central barrier.
Turns across filtering motorcycles
Drivers waiting in slow traffic may turn right through a gap in the queue as a motorcyclist filters past. The vehicle cuts across the bike’s route before the rider can stop.
You may remember only a few seconds between noticing the danger and coming off your motorbike. Tell our advisors what you recall, and they can discuss whether the circumstances could support a motorbike accident claim.
Who Could Be Responsible For A Motorbike Collision?
Responsibility for a motorbike collision may rest with one road user or be shared between several people whose actions contributed to it. In motorcycle accident claims involving multiple vehicles, the driver whose vehicle struck the bike may not be the only person responsible. An earlier collision could have pushed that vehicle into the rider’s path, requiring the actions of both drivers to be considered.
Being caught between different accounts of the collision can leave you uncertain about where your claim stands, so please speak with one of our advisors today.
What Injuries Can Motorcycle Accidents Cause?
Motorcycle accidents can cause injuries ranging from skin abrasions to severe damage affecting the brain or your spinal cord. Being thrown from the motorcycle and landing heavily could also cause a back injury. Furthermore, motorcycle accident claims may include:
- Head and brain injuries. Striking your head against the road or a vehicle can cause serious brain damage, even when a helmet is worn.
- Broken bones. If the motorcycle lands on your leg, the weight of the bike can fracture it, while being thrown forward may result in a broken arm or wrist.
- Chest and internal injuries. Being driven into the handlebars or another vehicle can lead to severe chest injuries, while heavier impacts may damage organs beneath the ribcage.
Sliding along the carriageway can also strip away skin or damage the soft tissue underneath, and torn muscles or ligaments can continue to restrict movement after the surface wounds have healed. The experience of coming off a motorcycle can also lead to lasting psychological harm that may affect confidence around traffic or your willingness to ride again.
If you find it difficult to explain how the collision has affected you, speak with our advisors to see whether a solicitor from our panel can help.
How Much Compensation Could A Motorcycle Accident Claim Be Worth?
How much compensation your motorcycle accident claim could be worth will depend on the severity of the injuries you suffered and whether or not these resulted in any financial losses. All successful claims will be awarded general damages as part of the settlement. This covers compensation for your physical and mental injuries, as well as lost ability or enjoyment of daily activities. When valuing this part of your claim, legal professionals may use the guideline compensation brackets published by the Judicial College, as these cover a range of injuries.
The table below contains selected injury brackets from this publication. The first row is an illustrative example that also includes related costs and does not come from the Guidelines. These figures provide guidance rather than a prediction of your settlement.
| Injury | Description | Guideline compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple, severe motorcycle injuries and related costs | More than one severe injury and costs for nursing care, lost income and home adaptations. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Very severe brain injury | Profound disability, severely limited communication and a need for full-time nursing care. | £372,570–£533,720 |
| Paraplegia | Paralysis affecting the lower body. The award reflects pain, independence and other lasting effects. | £289,420–£375,540 |
| Serious leg injury | Complex fractures or joint damage causing instability, prolonged treatment and a likely development of arthritis. | £51,790–£72,440 |
| Moderate ankle injury | Fractures or ligament tears causing lasting difficulty walking, standing or using stairs. | £18,150–£35,130 |
| Moderate knee injury (i) | Dislocation or torn cartilage causing ongoing weakness, minor instability or another mild disability. | £19,610–£34,600 |
| Moderate post-traumatic stress disorder | Substantial recovery, with continuing symptoms that are not severely disabling. | £10,810–£30,580 |
| Noticeable scarring to the body | Several noticeable scars or one disfiguring scar affecting areas such as the arms, legs or chest. | £10,350–£30,030 |
| Serious shoulder injury | A dislocation with nerve damage or a fractured upper arm causing restricted shoulder movement. | £16,870–£25,370 |
| Simple forearm fractures | Straightforward fractures affecting the bones of the forearm. | £8,730–£25,370 |
Get in touch with our advisors to discuss the impact of your injury and how our panel assess motorcycle accident compensation.
What Evidence Could Support A Motorbike Injury Claim?
Evidence that could support a motorbike injury claim includes medical records detailing the harm you suffered and documents outlining how the collision occurred. For motorcycle accident claims, useful material may include:
Helmet camera or dashcam footage
A recording could show your position relative to surrounding vehicles before a driver turned across your path. Footage from a nearby vehicle may capture moments your own camera missed.
Photographs of the scene and motorcycle damage
Images taken before vehicles are moved can show where the bike came to rest. Damage to its side may help assess whether a vehicle struck you while you were riding alongside it.
Police records
If officers attended, their records may document the vehicles involved and observations made at the scene. Keep the incident reference number if you have it.
You may have been taken to hospital before you could gather anything at the scene. Contact our advisors to discuss what you already have and whether a solicitor from our panel could help obtain further evidence.
How Long Do I Have To Claim After A Motorcycle Accident?
You generally have 3 years to claim after a motorcycle accident under the Limitation Act 1980, running from when the collision occurred. If the injured rider is under 18 or lacks the mental capacity to bring the claim, the time limit pauses. A suitable adult, such as their parent, can act as their litigation friend to pursue the claim during this suspension, as our guide to the limitation period explains.
Our advisors are also available to chat with you if you would like to learn more about these rules.
How Legal Helpline’s Team Can Support Motorcycle Accident Claims
Legal Helpline’s team can support motorcycle accident claims by discussing your concerns and, where appropriate, connecting you with a solicitor from our panel. Your solicitor could then manage the claim around the particular challenges you face after the crash, including:
Arranging a suitable independent medical assessment
Landing heavily on one side can raise different questions from symptoms that suggest a more specific joint or nerve injury, so your solicitor can arrange an independent assessment with a medical specialist best placed to evaluate the harm you suffered in the crash.
Challenging arguments about your motorcycle riding
If filtering past slow traffic is portrayed as careless, your solicitor can use footage and the vehicles’ movements to explain how the manoeuvre unfolded, rather than leaving you to defend your riding alone.
Advising whether an early offer meets your needs
Still being unable to ride comfortably, alongside uncertainty over how much movement or strength will eventually return, can make an early offer difficult to judge. That is why your solicitor will review available evidence to advise whether settling at that stage reflects your injury and its long-term impact.
You do not need to have every question worked out before speaking with an advisor, so please reach out today for a free, no-obligation conversation.
Could I Make A Motorcycle Accident Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, you could make a motorcycle accident claim on a No Win No Fee basis if a solicitor from our panel accepts your case and offers their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
Under this arrangement, you pay nothing for your solicitor’s work upfront or while the claim progresses. If the claim is unsuccessful, you do not pay these service fees for that work, subject to the agreement’s terms. If you receive compensation, your solicitor deducts an agreed success fee from it as a percentage capped by law.
Contact Legal Helpline About Your Motorcycle Accident
You may still be adjusting to life after the crash and wondering whether pursuing a claim would feel like too much to take on. An initial conversation gives you space to ask questions before deciding what to do.
More Information
Find out more about personal injury claims with these guides:
- Learn more about making an e-scooter accident claim.
- Read about claiming after a road accident involving a foreign vehicle.
- Explore our guide to pedestrian accident claims.
Here are some external links to help you:
- Read NHS information about treatment and recovery after a broken leg.
- Learn about motorcycle helmet safety testing through the Department for Transport’s SHARP scheme.
- Find Police.uk guidance on what to do after a road collision and when to report it.
Thank you for reading our guide to motorcycle accident claims.