Make A Motorcycle Accident Compensation Claim

Last updated 15th July 2024. Welcome to our guide to motorcycle accident claims.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, and the incident was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation.

At Legal Helpline, we have helped many people to get the motorcycle accident compensation payouts they deserve.

If you would like more information, you can reach us at 0333 000 0729.

But before you give us a call, make sure you continue reading to find out everything you need to know about how to prevent motorcycle accidents, motorcycle accident compensation examples, and how to make a claim if you have been involved in such an incident.

A motorbike on its side on the road in front of a black car.

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The Criteria To Make A Motorcycle Accident Claim

While on the roads, road users owe each other a duty of care to navigate them in a way that prevents them from causing injury and damage to themselves and others. As part of this duty, road users need to comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and any relevant rules and regulations found in the Highway Code. If you suffered an injury in a road traffic accident involving a motorcycle, you might be entitled to make a motorcycle accident claim.

However, you must satisfy the personal injury claim eligibility criteria. This means that you must be able to show that:

  •       Another driver owed you a duty of care.
  •       They breached this duty.
  •       You suffered injuries as a result of this breach.

If you have any questions about the eligibility to seek motorbike accident compensation, speak with one of the advisors from our team.

How long do I have to claim for a cycle accident or motorcycle accident?

As per the Limitation Act 1980, you typically have 3 years to begin a claim. Whilst this time limit begins the date you were injured, it could also begin the date you discover your injuries. This is because the “date of knowledge” could come later than the date your accident occurred.

Additionally, it’s possible that this time limit could be extended if the claim includes children, or those with a reduced mental capacity. You can find out if your time window has expired by getting in touch with our advisors.

I Was Injured In A Motorcycle Accident, What Should I Do?

Here are some of the important steps you need to take if you want to make motorcycle accident claims:

  • Contact details – It is always a good idea to acquire the contact details of the person that caused the incident, as well as the details of anyone that witnessed the incident. Witness statements can do wonders in terms of proving what has happened, as they serve as additional proof as to what happened.
  • Photographs – In some instances, it can help to take photographs. These photos may be of the injury you have suffered, yet they could also be of the accident scene. For example, if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you could take photographs of the damage to your motorbike as well as the damage to the street.
  • Medical assistance – It is so important to see a medical professional for the injuries you have suffered. This is because they will provide you with a medical report, which is the most crucial piece of evidence when it comes to any personal injury claims. This will state your injuries, medical diagnosis and treatment, which will then be used to determine how much compensation you are entitled to.
  • Expenses – Have you suffered any expenses because of your injuries? It is likely that you will have. From prescription costs to lost income, the potential expenses are endless. However, you will be able to claim these as special damages, so make sure you keep proof in the form of receipts or any other relevant documents.
  • Claim quickly – One of the biggest mistakes people make is leaving it too late to make a motorcycle accident claim. Not only is there a three-year time limit on all personal injury claims, but the sooner you build a case, the easier you will find it to do so. This is because it will be easier to get your hands on witness statements and other evidence, and the details will be fresh in your mind. So, if you think you could be entitled to compensation, get in touch with us today.

Motorcycle Accidents On A Bend In A Rural Road

There is no denying that motorbike accidents can often occur on rural roads, as they tend to be more difficult to travel on. Whether it’s unmarked country roads with two-way systems or unlit tracks, rural roads often present dangerous situations for drivers, including motorcyclists, to navigate.

Recent statistics from the government show that 994 fatalities, equivalent to 57% of all road deaths in 2019, occurred on rural roads that year. This was far more than those occurring on urban roads or the like.

For more on motorcycle accident claims, please read on.

Motorcycle Accidents At Junctions

As is the case with all types of road users, motorcyclist crashes can often occur at junctions. In fact, it is predicted that 30 motorcyclists are injured or killed in collisions at junctions each and every day. This is quite a frightening statistic, and if you have experienced this, you will likely not have escaped without injury.

Motorcycle Accidents Caused By Overtaking

Did you know that one of the most dangerous situations for motorcyclists in Britain is making a right-hand turn? If other vehicles are attempting to overtake, this could cause them to collide with the motorcycle head-on. Due to the fact that motorcyclists are the most vulnerable group of road users in Britain, these incidents can often be fatal for them.

If a third-party was responsible for you suffering a motorcycle accident, please get in touch today to see if you could be eligible for compensation by making motorcycle accident claims

Motorcycle Accidents Caused By Losing Control

Of course, a motorcycle accident can be caused due to a loss of control – around 20 per cent of them are. A driver in another car could have lost control. Moreover, you may have even lost control due to a problem with the road or indeed the motorbike. You can make a claim for this. You won’t be able to make a claim, though, if you lost control due to an error on your behalf or because you were under the influence.

Motorcycle Accidents Caused By Filtering Traffic

Accidents can also happen when a rider is passing through stationary traffic or slow moving traffic. This is what is known as filtering. One in-depth study concluded that the other road user was twice as likely to be partly or fully to blame in any sort of filtering accident.

What Can My Motorcycle Accident Claim Include?

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you will be able to claim for a number of different damages. Firstly, you will be able to claim for your injuries, including both the physical and psychological injuries that you have sustained. In addition to this, you can also claim any special damages too. This includes all of the following:

  • The cost of repairing your motorbike,
  • Loss of income,
  • The cost of counselling,
  • Treatment expenses,
  • Travel costs,
  • The cost of childcare.

Essentially, if the cost was caused because of the injury, you can claim. Please make sure you keep proof of these expenses.

How Much Can I Claim After A Motorcycle Accident?

If your motorcycle accident injury claim is successful, your compensation will include a head of claim called general damages, and potentially another head of claim called special damages. 

With general damages, you will receive compensation for the physical and mental effects of the injuries you are suffering with due to your motorbike accident. Things that can determine the value of general damages include:

  • How long-lasting the injuries are and when the expected recovery time is.
  • Loss of amenity. 
  • The severity of the injuries.

You may have an independent medical assessment at some point during the motorbike claims process. The report from this may be compared to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). 

The JCG is a document with guideline compensation awards for all kinds of physical and mental injuries and illnesses.

Guideline Compensation Table

We have included in the table below, except for the top row, entries and guideline awards from the JCG. These are just examples of some types of injuries that could be suffered in a motorcycle accident.

Please remember that all of these figures are for guidance only, since all motorcycle claims are unique. 

InjurySeverityNotesCompensation Bracket
Multiple severe injuries plus special damagesSeriousFor suffering multiple severe injuries plus their financial impacts, such as loss of earnings and domestic care costs.Up to £1,000,000+
Brain damageVery severe (a)Full-time nursing care is needed as the claimant will have little to no language function or meaningful response to life.£344,150 to £493,000
Moderate (c) (i)A moderate to severe intellectual deficit, a change to their personality, impacts on their senses and a significant epilepsy risk.£183,190 to £267,340
BackSevere (a) (i)The most severe spinal cord and nerve root injuries, causing severe consequences.£111,150 to £196,450
Severe (a) (iii)Disc lesions, fractures or soft tissue injuries causing chronic conditions, even following treatment, that cause disabilities, including impaired agility.£47,320 to £85,100
NeckSevere (a) (i)Includes incomplete paraplegia.In the region of £181,020
Severe (a) (iii)Fractures, dislocations, severe soft tissue damage or ruptured tendons that cause chronic conditions and significant permanent disability.£55,500 to £68,330
LegAmputation (a) (iii)One leg amputated above the knee.£127,930 to £167,760
Amputation (a) (iv)One leg amputated below the knee. £119,570 to £162,290

Special Damages In Motorcycle Injury Claims

With special damages, you may receive compensation for the financial effects of the injuries you are suffering with due to your motorbike accident. This can include:

  • Loss of earnings for not being able to work during your recovery.
  • Domestic and professional care costs.
  • Travel expenses between medical appointments.

Since special damages are not guaranteed to be awarded, it is essential to keep any payslips, invoices, receipts, and bank statements that can prove how you have been financially affected from your accident.

To learn more about how motorbike compensation claims are calculated, please contact us.

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims For Motorcycle Accidents

If you are worried about finding the money to engage the services a solicitor, you need to cater your search to No Win No Fee solicitors only. Luckily, all of Legal Helpline’s panel of solicitors are available to handle motorcycle accident claims on a No Win No Fee basis. There are many benefits to this approach, as you will discover below:

  • Financial risk is minimised – There is only one place to start, and this is with the fact that you benefit from a significant degree of monetary protection by going down this route. This is because you will only need to pay legal fees if your case is a success. Unlike solicitors that charge by the hour, if you go for a No Win, No Fee service, you won’t find yourself in a position where you have spent extortionate sums of money and are anxiously waiting and praying that they are going to win your case so that you will get the compensation to cover the legal costs. Instead, if a No Win, No Fee personal injury solicitor fails to win your case, you will have the peace of mind that you don’t have to pay any legal fees.
  • No huge upfront payment – In most cases, people do not have the money to fund the consultation expenses of a traditional personal injury lawyer yet alone all of the expenses that follow. This is something you don’t need to worry about anymore, as you will not have to make a large upfront payment if you go for a No Win, No Fee service.
  • Better service – You can be confident of a much better service when you choose a No Win, No Fee solicitor. This is because they are impacted by the outcome of your case, and, therefore, they are going to be dedicating all of the time necessary to ensure that it is a success.
  • No time wasting – If you choose a solicitor that charges by the hour for your motorcycle accident claim, there is always the worry that you are going to use someone who is simply taking on your case to take your money, irrespective of the strength of your claim. A No Win, No Fee solicitor has nothing to gain by this approach. If your case is not strong enough, they will tell you.

Why Choose To Make Your Motorcycle Accident Claim With Our Team?

What makes us different from a lot of other law companies is the fact that we offer legal advice for motorcycle accident claims upfront, with no obligation for you to work with us in the future. We don’t keep you in the dark, and the same can be said when it comes to making a personal injury claim. Your solicitor will keep you fully updated on the progress of your case, but you can be sure that we will not pester you or cause any additional stress, after all, we appreciate that you have your recovery to focus on.

If you want to have the best chance of securing the full amount of compensation you deserve, Legal Helpline is certainly the recommended choice. We have an abundance of experience in the industry. Since being established, we have successfully helped numerous people when it comes to personal injury compensation. All you need to do is take a look at the reviews on our website to see that this is the case. You will notice that we have an impeccable reputation in the industry.

One thing worth pointing out is the fact that all of Legal Helpline’s panel of solicitors & lawyers work to a No Win, No Fee payment agreement. What does this mean? You will only need to pay legal fees if your case is a success. This protects you financially, as it ensures you do not end up in a situation where you have spent tons of money on legal fees only to fail to secure compensation. It also means that we will not waste your time. If we do not believe your case is strong enough, we will tell you. So, to make a claim to discover more about the process, give us a call today.

Contact Legal Helpline Today

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and it was not your fault, give us a call today on 0333 000 0729. This line is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. seven days per week. You can also find other contact details on our website too. Please do not hesitate to ring if you purely have questions, for example, if you want to know the motorcycle accident statistics or what is the major cause of death in motorcycle accidents? No matter your queries, we will be happy to answer, and we will do so free of charge with no obligation to continue with our service.

Useful Links

We hope you have found this guide on motorcycle accident claims and motorcycle safety UK helpful. If you need any more details, the links below will assist.

Thanks for reading our motorcycle accident claims guide.