• Legal experts specialising in road traffic accident claims
• Vast experience of similar cases since 1993
• Affordable, independent legal advice
• Stress-free accident claims process
• Free, no-obligation consultation

More than 450 motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured on Northern Ireland’s roads between 2015 and 2019. Bikers are highly vulnerable to the actions of motorists, which means they are often caught up in accidents that are not their fault. Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons for this.

• Speeding: A motorist was breaking the speed limit or driving too fast for the road conditions.
• Filtering: A driver didn’t check over their shoulder before changing lanes or joining a carriageway.
• Road Spillages: Diesel, oil or another spillage created slippery road conditions.
• Drunk Driving: A motorist was impaired due to alcohol.
• Distracted Driving: A driver was using a mobile phone or not paying attention to the road.
• Potholes: Poor road maintenance caused the motorcycle to crash.
• Car Doors: Someone opened a car door into the path of a passing motorcycle.
• Exiting Junctions: A vehicle pulled out into the path of an oncoming motorcycle.
• Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, ice or mud on the road created dangerous driving conditions.

Any road accident is dangerous, but motorcyclists are at particularly high risk of injury. When something goes wrong, riders are susceptible to serious injuries due to their lack of protection.

This can be due to lowside accidents, where the rear tyre slips away and the rider is thrown down to the road. Alternatively, it can be due to highside accidents, where a motorcyclist is thrown forwards over the handlebars or sent topping sideways off the bike.

As a result of these two types of motorcycle accidents, riders often sustain one or more of these injuries:

• Head Injuries – Heavy impact with road surface or oncoming traffic.
• Road Rash – A serious abrasion, which can lead to long-term irritation, infection and nerve damage, caused by sliding across a road.
• Hearing Loss – Hearing damage can be caused by an impact or due to high pressure on the ears while travelling at high speed or in high winds.
• Leg Injuries – Collisions with the ground, traffic or the bike itself may cause injuries that limit mobility and, in the most serious cases, require surgery or amputation.
• Bone Fractures – Broken legs, wrists and arms are often caused as the result of a heavy collision or crush.
• Spinal Injuries – Being thrown from a motorcycle at high speed risks damage to the spine, which can cause paralysis or impact mobility.
• Psychological Injuries – The trauma of a motorcycle accident or the mental impact of physical injuries can inflict a great deal of psychological damage.

If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you are entitled to claim compensation. This applies if you were riding the bike or travelling as a pillion passenger.

You can also claim on behalf of a family member or friend who is unable to make a claim of their own due to the injuries they sustained during the accident.

We want it to be as easy and stress-free as possible for you to make a claim and get the compensation that you’re entitled to. Our claims process is designed with that in mind. If you proceed with a motorcycle accident claim with us, here’s what you can expect:

Step 1: Contact Reid Black
Firstly, pick up the phone or send an email for an initial free consultation about your motorcycle accident claim. We will provide advice on how best to proceed on a no-obligation basis.

Step 2: Gathering Information
If you decide to go ahead, we will start the process of collecting information to support your claim. This will include witness statements, photo or video evidence, and medical reports.

Step 3: Medical Assessment
In addition to the medical notes from your treatment after the accident, we will arrange for you to be assessed by an independent medical professional. This will help to build a picture of any lasting or recurring injuries from your accident.

Step 4: Compensation Negotiations
Next, we will open negotiations with the insurance company to get the maximum amount of compensation you deserve. We have a strong record of securing high payouts in similar cases.

Step 5: Compensation Payout
With the amount of compensation agreed, we work to ensure the payout reaches your account on time and without delay.

In normal circumstances, you need to make a motorcycle accident claim within three years of the accident. The amount of time available depends on your age at the time of the accident:

This does vary slightly depending on your age:

• If you were 18 or older you must claim within three years of the date of the accident
• If you were under 18 at the time of the accident, you must claim before your 21st birthday

Extra time may be available if there are mitigating circumstances. For example, your injuries may have prevented you from making a claim within three years. But the golden rule is to contact us as soon as possible after your accident so that we can gather evidence more easily and, ultimately, secure your compensation quickly.

The amount of compensation you can claim after a motorcycle accident will usually depend on the seriousness of the injuries you sustained, the lasting effects of those injuries, and the impact on your quality of life. There are two types of damages for which you can claim:

General Damages
This is when you claim for the direct impact of the accident, such as physical and psychological injuries. The level of compensation you receive will depend on the amount of pain, short-term or long-term suffering, and disruption you’ve experienced because of your injuries.

Special Damages
You can claim special damages to recoup costs you’ve incurred because of your motorcycle accident. This might include making alterations to your home, paying for care or rehabilitation, and loss of earnings.

We’ve been helping motorcyclists get the compensation they deserve after accidents since 1993. Our team of experienced solicitors are experts in road traffic accident injury claims and will support you every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the first step towards your motorcycle accident compensation today. We will handle everything so that you can continue to focus on your recovery.