We take rider cases seriously and investigate them properly, from filtering positions and lane discipline to the visibility conditions at the moment of impact. We will explain how liability is likely to be argued and discuss whether a no win no fee arrangement may be available to fund the claim.
Can I Make a Claim?
- You were riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter and were injured because of another road user's carelessness.
- Typical scenarios include a driver turning across your path, a car changing lanes without checking mirrors, or a vehicle emerging from a side road.
- Claims are also possible against a highway authority where a pothole or spilled diesel caused the loss of control.
- Pillion passengers can claim, including against the rider of the machine they were travelling on.
Situations We Are Instructed On
- Right-turning vehicles crossing a rider's path at junctions
- Filtering collisions and disputed lane positioning
- Loss of control on defective road surfaces, diesel spills or gravel
- Side-swipes caused by drivers changing lanes without observation
- Rural bend collisions involving oncoming vehicles crossing the centre line
- Damage to protective clothing, helmets and the machine itself
What Compensation Could I Claim?
- Damages for orthopaedic injury, scarring and any lasting functional restriction
- Loss of earnings where a fracture prevents manual or driving work
- Replacement of helmet, leathers, gloves, boots and armour, which must be renewed after impact
- Motorcycle repair or market value, plus recovery and storage charges
- Rehabilitation, physiotherapy and, in serious cases, case management support
What can be recovered in any individual case depends on the medical evidence and on the losses that can be proved. We do not estimate figures before that evidence is available.
Evidence That Helps
- Helmet camera or dashcam footage from any vehicle in the vicinity
- Police collision report and any prosecution outcome for the other driver
- Photographs of the machine, the rider's protective kit and the road surface
- Independent witness details taken at the scene
- Medical records, including any surgical notes and imaging
How Long Could the Claim Take?
Rider claims frequently involve fractures that need months to unite and sometimes further surgery, so medical evidence takes longer to finalise than in a soft-tissue case. Where liability is contested on filtering or speed, an accident reconstruction report may be required. Serious cases commonly run well beyond twelve months.
No Win No Fee Funding for This Type of Claim
A No Win No Fee agreement — known in law as a conditional fee agreement — is a written contract between you and your solicitor. Under it, our fee for the legal work becomes payable only if your claim is successful. It is a way of funding a claim without paying our costs up front. It is not a promise about the outcome of your case, and it is not available in every matter.
How a No Win No Fee agreement works
- Assessment first. We review the facts, the likely evidence and your prospects before deciding whether we can offer this type of funding.
- If the claim succeeds. The opponent is usually ordered or agrees to pay a substantial part of your legal costs. A success fee — a percentage uplift on our charges, capped by law in personal injury work — is deducted from your compensation. The percentage will be stated in your agreement before you sign it.
- If the claim does not succeed. You would not pay our fee for the legal work covered by the agreement. You may still be responsible for certain disbursements and, in some circumstances, the opponent’s costs, which is why insurance arrangements are discussed with you at the outset.
- Deductions and other costs. Expenses such as medical reports, court fees, expert evidence and any insurance premium are dealt with separately. We will explain which of these may be deducted from your damages and how they are calculated.
- Alternatives. You may already have legal expenses cover through a household, motor or credit card policy, or through a trade union. We will ask about this because it may be a better option for you.
Who may be eligible
Eligibility depends on the individual case, including whether another party appears to be legally responsible, whether the injury and losses can be evidenced, and whether the claim is brought in time. Some claims are not suitable for this form of funding. We will tell you honestly if we cannot act on this basis, and explain the alternatives that may be open to you.
The exact terms — including the success fee percentage, the disbursements involved and what would happen if the claim were unsuccessful — are set out in writing and explained to you before you decide whether to proceed. Nothing on this page is a guarantee about the outcome of a claim or a statement that any particular funding arrangement will be available. Please take advice about your own circumstances.
Speaking to a No Win No Fee Solicitor
The first conversation is an assessment, not a commitment. A solicitor will listen to what happened, identify who may be legally responsible and consider what evidence is likely to be available. In the context of motorcycle accident claims, that usually means looking closely at how the incident occurred, what records exist and how your injury has affected your work and daily life.
Once we understand the case, we can discuss funding. Where a conditional fee arrangement is appropriate, we will explain the terms, the deductions and the risks in writing so that you can make an informed decision. Where it is not appropriate, we will say so and set out any alternative route available to you, including existing insurance cover or union support. Either way, you will know where you stand before any work begins.
Motorcycle Accident Claims FAQs
- The insurer says I was filtering, so it was my fault. Is that right?
- Filtering is not unlawful in itself. Whether it contributed to the collision depends on speed, traffic conditions and observation by both parties. Blame is frequently reduced or removed once the evidence is examined.
- Can I recover the cost of my leathers and helmet?
- Protective equipment damaged in a collision, or which must be replaced after an impact, can generally be claimed as part of your losses, subject to evidence of value.
- I hit a pothole and came off. Who is responsible?
- Highway authorities have statutory duties to maintain the road, but they have a defence if they can show a reasonable inspection and repair system was in place. These claims need early evidence of the defect's size and depth.
- Can a pillion passenger claim?
- Yes. A pillion passenger can claim against whichever party was at fault, which may include the rider of the machine they were on.
Speak to our team
Tell us what happened and we will assess the claim and explain the funding options that may be available to you, in writing, before you decide how to proceed.