Motorcycle Accident Compensation
Four wheels safer than two? Why motorcyclists are more at risk of accidents on the road.
Unless you ride a motorcycle regularly, it’s difficult to appreciate just how enjoyable the experience really is. And just how much more vulnerable two wheeled drivers are as compared to those in cars.
A motorcycle by its very design is inherently unstable whilst stationary, but completely stable when in motion. The trouble comes when something interrupts the momentum of the motorcycle, such as another vehicle, a slippery surface or even something as trivial as a crisp packet in the middle of the road.
The ‘footprint’ of a motorcycle tyre is only the same size as a credit card. The footprint is the area of tyre rubber that is in contact with the road whilst the motorcycle is moving, particularly when going around corners. So it is obvious that the slightest thing can disturb this precarious balancing act and cause the motorcycle to lose grip. When this happens, the chances are that the rider and bike are about to part company. Even something as random as wet leaves can be a hazard to a motorcycle, particularly if the vehicle is ‘banked’ over (leaning) as it goes into a corner.
Motorcycle rider training is now far more intensive than in previous years, so anyone who took their motorcycle test after 1995 is going to have far more initial training than older riders who may have taken their test many years ago. Experience on the road really does count for everything, and motorcyclists are probably far more aware of their own vulnerability than car drivers, primarily because the only thing protecting a rider from the road is a safety helmet, quick reactions and a good pair of gloves.
Injuries to motorcyclists on the road tend to be far more serious because they do not have the advantage of a range of safety features that are incorporated into cars. There are no airbags on a motorcycle to cushion the blow. Contact with another vehicle will inevitably lead to some kind of injury, purely because the rider has no other form of protection from impact. The instances of serious head and neck injuries amongst motorcyclists is disproportionately high, again because of the lack of any form of protection other than a safety helmet.
Ask any motorcyclist what the greatest threat to their safety on the road is and they will invariably reply, “Other road users!” The awareness of the presence of motorcyclists by other vehicles is often poor, with the commonest excuse being, “I just didn’t see him.” To try and combat this, motorcyclists incorporate ‘hi-viz’ products into protective clothing and safety helmets and tend to ride with the main headlight on, to increase their visibility to other road users. Their profile is half that of a car, so it is unsurprising that other vehicles do not see a motorcyclist until it’s too late. Motorcycles are also quicker and more manoeuvrable than cars, and so can change their road position in a second. Again, this reduces their visibility to other drivers, who may not even be aware that a motorcycle is passing them until the bike has moved in front of their car.
Motorcycle accidents rarely happen without injury of some kind to the rider. In some cases, the fault may not be with the rider, but with a third party. If a rider has been injured in a road traffic accident, talking to a personal injury lawyer may help to take some of the pain out of the incident. Vehicle insurance covers motorcycles in exactly the same way as cars, but unlike car drivers, motorcyclists are more likely to suffer personal injury and not just damage to the vehicle. This is where personal injury claims can compensate a rider who has to take time off work, for example, to recover from injuries sustained during an accident. A discussion with an experienced personal injury solicitor who specialises in motorcycle accident claims is advised.
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