Motorcyclists are often seen as some of the most vulnerable road users. The Highway Code states that (at Rule 2.11 – in addition to cyclists), “motorcyclists are often difficult to see, especially when they are waiting alongside you, coming up from behind you, coming out of or moving from junctions, at roundabouts, overtaking you or filtering through traffic”. It urges other road users to always look out for them before emerging from a junction and their speed can be quite difficult to judge.
The ‘Think Bike’ campaign has long been established and it raises awareness about the steps that both motorcyclists and other road users can take to avoid collisions. Drivers are encouraged to think more about the person riding the motorcycle and motorcyclists are encouraged to take steps to manage and reduce their own personal risk by wearing appropriate safety gear and participating in further training.
Unfortunately, despite raised awareness of their vulnerability, as major trauma lawyers, motorcyclists are still a class of road user whom we see being involved in a significant number of collisions. All lawyers involved with Major Trauma Group currently act on behalf of a number of injured motorcyclists with all manner of injuries.
A motorcyclist’s rehabilitation post-collision is incredibly important, motorcyclists often wish to return to riding a motorbike post injury and therefore, this is an important goal within their rehabilitation. To achieve this, adaptations may have to be made to the motorbike, for example, a hand operated clutch.
Working together for motorcyclists
To raise awareness of the vulnerability of motorcyclists, and to help them receive the specialist legal help they need following injury in a road traffic collision, Major Trauma Group have partnered with The British Biker Relief Foundation. The charity was established to support motorcyclists and their families across the UK after serious and life changing injuries sustained in a motorcycle road traffic collision. They can assist with counselling, purchase of mobility aids, physiotherapy, home help equipment, children’s books and materials, small grants and shopping vouchers.
Major Trauma Group, a network of specialist serious injury solicitors, can help motorcyclists across the UK to bring a claim following injury, with a focus on receiving the right rehabilitation at the right time, to help the injured person achieve their goals, which often include a return to riding.
Andrew’s story
Major Trauma Group member firm Moore Barlow, recently acted on behalf of a motorcyclist, Andrew, who suffered a below knee amputation, sustained when a driver pulled out from a side road colliding with the side of his clients’ motorcycle. As the lower limb was exposed, it was the limb which took the brunt of the impact. Andrew remained in hospital for around one month during which time the third party’s insurers accepted liability for the collision, meaning Andrew was able to have a case manager appointed to co-ordinate his care and ongoing rehabilitation as well as carrying out an immediate needs assessment. Andrew was transferred to a specialist amputee rehabilitation centre before returning to his home.
Andrew’s pre-collision accommodation was a small two storey house which did not allow him to comfortably use his wheelchair inside and had inadequate washing facilities. Through an interim payment, Moore Barlow was able to assist Andrew with the purchase of a single storey property which was then adapted to meet his current and future needs.
Andrew was keen to return to his off-road motorcycle hobby post-collision which was possible due to a bespoke water activity limb and the installation of an automatic clutch on his motorbike.
Know your space!
It is important for all categories of road user to continue looking out for each other, especially those who are vulnerable. As major trauma lawyers, if a motorcyclist is involved in a collision, our overriding objective is to help them access appropriate rehabilitation and to get them the resources they need to put them back in the position they would have been had the collision not occurred.
If you have suffered serious injury as the result of a motorcycle collision and would like a free, no-obligation chat with a solicitor who specialises in major trauma injuries, email hello@majortraumagroup.co.uk or visit our support page to find out more about how Major Trauma Group can assist motorcyclists after an accident.
