Motorbike Accident Compensation Claims

With more than 30 years of experience in personal injury, the team here at McCarthy + Co Solicitors LLP has acted for motorcyclists injured on roads across Ireland. These types of cases often involve serious injuries and disputed liability, requiring specialist legal expertise and a thorough understanding of motorcycle accident claims.

Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users. According to the Road Safety Authority, motorcyclists account for less than 2 per cent of licensed vehicles but around 10 per cent of road deaths, and are roughly six times more likely to be killed on Irish roads than other road users. Injuries that would be minor for a car occupant can be serious or life-changing for a rider, who may also be thrown from the bike or into the path of other traffic. A frequent cause of these collisions is simply that a driver failed to see the motorcyclist. Common causes include:

• a car turning across the path of a motorcyclist, or pulling out from a junction without seeing them;
• a driver failing to see a motorcyclist when overtaking or changing lane;
• collisions when a motorcyclist is overtaking a right-turning vehicle;
• loss of control on a bend, particularly at speed; and
• hazards on the road surface, such as spilled diesel or oil, gravel, or potholes.

If you have been injured and would like to speak with a solicitor, complete our quick and confidential online form.

Who you can claim against

Who is responsible depends on the circumstances of your accident. Depending on what happened, a claim may lie against:

• a negligent car, van, or lorry driver, whose compulsory motor insurance means compensation can be recovered regardless of their personal means;
• a pedestrian who caused the accident, where their household insurance provides public liability cover;
• a local authority, where the accident was caused by a dangerously designed or defectively constructed road, kerb, or barrier;
• the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland, where the responsible driver cannot be traced, such as after a hit-and-run, or where a vehicle shed its load before you arrived; and
• whoever sold or serviced your motorbike, where the accident was caused by a defective part or negligent servicing.

Because liability is often disputed in motorbike cases, it is important to instruct a solicitor early, so that evidence can be gathered, including, where necessary, a forensic engineer’s inspection of the scene.

Injuries in motorbike accidents

Because a motorcyclist is so exposed, the injuries in these accidents are often severe. They range from soft-tissue and neck injuries, such as whiplash, to fractures, particularly of the legs, feet, and pelvis, and in the most serious cases amputation or spinal cord injury. Head injuries are a leading cause of death in motorcycle collisions, which is why helmets, which substantially reduce the risk of serious head injury, are so important. We work with medical and other experts to make sure the full, long-term effect of your injuries is properly assessed and valued.