Motorcyclists

There are 1.23 million motorcycles on the roads of Great Britain (statista.com), compared with 30.9 million cars (Vehicle Licensing Stats Gov UK). This means that statistically bikers are at a numerical disadvantage and as a result, the emphasis on keeping them safe on the road is far less than for drivers of cars.

It is also true that cars have a number of safety features such as airbags, shatter-resistant glass, seat belts and bumpers, which often means when a collision between a motorist and motorcyclist occurs, it is the motorcyclist who comes off worse.

According to research conducted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, in 2016 there were 12,297 people on motorbikes who were injured in reported road accidents and of these 319 bikers were killed, and 5,553 seriously injured.

As bikers, we only account for 1% of total road traffic, but we also account for 18% of all deaths on the road.

This is why motorcyclists are vulnerable, as they have a higher accident and injury rate than vehicle drivers do and are 38 times more likely to be killed in a road traffic accident than vehicle drivers per mile covered. This is a clear indication that safety for motorcyclists has not improved as much as it has for vehicle drivers.

It is significant that half of all accidents involving a motorbike occur at T-junctions, with 64% occuring at a junction in 2016. The majority of these types of accidents occur when a motorist is pulling out of a junction to turn right, and once they do so turning into the path of a biker coming from the right side that they have failed to see.

Another cause highlighted in the RoSPA research is the poor state of the roads, with potholes, faulty manhole covers, diesel spillages and other road defects being the main complaints.

These statistics tell us that bikers, who are often not at fault for accidents, are vulnerable due to the inattention of other road users, a lack of investment in infrastructure and road safety that specifically addresses the needs of motorcyclists, and a lack of equivalent safety features built into motorbikes to mirror those enjoyed by car users.

How can Specters help?

At Specters, our motorcycle accident claims solicitors have been representing the interests of bikers and successfully settling claims for accident compensation for more than 25 years. We also have employees who are motorcyclists, so we understand the needs and challenges faced by you as a biker if you are unfortunate enough to be injured in an accident.

As well as gaining you fair compensation, we can arrange to have your motorbike repaired or even temporarily replaced, and can also facilitate other damaged property repair and replacement.

Get free, initial legal advice today about making a motorcycle accident claim from experts who care. Free call us on 0300 303 3629 or send us an enquiry.

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