Key points when claiming for a motorcycle accident
- Motorcycle accident claims cover injuries caused by collisions, poor road conditions, or other road users' negligence.
- Compensation awards depend on the severity of your injury and can also cover damage to your bike, financial losses, lost earnings and medical expenses. Use our compensation calculator to find out how much you could claim.
- You may still be able to claim if you were partly to blame.
- You can pursue a claim, even if the other driver was uninsured or they failed to stop.
- Claims can also be made for injured passengers.
- You have 3 years after your accident to start a claim.
- Motorbike accident claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis.
Recovering from a motorcycle injury? We'll help you get the compensation you need
Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious physical and financial consequences. If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle, scooter, or moped accident, you may be entitled to compensation.
Whether you're a rider, passenger, or pedestrian, understanding your rights can help you navigate the process. We explain the claim process, the types of compensation available, who may be liable, and the steps to take to pursue a claim.
Motorcycle accidents are best handled by solicitors with specialist experience. Our panel solicitors are familiar with common insurance company tactics, such as false claims that you were speeding or weaving through traffic at the time of the accident. This experience ensures your lawyer will be prepared to counter these accusations and fight for the compensation you deserve.
The right choice of personal injury solicitor will help you secure the best possible No Win, No Fee compensation.
With 17,000 motorcycle injuries on the UK's roads each year, you are not alone
If you've been injured on a motorcycle, you're not alone. With over over 1.2m motorbikes registered in the UK, accidents are still a relatively common occurrence, and there's support and guidance available to help you through this challenging time.
In 2022, 361 bikers were killed and nearly 17,000 motorcyclists were injured on the UK's roads.
The latest Department of Transport safety data indicates that recent improvements in safety may be reversing. Motorcycle fatalities increased by 13% from 2021 to 2022, while motorcycle traffic only increased by 12%. This represents the 2nd year-on-year increase, after over a decade of falling rates.
Although motorbikes account for 1% of UK traffic, 19.5% of fatal road accidents involve a motorcycle, moped or scooter. Over the past 6 years, over 60% of motorbike, moped and scooter accidents involved a collision with a car.
In 2022, there were 361 motorcyclist fatalities and 16,943 casualties (gov.uk).
How much compensation can I claim for a motorcycle accident?
Compensation for your motorcycle accident is dependent on:
- the severity of your injury,
- how your injury disrupts your life and work,
- any economic losses or costs you?ve incurred due to the accident.
Motorcycle accident injury
compensation calculator
Find out how much compensation you could claim in just a few minutes.
Check your legal eligibility and see if you qualify for a No Win, No Fee claim.
Updated December 2024
Compensation Calculator v3.1
General damages
General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA).
Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.
Read more:
How is general damages compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?
Special damages
Special damages are for financial losses and expenses you have incurred because of your accident. In addition to paying for loss of earnings, motorbike damage and repairs, helmet and safety equipment, special damages can cover any care costs and medical procedures you need, such as pain medication and physical therapy.
Read more:
A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim
Average motorcycle accident general damages compensation table
The following motorcycle accident payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).
These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.
Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).
Ankle injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minor fractures, sprains, and ligament injuries with full recovery | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | A fracture or ligament injury with mild ongoing symptoms | £15,250 to £29,500 |
| Severe | Lengthy treatment required, and your ability to walk has been permanently affected | £34,740 to £55,540 |
| Very severe | Severe ongoing symptoms that are likely to worsen in the future | £55,540 to £77,340 |
Arm injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | Very serious impairment, disability and damage, similar to having lost the arm entirely | £106,690 to £145,250 |
Back injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | A back sprain, disc prolapse, soft tissue injury or minor fracture that fully recovers without surgery | £2,720 to £13,870 |
| Moderate | A disc lesion, prolapse, fracture or soft tissue injury leading to chronic conditions, including pain, mobility issues, impaired sexual function, psychological effects, a risk of arthritis, spondylolisthesis, and nerve root irritation | £13,870 to £30,800 |
| Severe | Severe spinal cord damage, nerve root damage, disc lesions, fractures and soft tissues leading to serious chronic conditions | £43,020 to £178,590 |
Elbow injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery within 18 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £3,920 |
| Recovery between 18 to 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms | Up to £7,210 |
| Recovery after 36 months | Simple fractures, cuts or injuries (e.g. tennis elbow) with no permanent symptoms or damage | Up to £13,970 |
| Permanent impairement of function | Injuries with permanent symptoms, where surgery is not required | £17,360 to £35,520 |
| Permanent disabling injury | A severe injury with serious ongoing disability | £43,460 to £60,840 |
Facial injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple fractures | Multiple fractures of facial bones, with some facial deformity | £16,530 to £26,560 |
| Skeletal injuries | Le Fort fractures of frontal facial bones | £26,420 to £40,760 |
Foot injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amputation | One foot | £93,150 to £121,650 |
| Amputation | Both feet | £187,940 to £223,550 |
Head & brain injuries
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Minimal brain damage with headaches and/or ongoing symptoms | £2,450 to £14,160 |
| Moderate - level 1 | Good recovery, but with ongoing symptoms (e.g. poor concentration and memory) | £17,000 to £47,770 |
| Moderate - level 2 | Your ability to work is reduced, and ongoing symptoms include poor concentration and memory, and a risk of epilepsy | £47,770 to £100,650 |
| Moderate - level 3 | Your ability to work is greatly reduced, and you have ongoing care needs | £100,650 to £166,540 |
| Moderate - level 4 | Ongoing symptoms include a moderate to severe intellectual deficit, personality change, damage to sight, speech and/or senses, and a risk of epilepsy | £166,540 to £243,040 |
| Severe | Symptoms include serious physical and/or cognitive disability that requires constant care, a risk of future medical issues and reduced life expectancy | £243,040 to £312,860 |
| Very severe | Full time nursing care is required | £312,860 to £448,180 |
Knee injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | E.g. dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus, that could cause future symptoms or weakness, or that exacerbated an existing injury | Up to £15,250 |
| Moderate | More serious knee injuries with a greater risk of future symptoms, pain and weakness | £16,460 to £29,050 |
| Serious | E.g. a leg fracture that extends to the knee joint, or injuries that cause constant pain and restricted movement, and/or a risk of osteoarthritis or future knee surgery | £29,050 to £48,210 |
| Severe | Severe symptoms, including ongoing pain, disability and which are likely to worsen and require future surgery (arthroplasty or arthrodesis) | £57,830 to £77,360 |
| Very severe | Very severe knee injury with joint disruption, osteoarthritis, ligament damage and significant pain, and/or requiring extensive surgery | £77,360 to £106,740 |
Leg injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amputation | Below-knee amputation of one leg | £108,700 to £150,780 |
| Simple tibia or fibula fracture | Simple fracture with full recovery | Up to £13,140 |
| Amputation | Above-knee amputation of one leg | £116,300 to £143,420 |
| Simple femur fracture | Simple femur fracture with no damage to articular surfaces | £10,110 to £15,620 |
| Amputation | Below-knee amputation of both legs | £223,550 to £299,650 |
| More serious fractures | Incomplete fracture recovery with ongoing symptoms | £19,930 to £30,800 |
| Amputation | Loss of both legs above the knee, or one leg lost above and one leg lost below the knee | £267,140 to £312,860 |
Neck injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Soft tissue injury | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Moderate | Fracture or dislocation injuries, or worsening of existing conditions, including wrenching, disc lesions and cervical spondylosis | £27,730 to £42,700 |
| Serious | Severe fractures, dislocation, soft tissue damage, ruptured tendons, and/or chronic disability | £50,450 to £62,120 |
| Severe | Serious fractures or damage to discs, with disability and substantial loss of neck movement, including loss of function in one or more limbs | £72,950 to £145,250 |
| Very Severe | Incomplete paraplegia, spastic quadriparesis, and/or very restricted neck movement | Around £164,560 |
Non-facial body scars
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Burns with scarring and ongoing pain | £2,630 to £8,690 |
| Moderate | Scarring such as an exploratory laparotomy scar | Around £9,590 |
| Serious | A noticeable laceration scar or single disfiguring scar | £8,690 to £25,220 |
| Severe | Severe burns with continuing pain and psychological injury | Up to £116,300 |
Paralysis
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paraplegia | £243,040 to £315,350 | |
| Tetraplegia & quadriplegia | £360,130 to £448,180 |
Pelvis and hip injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (relatively) | Injury with no residual disability and complete recovery in under 2 years | £4,380 to £13,970 |
| Moderate | Ongoing symptoms but no major disability | £13,970 to £43,460 |
| Serious | Including fracture of acetabulum and injuries with a risk of future hip replacement surgery or leg instability | £43,460 to £58,250 |
| Severe | More serious leg injuries with worsening future symptoms | £68,680 to £86,980 |
| Very severe | Including extensive fractures, dislocation, bladder injuries, spondylolisthesis, exteme pain and permanent disability | £86,980 to £145,250 |
Shoulder injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Soft tissue injury | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 1 year, causing considerable pain | £2,720 to £8,750 |
| Clavicle fracture | Injuries causing some pain and disability, e.g. a displaced, fractured clavicle | £5,710 to £13,580 |
| Moderate | Soft tissue injury with recovery in under 2 years, and/or limited shoulder movement or frozen shoulder | £8,750 to £14,160 |
Whiplash
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery in under 3 months | Up to £220 | |
| Recovery in 3 to 12 months | £220 to £1,200 | |
| Recovery in 1 to 2 years | £1,200 to £3,830 |
Wrist injury
| Severity | Example | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lesser | Relatively minor soft tissue injury or displaced fracture, with a full recovery within 12 months | £3,920 to £5,260 |
| Moderate | Uncomplicated Colles' fracture | Around £8,250 |
| Moderate | Fracture or soft tissue injury with complete recovery | £6,750 to £11,480 |
| Serious | Some permanent disability, persistent pain and/or stiffness | £13,970 to £27,180 |
| Severe - Some useful movement retained | Significant permanent disability, with largely restricted movement | £27,180 to £43,460 |
| Very Severe - Complete loss of function | Complete and permanent loss of wrist function | £52,830 to £66,410 |
Do I have a motorcycle injury claim?
As a general rule, you can make a claim if you were injured:
- within the last 3 years, and;
- another person was to blame, and;
- that person owed you a duty of care.
However, even if you think you were partly responsible for your road accident, you may still have a claim.
Can I claim for another person?
Yes. It is possible to claim compensation on behalf of another person in the capacity of a 'litigation friend'.
If an injured person is either too young or vulnerable, too injured, or otherwise unable to claim on their own behalf, their litigation friend can handle the claim process for them.
The litigation friend will be responsible for communicating with the solicitors, and for making decisions in respect of the claim.
A claim can be pursued for anyone under the age of 18 by a parent, guardian or litigation friend. The injured child has up to the age of 21 to start an injury claim on their own behalf.
What if the other driver was uninsured or untraceable?
If the driver responsible for the injury is either uninsured or untraceable, a claim can be pursued through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB).
The MIB is an independent body that pays road accident compensation to the victims of uninsured or untraced (unidentified) drivers.
How long does a motorbike injury claim take?
A straightforward uncontested road accident claim could settle in a few weeks. If liability is denied, the process might take substantially longer.
Typically road accident claims take between 4 and 9 months.
What if I was injured as a passenger on a motorbike (pillion)?
Motorcyclists must consider several factors when carrying a passenger.
The rider should be aware that a pillion passenger affects the bike's handling, balance, suspension, and braking due to the extra weight.
Additionally:
- The bike must have an adequate pillion seat.
- Motorcyclists without a full licence cannot carry a pillion passenger.
- Passengers must wear a BSA-approved helmet.
Passengers may hesitate to pursue a claim if they know the rider. However, if the rider is at fault, the claim is made against their insurance, not the rider personally.
The accident was the fault of the passenger
Collisions can happen if a passenger's actions cause the rider to lose control. However, passengers are rarely considered at fault for motorcycle accidents.
The accident was the fault of another road user
If the accident was the fault of a third party, a claim would be pursued through the third party's insurer.
How does the motorcycle accident claims process work?
Your solicitor will discuss the details of the road accident with you and gather evidence to prove what caused your injuries. They will also calculate how much compensation you can claim, taking into account your injuries, lost earnings, and other expenses.
By law, all drivers must have insurance to cover injury compensation claims. Even if you were injured by an uninsured or untraceable driver, you may still be able to make a claim.
We can assist you in making a motorbike accident claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.
What is the case law relating to motorcycle accidents?
There are several precedents that apply directly to cycle and motorcycle accidents:
- In Reynolds v Strutt and Parker [2011], the court found that a cyclist's compensation should be reduced because they failed to wear appropriate safety gear during a race.
- In Smith v Finch [2009], the defence also claimed that the injured cyclist's compensation should be reduced, because they were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. The judge rejected this argument on the basis that wearing a helmet would have made no difference to the severity of the claimant's injuries.
- In earlier case, Capps v Miller [1989], the claimant's compensation was reduced because they had failed to fasten their helmet.
- Although not directly related to cycling, Owens v Brimmel considered whether a passenger's compensation should be reduced because they knowingly rode with an intoxicated driver.
Given the life-altering severity of many motorcycle accidents, the courts are often reluctant to reduce a rider's compensation unless their actions or negligence had a material impact on their injuries. For example, not wearing leathers or other protective gear won't affect your ability to claim if you would have sustained serious injuries regardless.
Can I make a no win, no fee motorcycle accident injury claim?
Yes. With no win, no fee, you can claim motorcycle accident injury compensation without financial risk. If your claim isn't successful, you pay nothing. If you win, you only pay a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation.
Get expert advice now
Interested in talking to a road accident specialist about your claim?
- Calls are FREE
- Confidential consultation
- No obligation to claim
- No Win No Fee solicitors
Call 0800 376 1001
Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9:30am-5pm
or arrange a callbackFAQ's
Why do most claims never go to court?
Solicitors settle the vast majority of claims out of court.
Around 2% of motorcycle injury claims go to court. Generally, only very complex cases, or those where liability cannot be resolved, end up in court.
Cases that do ultimately go to court are decided by a judge or magistrate, not a jury.
Even if the claim does go to court, it is very unlikely you will have to attend.
Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?
Yes. You may still be able to claim compensation even if your actions may have contributed to the accident.
However, if you were partly to blame (known as contributory negligence), your compensation may be reduced and it may be more difficult to prove liability.
How long do I have to make an motorcycle injury claim?
In general, you have a time limit of up to 3 years from the date of the injury to make an injury claim.
The last date you can make a claim is known as the claim limitation date - after which your injury claim becomes 'statute barred'.
Can I claim for a motorcycle injury after 3 years?
Possibly. The general rule for adults is that a claim must be started within three years.
However, the three-year countdown starts on the day you learned of your injury or illness. This will usually be the date of the accident, but could be the date your doctor gave you a diagnosis.
If you were injured as a child, you do have up until your 21st birthday to make a claim.
There other circumstances that can also impact the limitation date. Call us now on 0800 376 1001 to find out if you are still able to claim injury compensation.
In reality, there are a number of factors that can affect whether a car accident claim will be taken on by a solicitor.
Do I need to visit a solicitor's office?
There's no need to visit your solicitor's office in person if you are thinking about making a motorcycle injury claim.
You can talk to a legally-trained advisor about your accident or injury, before you choose to start a claim.
Once you do start your claim, a road accident solicitor will take you through each step. Your lawyer will be with you throughout the process, from your initial questions to the day you recieve your compensation.
I need the money now - what are my options?
If you are unable to work and have bills to pay, you may be able to claim an interim compensation payment.
An interim payment is an advance on your compensation payment. Any amount you receive in interim payments would be deducted from your final compensation payment.
References
Reported road casualties in Great Britain, Annual Report 2017. Department of Transport, 2022
Sources
THINK! – Road safety (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Reported road casualties in Great Britain: motorcycle factsheet, 2021 - GOV.UK (reviewed: 28/07/2024)
Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases (reviewed: 29/07/2024)
Reported road casualties in Great Britain: Annual Report 2022 - GOV.UK (reviewed: 23/08/2024)
Author:
Chris Salmon, Director
About the author
Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.