MOTORBIKE ACCIDENT CLAIMS

Motorbike Accident Compensation Claim

Motorbike riders are particularly vulnerable on the roads with over 25,000 recorded accidents involving serious personal injury every year the majority of which are the fault of a negligent car driver. If you have sustained personal injury and wish to make a motorbike accident compensation claim you should carefully preserve the evidence necessary to prove your claim. If you have suffered personal injury you should immediately visit either your GP or the A&E department of a local hospital for treatment which also has the effect of forming a permanent record of your injuries which will be useful to assist in settling your motorbike accident compensation claim. You should also make a written statement of the full circumstances of the accident and record the personal details of all parties involved together with contact information for any witnesses. Take photographs of the accident location and of the damage to your vehicle and if possible photograph the damage to any other vehicle involved in the accident. In cases involving personal injury its always helpful if you keep a diary of events and record all treatment. You should keep a full record of all expenditure incurred as a direct result of the accident and keep copies of any relevant bills or invoices.

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims

If you have suffered personal injury in a vehicle collision you should consult a solicitor as soon as possible. In order to make a motorbike accident compensation claim the accident must have occurred within the last three years and have been caused as a result of negligence by another person. Many solicitors offer a no win no fee service which minimises the individual’s financial risk however the no win no fee scheme offered by this firm goes much further and can be summed up as 'win or lose no charge - compensation paid in full'. If you use our specialist service for your motorbike accident compensation claim there is no financial risk whatsoever and you are paid 100% of your compensation with no deductions.

MOTORCYCLE DRIVING LICENCES

There are two major classifications of UK Full Motorcycle Driving Licences. The current licencing scheme has been in effect since January 1, 1997:-

• Light Motorcycle Licence or Category A1: To obtain a Light Motorcycle Licence, a person must pass a practical test using a motor bike with an engine capacity anywhere between 75cc to 125cc. Individuals holding this licence may only operate motorcycles with a maximum rating of 125cc. Note that holders of the Category A1 licence are further restricted to motor bikes with a maximum output of 11kW.
• Standard Motorcycle Licence or Category A: To obtain a standard motorcycle licence, a person must pass a practical test using a motorcycle with an engine capacity of at least 120cc but not more than 125cc. The motorcycle used for the test must also be capable of running at a minimum speed of 100km per hour.

Certain restrictions apply to the Standard Motorcycle Licence. For the two years after he has passed the test, a person with a Category A Licence is restricted to a motorcycle with a maximum power of 25kW and a power weight ratio of no more than 0.16W/kg. The restrictions were put into place with the aim of reducing motorcycle accidents by helping cyclists gradually move up to more powerful bikes.

Individuals who are 21 years old or individuals who will turn 21 within the 2-year restriction period associated with a Standard Motorcycle License may utilise one of two options, depending on their particular circumstances:

• Direct Access: Anyone who is at least 21 years old may utilise the Direct Access option. To qualify, a person must pass a practical test using a motorcycle with a power output of at least 35kW or 46.6bhp.
• Accelerated Access: Accelerated Access is similar to Direct Access. The difference is that Accelerated Access is the option available to individuals who are limited by the power restrictions of the Category A licence. To obtain Accelerated Access, you must practice on motor bikes with a power output in excess of 25 kW.

While learning, you must be accompanied by an approved instructor at all times, and you must be in constant radio contact with that instructor. In the interim, you are relegated to the status of a learner and are subject to certain restrictions. The status of your previous licence is not affected if you fail the test.

Statutory Definitions ~ For purposes of licencing regulations, the following definitions apply:

• Moped: A bike that can be moved by pedals and has a maximum speed of 50kph and a maximum engine capacity of 50cc.
• Learner motorcycle: A bike with a maximum engine capacity of 125cc and maximum power of 11kW.
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