How much compensation can I get for a motorbike accident?
Victims of road traffic accidents can be left physically, mentally and emotionally scarred, and the effect can impact their friends and family members as well as their ability to work, find future employment and live a normal life.
The injuries sustained in any form of road traffic accident could be long-lasting or even permanent, but when it comes to motorbike accidents, increased vulnerability and lack of protection on UK roads can mean a heightened chance of danger and a more extreme level of damage to both the motorbike and the rider.
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and believe you could be owed compensation, you will be interested to learn how much money you could be entitled to. In this blog, we explain how a motorcycle accident compensation settlement is calculated and look at some of the more common injuries for this type of incident.
How much is my motorcycle accident worth?
As with any compensation claim, you will only be able to make a successful claim if you can prove that the other person involved was at fault. However, negligence on the part of the other driver is often proven through the nature of the incident (e.g. if the other driver was proven to be distracted, driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or drugs) or through evidence you’ve collected at the time of the incident such as pictures, an extensive collection of notes and witness accounts.
Once the person at fault has been established, you can begin to calculate what your motorcycle accident claim could be worth. Damages in any personal injury case are split into two categories, with each section covering different expenses caused by the incident.
These two categories are:
General damages – compensation for pain, suffering and loss of amenity from physical injuries and mental and emotional anguish. This is compensation for the impact the injury has had on your life up to the point of settlement and any impact into the future.
Special damages – describes compensation for financial losses caused by the incident, such as repair or replacement of damaged property, transportation costs, medical expenses and past and future loss of income.
It may also be possible to claim for loss of congenial employment i.e. the inability to continue a specific profession (loss of a dream job) under Blaimire award, or for disadvantage in the open labour market known as ‘Smith v Manchester’ award.
While some of these factors are relatively standard in any claim, some are case specific and the figures may vary. For example, the amount of compensation you’d be entitled to based on a specific physical injury would depend on the type and severity of the injury.
What are the most common motorcycle injuries?
Injuries to anyone involved in a road traffic accident can be severe and possibly even fatal, but as motorcycle riders have less protection than other road users, more parts of the body can suffer damage and the results can be even more devastating.
Common motorcycle injuries include damage to the:
- Face
- Head
- Neck
- Thorax
- Spine
- Arms
- Legs
Additionally, motorcycle riders often experience road rash or muscle damage as a result of coming into quick and powerful contact with the road.
How much compensation after a motorcycle accident?
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident and decide to claim compensation, the general damages and special damages will be made up of costs that are specific to your case. However, there are broad brackets for estimating the average cost of the types of injuries you may be claiming for.
Average settlement based on specific motorcycle injuries:
Toe – between £4,500 and £43,250
Foot – between £5,300 and £152,750
Achilles – between £5,300 and £30,100
Ankle – between £10,300 and £53,100
Leg – between £1,800 and £215,000
Knee – between £4,750 and £72,970
Back – between £350 and £123,300
Shoulder – between £6,250 and £37,000
Arm – between £4,500 and £227,250
Elbow – between £3,100 and £42,250
Wrist – between £2,550 and £44,500
Hand – between £700 and £151,250
Finger – between £375 and £69,330
Neck – between £1,800 and £112,450
Face – between £1,700 and £73,200
Ear – between £4,300 and £108,500
Eye – between £1,600 and £205,300
Head – between £1,500 and £310,000
Although these estimates should give you an idea of how much compensation you will be entitled to based on specific injuries, the best way to find out whether your claim is legitimate and what amount of money you will receive would be to get a quote from a qualified injury solicitor. You can do this by visiting the ‘Make a Claim’ page on the motorcycle accidents section of the Compare Compensation Claims website where you will be able to explain the circumstances of the incident in detail.