Case Study: Liability in Motorcycle Accident Claims

One of the most common causes of road accidents involving a motorcycle and another vehicle is the failure of the vehicle driver to see the approaching bike. This is particularly a problem at junctions. Most bikers have experienced a nerve shattering ‘near miss’ as a car driver pulls out from a side road into the path of their bike.

Unfortunately, in many cases the motorcyclist isn’t able to avoid the emerging vehicle and an accident occurs, often resulting in injury to the biker. In these circumstances the driver’s usual explanation of ‘Sorry – I didn’t see you’ is of no comfort to the injured motorcyclist. What may give some small comfort to the biker is the knowledge that, when the initial emergency is over, they can make a motorbike accident claim for the costs of bike repairs, replacing damaged helmet and leathers, financial losses and expenses – such as loss of earnings and compensation for the injury sustained.

 
Unfortunately, despite the admission “Sorry – I didn’t see you” many drivers and their insurers try to blame the biker after a collision occurs. This is particularly the case if the motorcyclist was overtaking at the time of the accident.
 
This point was highlighted recently in the High Court case of Woodham v Turner* which involved a coach driver emerging from a side road and turning right through a gap in a queue of stationary traffic onto the main A143. As the coach was edging slowly forwards a motorcycle, overtaking the stationary traffic, collided with the front off-side corner of the coach. As a result of the collision the biker sustained serious injuries. Liability for the accident was disputed and the coach driver argued that the motorcyclist was 100% to blame for the accident because he was overtaking at the junction.

The court decided that motorcyclist ought to have been aware of the hazard of vehicles pulling out through a gap in the traffic and, whilst it was agreed that the bike was  travelling at only 20 mph, the court decided that he was not overtaking at a ‘very low speed’ which would give him the opportunity to avoid an emerging vehicle. The court found that a speed of 15mph or less would have given the motorcyclist a real chance of taking action to avoid the collision. Accordingly the court found that the coach driver was 70% to blame and the biker was 30% to blame for the accident.
 
The failure of the motorcyclist to take extra care in hazardous circumstances resulted in a 30% reduction of his final compensation award. However, despite the coach driver’s allegation that the biker was 100% to blame the biker actually succeeded in recovering 70% of the value of his claim from the driver’s insurers.

The importance of expert legal advice to prove motorbike accident liability

It is important to remember that the question of blame in motorcycle accident claims must be decided on the facts of each individual case. However, drivers and their insurance companies will often dispute claims or seek to blame bikers for accidents where the driver, not the motorcyclist, is legally liable. It is therefore important that injured bikers get independent, expert legal advice following a motorbike accident to prove liability correctly.

Top Tips

Creating Space

A good rider will be able to place the machine in the safest position on the road, relative to everything that is going on around them. The greater the speed, the more difficult it is to keep the bike in the safest position.
 
Make sure that you can see as well as be seen. Think about where to place the bike on the road so that you can maintain your safety and allow others to see you at the earliest opportunity.
 
Some riders make the mistake of getting too close to the vehicle ahead, and the driver in front will lose sight of them. Drop back and give the driver ahead the opportunity to find you in their mirrors. This also increases your safety margins. Getting too close means you will react to the brake lights in front rather than responding to what you can see further ahead.
 
By building space around you, you will not only improve your safety but your ability to plan and make smoother progress.
 
Creating space may require a little thought and knowledge, but it can make a real difference to your safety and overall enjoyment.

Overtaking

Overtaking is regarded as one of the most hazardous manoeuvres for a rider, but often it is not planned well enough to ensure maximum safety. When you commit to an overtake you are making a decision to pass the vehicle(s) ahead. In order to get there safely, consider the points below which should make the planning easier.
 
It is important to make your choice to overtake at the safest and earliest opportunity. To do this you need to anticipate where an opportunity is likely to present itself and prepare the motorcycle so that you are in the right position with the correct speed and gear selected to commit at the right time.
 
Prepare the motorcycle so that you are close enough to make the overtake at the earliest moment, but not too close to the vehicle in front. Make sure that you have the appropriate gear engaged that will allow you the maximum acceleration if required. When you do apply acceleration, deliver the power smoothly to help maintain the stability of the motorcycle when completing the manoeuvre.
 
Avoid aggressive use of the throttle or brakes when returning to your own lane. Good planning and preparation will ensure a smooth and safe delivery of the task. If you are having problems sorting out the planning and delivery of this skill then simply find a trainer who can spend a little time explaining and demonstrating the techniques required. It is important to get this skill right and leave nothing to chance.

Points to consider

Speed and performance of your motorcycle

Most modern motorcycles have outstanding performance; even some of the smaller bikes have excellent acceleration. Riders often make the mistake of getting too close to the vehicle in front, which closes down available views. So stay back where you can see.

 
Speed and performance of the vehicle you are about to overtake

Look at the vehicle and consider its performance against that of your motorcycle, bearing in mind that most family saloons these days have surprisingly good acceleration, but not as good as most motorcycles.

The distance you have available to overtake and regain the nearside safely

If the available road looks a little short then just don’t risk it. Make a sound judgement about whether you have enough available room, if in doubt do not do it. A safer opportunity will present itself.

 
The speed and performance of the oncoming traffic

Again, think about the performance of most modern cars. The speed of oncoming traffic can be difficult to assess accurately at times, so if in doubt stay back and wait for the next opportunity.

 
Speed and performance of oncoming vehicles as yet unseen

This is more tricky. So many riders look at the road ahead and if its clear they do not consider the fast oncoming car just around the corner. ALWAYS assume that there is one just out of your view and consider then if the available road is sufficient to make the manoeuvre safely.

 
The Roads

As riders we are perhaps more aware of the changes of road surface, than any other group of road users. The importance of finding the safest riding line and one that gives the maximum road holding and braking capabilities is vitally important to our safety. But have you ever wondered what is actually running beneath the tyres and just how much grip is available?

Construction

On roads with a good clean driving surface there will be a high skid resistance although this can change with the weather and other factors during the life span of the road surface itself. Roads are built up through many layers until we finally reach the top dressing, the one that we ride over. This is generally Bitumen based into which is rolled an aggregate (chippings). The aggregate provides the sliding resistance between the road and the tyre.

 
The aggregate undergoes testing to determine the level of skid resistance. There are agreed minimum standards that determine which aggregates are used and where.
 
As new surfaces are laid down the size and quantity of the aggregate are measured and tested to ensure that the gap between the chippings is to a minimum standard as is the height that they protrude above the bitumen surface.
 
The surface of the chippings is called the microtexture. It is the main contributor to skid resistance and the dominant factor in determining skid resistance in wet conditions.
 
The microtexture is essentially the gap between the chippings and serves to drain water away from the road surface.

Skidding and skid resistance - What is a skid?

A skid occurs where one or more of the tyres loses normal grip on the road. This happens when the grip of the tyres on the road becomes less than the force or forces acting on the vehicle.
 
The skidding resistance on a wet road is reduced by the film of water acting as a lubricant on the surface.

 
Skidding resistance

The relationship between the aggregate, its surface and its contact with the tyre are important in dispersing water and become increasingly important as the speeds get higher.

 
The surface of the aggregate (Microtexture) can only penetrate the remaining water film if the chippings are sharp enough to build up a “dry” contact with the tyre.
 
As roads are travelled there is a polishing effect on the chippings and over time the Microtexture wears down so reducing its effectiveness to skid resistanc

Cornering

Sideways forces acting between the road and the tyre allow the bike to travel through the curve. The increased amount of skidding resistance is determined by the speed of the vehicle and the severity of the curve. So at locations where there is a high level of acceleration, braking and cornering, the polishing effect on the aggregate is at its highest and so skid resistance reduces.

New road surfaces

You might think that when a new road surface is laid down that the skid resistance is at its most efficient. However, like a new bike tyre, the surface has to bed in and wear away a little to reveal the true surface.

 
As road surfaces are laid down the aggregate is immersed in bitumen and rolled out so that the effective surface of the chippings is not revealed and needs to be worn away though the action of traffic passing over its surface. This allows the bitumen over the chippings to oxidise and break down to reveal the rough area that effectively provides the grip.
 
“Slippery Road” signs will often appear at these sites and will remain for some months until the road has matured before being taken away. Do not assume that after a couple of weeks that all is well, caution still needs to be applied.
 
So those riders that like to ride fast and exert a lot of force through the tyres when cornering should consider that over new surfaces they could be facing a reduced level of skid resistance and the need to slow down becomes a real MUST.
 
This equally applies to well worn surfaces where the polishing effect has also reduced the skid resistance of the road surface.

 
Seasonal variations

There are many factors, including the weather, traffic flow and spillages to contend with, that can change the characteristics of the road surface.

 
Winter v Summer

Winter Roads remain wetter for longer during the winter months between October and March. The grit and dirt washed onto the road works in with the road surface making it harsh and so improves the grip available.

 
Summer, the roads are a lot drier and the debris is very dusty and assists in the polishing of the road surface and so effectively reduces the level of skid resistance available.
 
Therefore during the very months that most riders are out enjoying the bike, the roads offer    a    lesser    degree     of    skid    resistance    than    in    the    winter    months.     So next time you’re out there look for the signs and understand what they mean and the information that they provide to you as a rider. Don’t take the road surface for granted.

Cornering

To really enjoy your riding you need to get your cornering right. Next to overtaking this is the one discipline that so many riders get wrong.

Get it wrong and at best you will end up exploring the wildlife in the hedgerows, at worst you may not live to explore anything ever again. In many cases the rider carries too much speed into the curve only to find that it is very difficult to slow down once committed to taking the bend.

Look ahead

Assessing the vanishing or limit point

Find a good bend, it doesn’t matter if it is to the right or to the left, and look for the point where the two verges appear to meet. This is the vanishing, or limit point. If you enter a curve and you seem to be catching up to this point then you are travelling too fast. If your speed leaves you feeling that you are remaining the same distance from the vanishing point then you are at the right speed for the curve 

 
What is excess speed?

Gear

The stability of the motorcycle through a corner will depend very much on the correct choice of gear. You need to choose a gear that will maintain the balance of the motorcycle and deliver the right amount of flexibility to accelerate or decelerate with accurate use of the throttle.
 
Listen to and feel the engine respond to the chosen gear. Is it straining or labouring in the current gear? If so, change it. Very often, changing down just one gear will instantly improve the stability of the motorcycle.

Acceleration

Keep it smooth because acceleration alters the distribution of weight between the wheels of the motorcycle.

 
Look to the exit of the bend and apply the right amount of acceleration as the view opens.

 
Bend lines

The lines to be adopted along either a nearside or offside bend are well documented in Roadcraft (available from book shops, ISBN: 011341143X) as are the advantages of an earlier view and improved safety margins.

 
By adopting the correct line for the bend, the motorcycle will be travelling towards the crown of the road on the exit side, rather than towards the road edge, which is what happens when a shallower line is adopted.