Accidents and Emergencies

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• How much will it cost me to make a claim?
• How much compensation will I get?
• How can I be sure I have a genuine claim?
• Do you only deal with accidents that happen in the UK?
• I have been injured in a biking accident but I am not sure who was at fault. What can I do?
• I have already begun a claim through another solicitor but am not happy with the way my case is progressing. Is there anything I can do?
• Do you deal with other accidents and injuries, not just related to biking?
• Can I still claim if my accident happened quite a while ago?
• What happens when I win?
• What does Bikers' Advice get out of it?
• I was not insured at the time of my accident. Can I still claim?
• I am sure that I was partly to blame for my accident. Can I still claim?
• I believe from the police that the other driver has no insurance. Can I still claim?
• My opponent has gone AWOL. What can I do?
• I have only got third party insurance cover. How does this effect my claim?
• My bike is badly damaged. How can I get back on the road quickly.
• How long will it all take?
• I am bedazzled and bemused by all the offers of legal help following my accident. What can you suggest?
• Any other questions?

How much will it cost me to make a claim?
Nothing. If your claim is successful our solicitors receive payment by the third party. If your claim is not successful, you still have nothing to pay because our solicitors work on a 'no win, no fee' basis (although special arrangements apply in Northern Ireland and Scotland)

How much compensation will I get?
This will depend on your injuries and any other losses you may have sustained, e.g. loss of earnings. Bikers' Advice Legal Director Phil Shuker will be able to give you a very rough estimate in the early stages and, should you proceed your claim with a Bikers' Advice solicitor, they will advise you in more detail.

How can I be sure I have a genuine claim?
Just call our Legal Director Phil Shuker (freephone 0808 1000 741) for an informal, no obligation chat or fill in our on-line questionnaire. Phil will offer free, expert advice on whether your circumstances could result in a successful claim.

Do you only deal with accidents that happen in the UK?
No. We are usually able to deal with those that happen during a trip abroad, if an injury has arisen. Our Legal Director was a founder member of a European group of motorcycling lawyers.

I have been injured in a biking accident but I am not sure who was at fault. What can I do?
Contact us. We will evaluate your circumstances and give you free, honest advice, without obligation. If we believe you could make a successful claim we will offer you the help of one of our solicitors at no cost to you.

I have already begun a claim through another solicitor but am not happy with the way my case is progressing. Is there anything I can do?
Yes, you are always free to change solicitors. Please contact us for more details.

Do you deal with other accidents and injuries, not just related to biking?
Yes, our panel solicitors are able to offer a whole range of legal services.

Can I still claim if my accident happened quite a while ago?
Normally, the time limit for instituting legal proceedings for an accident where there is personal injury is three years. However, it is sometimes possible to claim even outside of the three year period. But don't delay, call Phil Shuker now on 0800 1000 741

What happens when I win?
You keep 100% of your compensation (subject to minor exceptions - such as when the other driver is untraced and the claim has to be made through the Motor Insurers Bureau).

What does Bikers' Advice get out of it?
Bikers' Advice gets paid a straightforward fee by its panel solicitors for Phil Shuker's services as a claims manager.

I was not insured at the time of my accident. Can I still claim?
Yes, whether or not you have insurance is irrelevant to the question of whether you have a claim.

I am sure that I was partly to blame for my accident. Can I still claim?
Yes, provided there is a reasonable degree of fault on the part of the other driver, you can still claim - but of course the other driver may make a counter claim on you. In that case however, provided you have insurance, that should be no problem.

I believe from the police that the other driver has no insurance. Can I still claim?
Yes, the claim in this case will be against the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) who are effectively a conglomerate of the larger insurers providing cover in such cases.

My opponent has gone AWOL. What can I do?
Again, claim against the Motor Insurers Bureau - although the level of damages and the level of costs recoverable are not as generous as a "normal" claim.

I have only got third party insurance cover. How does this effect my claim?
Very little. If you are comprehensively insured you will be able to recoup the losses for your bike from your own insurance company. If you are only third party insured then you will have to include those losses as part of the overall claim against your opponent.

My bike is badly damaged. How can I get back on the road quickly.
There are a number of ways that this can be done including a request for interim payments from your opponent. Another way is by hiring another bike on credit. You then claim the cost from your opponent.

How long will it all take?
This very much depends on the nature and severity of your claim. As frustrating as it may seem, it is very dangerous to settle your claim before you have a definite medical prognosis. "Mother Nature" takes her time and will not be rushed. Generally speaking once a claim is settled then it cannot normally be re-opened - hence the importance of ensuring a definite medical prognosis for the future so that your damages fully reflect all your losses (past, present and future).

I am bedazzled and bemused by all the offers of legal help following my accident. What can you suggest?
We fully sympathise with your dilemma. Very sadly over the last few years accident claims have become big business - your broker or insurer will invariably be receiving large fees for your claim. As a motorcycling consumer organisation we deprecate this. As a consumer organisation one of our missions is to "educate". Choice of solicitor is entirely yours. We believe the choice should be made on merit rather than the power of the purse. Please contact us for more help in this regard.

Any other questions?
Just call Phil Shuker on freephone 0808 1000 741

Contact Bikers's Advice now:

• Freephone 0808 1000 741
  if you call out of hours, just leave a message stating your name, contact number and the best time to call - we’ll get straight back to you
• Complete and submit our brief on-line questionnaire
• Fill out our call back form and Phil will contact you at a time to suit you

In this section

Introduction | Our commitment to you | Biker-friendly solicitors | FAQs | On-line questionnaire | Call back form | Articles | Legal Wizard