Useful information

• Personal Injury Claim
• Road Accident Claim
• Serious Injury Claim
• Medical Negligence Claim
• Birth Injury Claim
• PIAB Application Guide
• Statute of Limitation
• No Win No Fee Guide

Have you been involved in a Motorbike Accident?

We understand that motorbike accidents can result in serious injuries and long-term effects on the victims. If you have been injured in a motorbike accident, you may be entitled to a claim for your injuries, as well as any losses or expenses related to the accident, such as medical care and rehabilitation costs.

It’s important to note that motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, and motorbike accidents are unfortunately quite common in Ireland.

According to the Road Safety Authority’s Motorcyclist Spotlight Report, there were 231 motorcyclist fatalities and serious injuries reported in Ireland from 2016 to 2021. This highlights the importance of seeking legal help if you’ve been involved in a motorbike accident.

Data Source: Motorcyclist spotlight report fatalities and serious injuries

At Coleman Legal LLP, our experienced injury solicitors will work with you to ensure that all costs and damages are included in your claim, and that you receive the compensation you deserve. We will ensure that all expenses related to the accident are taken into account, including loss of earnings, medical treatment costs, and any other expenses incurred as a result of the accident.

If you have been injured in a motorbike accident, don’t hesitate to contact us for legal assistance. We understand the complexities involved in these cases and will work tirelessly to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.

Am I entitled to a claim?

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, and If the cause of the road traffic accident was not your fault, you may be eligible to seek legal remedy and claim any personal injuries and psychological injuries sustained, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

The claim will also take into account the potential long-term negative effects that the accident can have on the victim’s quality of life and any additional expenses incurred as a result of the accident, such as fees for medical treatment and loss of earnings as a result of the accident.

Common causes

Motorbike traffic accidents can occur for several different reasons, such as:

• Bad road conditions
• Hazardous weather
• Fatigue
• Blind spots
• Unsafe vehicles
• Unsafe driving practices – speeding, disobeying the rules of the road
• Merging traffic
• Texting while driving
• Driving under the influence

Hence, road traffic accident claims such as car crashes, bicycle, and motorcycle crash claims are among the most common cases to be submitted to the Personal Injuries Board by solicitors. Negligent behaviours and actions on the road by drivers can lead to many unfortunate road traffic accidents.

The majority of all claims submitted to the Personal Injuries Board were Motor Liability claims.

What do you do in case of a motorbike accident?

1. Seek medical attention

First, ensure everyone receives immediate medical attention if necessary. Even if you have only suffered a minor injury, we recommend you present yourself at the nearest A&E or meet with your GP. Even if you feel okay immediately after the incident, a minor injury may become more serious.

2. Collect any information relevant to the accident and any future claim

Such information could include:

• Details of everyone involved in the accident, particularly any drivers, including name, address, contact information, vehicle registration number and insurance information
• Contact details of any emergency service workers who attend the incident
• Photographs of the scene from different angles
• Any CCTV footage of the accident
• Dash cam footage
• The date, time, and weather conditions at the time of the accident
• Receipts of any expenses you have incurred due to the accident
• Copies of Garda reports or any medical reports are very important for any future claim

3. Contact the Gardaí

It is essential that you report any accident to the Gardaí, no matter how minor. If it is minor and the Gardaí does not attend the scene, you must visit your local station and request they record the details of the incident and take a statement for you.

4. Contact your insurance provider

If you are driving a vehicle involved in a motorbike accident, you should notify your insurance company.

5. Contact a solicitor

It is advisable that you reach out to a solicitor as soon as possible after the accident if you are considering making a claim. A solicitor can guide you through the claims process and help you to avoid unnecessary delays.

The claim process

1. Contact our motorbike accident compensation solicitors

Our motorbike accident solicitors are experts in advising clients on how to make these claims. Many people use a solicitor to aid with this application process as a lot of paperwork and filing are required, and our expert team is on hand to make the process as smooth as possible.

2. The PIAB Application

The next step is to make an application to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). If your personal injury claim concerns anything other than medical negligence, some assaults, and some cases of entirely psychological injury, then your claim can be brought through PIAB. Examples of claims that PIAB covers include:

• Workplace injury
• Road traffic accidents
• Catastrophic injury
• Accidents in public places

3. Submitting information and documents to PIAB

Your solicitor will obtain evidence, medical reports, and other expert reports required. And submits these documents to the Board for Assessment.

4. Consent to assess the claim

Once the application is made, PIAB issue a formal notification of claim to the defendant(s). The defendant(s) must indicate within 90 days whether or not they consent or not to the assessment of the claim. If the defendant consents, then PIAB will proceed to assess the claim. If they decline to have the case assessed, the PIAB will issue an Authorisation to allow the claimant to issue court proceedings.

5. Claim assessment time

If PIAB is assessing the claim, this will usually take about 9 months. They will then issue their Assessment of your claim, this amount reflects general and special damages awarded in respect of your claim. If the Assessment is accepted by both parties, the PIAB will issue an Order to Pay. The Order to Pay has the same status as an Order of the Court, and must be discharged by the defendant(s) within 10 days. A settlement cheque will then be issued to the claimant.

If the Assessment is rejected by either party, an Authorisation will be granted by PIAB to bring court proceedings.

What to do to strengthen a possible claim?

• Take photographs of any visible injuries
• Take photographs of your vehicle/accident scene if possible
• If you didn’t require medical attention at the scene of the accident, make sure you visit the doctor afterward, as injuries may present themselves at a later stage.
• Write down all details of the accident as soon as possible; even small details which may seem minor at the time may assist your future case.

Statute of Limitations

You have two years from the date of the accident within which to issue proceedings. If you are under 18, a separate set of rules apply, and we would recommend you contact our solicitors to discuss these. To learn more about the statute of limitation for a nerve damage claim, click here.

Our team

If you have been involved in a motorbike accident or suffered an injury at the hands of another person, we would advise all persons to contact our injury claim solicitors at the earliest available opportunity.

If you want to take legal action over a personal injury, you should consult our injury solicitors, who are members of the Law Society’s injury accreditation scheme and clinical negligence accreditation scheme. Contacted us at:

Coleman Legal LLP

Solicitors
84 Talbot Street, Dublin 1
D01 YX60
DX 112002

Contact Details

Free Phone: (1800)844104
Fax: (01) 5312727
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.colemanlegalpartners.ie
Online Enquiry Form: Apply