When you’re out and driving, there’s nothing worse than being involved in an accident. Whether it’s just a bump or a more serious accident, accidents are horrible things to witness and worse to experience.

If you’re on a motorcycle, accidents become even worse. More than two thousand motorcycle accidents resulted in death last year in the United Kingdom. With nothing between you and the other vehicle to absorb the impact, motorcycle accidents can cause far greater injuries than those sustained in a car or other road accident.

Motorcycle accidents are sometimes caused by poor maintenance, because a motorcycle only has two wheels, it is inherently more unstable than a car, and requires more careful maintenance to ensure safety out on the road. A slightly misaligned tyre can result in a fatal crash, as can an engine or brake failure, so always make sure your motorcycle is in top shape.

Also, check the tyres themselves. If you leave your tyres too long without getting them replaced, the treads can wear away. These bald tyres can lead to fatal motorcycle accidents, especially in snowy conditions or on wet roads where bald tyres are more likely to lose grip. Have your mechanic check your tyres and make sure they’re still good to ride on.

Bad roads can lead to fatal motorcycle accidents as well. The government can only repair so many roads at a time, and some roads go for years without ever seeing the attention of a road crew. These roads can be treacherous enough to normal cars, with loose gravel and big potholes that can swallow a tyre whole. If you’re on a motorcycle, that pothole can flip your motorcycle over and throw you onto the road, so you have to be a lot more careful. On bad roads, slow down and keep your eyes open, and avoid otherwise very painful motorcycle accidents.

There are plenty of other conditions which may lead to bad motorcycle accidents. Watch out for debris on the road, a nail in the tyre at sixty miles an hour could lead to a potentially fatal blow-out. Also, sometimes things get spilled on the road, oil for example, isn’t the most friction conducive material, driving over a patch could lead to a slide out and loss of control over your motorcycle. Watch for dark patches on the road that indicate spilled oil.

Then there’s ice. With as much rain as Britain gets, ice is fairly common whenever it gets cold, and when it’s present you have to be especially careful. In a car, a spinout could lead to ending up in a ditch. In a motorcycle, loss of control usually leads to a motorcycle accident, at best, bruises or broken bones, at the worst, death. The human body isn’t made to slam into asphalt at sixty miles an hour, and won’t react well if it does. If there is ice on the road, drive slowly and very carefully.

Alcohol and drugs, of course, are an obvious problem. They impair judgment and turn otherwise good drivers into dangerous ones, the only good part of driving a motorcycle drunk is that when you crash you probably won’t take anyone else with you. The bad news is, you’ll still be just as dead. Sleep deprivation is nearly as bad, so make sure you’re always well rested before driving. Remember, because of the small size and low profile of motorcycles, drivers of cars will have a harder time seeing you. The responsibility of safety is up to you, so take it seriously.

The news stories published on our website are done so for the interest of our visitors, stories we publish have been widely reported in the media. By us publishing a story on this website does not infer or suggest that Pinto Potts LLP Solicitors have any knowledge or involvement with cases or persons mentioned.

If you are injured whilst riding a motorcycle we can help, whether you were the driver or passenger, if the accident wasn’t your fault it is likely you will be due compensation for your injuries.

Motorcycle accident claims require considerable specialist legal knowledge. Pinto Potts have a dedicated team of Solicitors with many years experience of dealing with these types of claims and always ensure we get the best compensation offers for our clients. In addition, we provide our clients with access to our network of leading medical experts to ensure they receive the best treatment and rehabilitation available.

Claims will be handled on No Win, No Fee basis, and you will not be asked to pay a penny, win or lose.

If you would like to speak to one of our Solicitors about a Road Accident simply call us on Freephone: 0800 316 4434 or claim online.