According to the RSA in Ireland , motorcycles represent only 2% of all licensed vehicles on the road, but are involved in 10% of road deaths. Their figures also show that motorcyclists on Irish roads are six times more likely to be fatally injured than any other road user. Given the exposure of motorcyclists to harm in the event of a crash, the injuries sustained can be life-changing or fatal in some cases. If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another party, it may be possible to claim compensation* for the pain, suffering, and loss experienced. Our motorcycle and car accident claims Solicitors specialise in motorcycle accident claim* and will ensure you receive the compensation* you deserve.
Typical injuries
Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries due to the lack of protection available. Motorcycle accident injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Other head injuries
- Back injuries – spinal cord damage, damage to the vertebra
- Broken bones – including wrist, arm, leg, and the collarbone
- Facial damage
- Lacerations, bruising and grazing
- Limb damage – including arms, legs, hands, feet
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries – including sprains and other damage to the muscles, ligaments, or tendons
- Whiplash
Head injuries are extremely common in motorcycle accidents* and can have significant or even fatal consequences, even for those wearing a full helmet. Depending on the extent and type of injuries suffered, it may be necessary to undergo emergency surgery to stem serious bleeding and repair bones or deep lacerations. Even after immediate surgery, injured motorcyclists may still require further reconstructive surgery, medical treatment, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and ongoing care.
How To Handle a Motorcycle Accident
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, we recommend taking the following steps if you are able to.
Seek Medical Assistance
If you have suffered an accident as a motorcyclist, it is essential that you have a medical checkup, even if you believe you are not injured. The symptoms of some injuries can have a delayed onset. This means that even if you feel fine at the time of your accident, once the adrenaline and shock subsides, you may go on to have serious medical problems several hours later.
Get the Details of the Liable Party
If you are able to, make a note of the negligent party’s details, including their name, address, vehicle registration, and insurance details. These details can be used later to bring a claim for personal injury* against the negligent party’s insurer. If you were unable to gather these details due to your medical status at the time, the Gardaí should have attended and gathered these details as part of their investigation.
Gather Witness Details and Other Evidence
It is also important to gather the names and contact details of any witnesses who saw what happened. You should also gather any evidence you can from the scene, including photos of the road, your motorcycle, the conditions, and the other vehicle. It is also advisable to keep details of the time of the day and the weather conditions at the time of the accident.
Contact the Gardaí
Your motorcycle accident should be reported to the Gardaí as soon as possible. Once on scene, they will deal with any immediate risks, gather details and take witness statements. It is recommended to ask for the attending officer’s name, station, and police ID number. These can then be used when making a motorcycle accident claim against the negligent party’s insurer.
Contact a Solicitor
If you decide to make a motorcycle accident claim* against the negligent party’s insurer once you have received medical treatment, it is advisable to engage a specialist personal injury Solicitor in Ireland*, who can handle your case. They will initially review the circumstances that led to your accident and establish if you have a valid claim*. To check if you have a valid claim for compensation*, your Solicitor will see if there is sufficient evidence to prove that the other person’s negligence led to your accident. If so, they will explain the process and proceed with the claim on your behalf.
Why Choose Hanahoe and Hanahoe?
When making a motorcycle accident claim* against a negligent party, legal expertise and experience are key to success. At Hanahoe and Hanahoe, our award-winning team have been successfully assisting clients in Ireland to claim compensation for motorcycle accidents* since 1979. Our award-winning team prides itself on its caring and highly empathetic approach and will handle the compensation process on your behalf. We will engage the appropriate experts, be it medial or engineering to provide us with expert reports The expert witness report may include details such as an explanation of why the other person caused the accident, your prognosis and extent of your likely recovery, and your future health and care needs. You can be assured that we understand the physical and mental impact on victims of serious motorcycle accidents* and will do all we can to achieve the best compensation award possible. For a consultation in complete confidence with one of our friendly and understanding motorcycle accident compensation claims Solicitors in Ireland*, please phone 045 897784 or on 01 5255637 or email info@hanahoeandhanahoe.com.