Adapting Motorcycles for Disabled Riders following a Serious Injury

Adaptations Must Suit Your Disability

In many cases, the modifications needed to help a disabled rider back on the saddle can be extensive. But it’s worth speaking to a specialist to find out how many of these modifications are really necessary.

We recently had dealings with a rider who spent thousands of pounds having his bike adapted in Germany after losing a limb. This included the addition of hydraulic stabilisers to keep the bike upright when stationary.

One of our legal team approached a motorcycle race bike preparation team, one of whom has a similar disability.

Instead of using the cumbersome stabilisers, with the addition of a peg to hold the rider’s prosthetic limb on the footrest, all that was required was to retrain the rider to adapt his riding style so he could come to rest on his other leg.

Fortunately, with an experienced motorcycle coach, he was able to get the rider back on the road riding confidently.

It’s a reminder that you shouldn’t rush into spending lots of money to get back on your bike, as easily affordable options might still be open to you, and that you should speak to a specialist before taking any action.

Possible Modifications

Modern bikes are now fitted with various electronic devices to make it easier for people in general, not just those with disabilities, to ride. For example, bikes often come with automatic or semi-automatic gearboxes, and a clutchless riding facility.

As with all electronics, these can be adapted to aid riders with physical limitations.

Currently, there are numerous companies carrying out modifications, some of which have come from the competition side of motorcycling, such as thumb brakes.

We at Simpson Millar have a long-standing relationship in the motorcycle world and with our involvement with the British Superbike community, Mission Motorsport and RAPID motorcycle training, we’re ideally placed to getting a rider back on two wheels.

Motorbike Accident Claim Tips

1. Get Medical Attention Straight Away

You should go to hospital or see a doctor as soon as possible even if you think you’re not injured, as you may have sustained injuries without knowing it.

Seeing a doctor is also important from a legal point of view. That’s because the medical staff treating you will make a record of your injuries and treatment, containing key information such as what type of care you were given and how long this was provided for.

This can be invaluable in your motorbike accident claim as your Solicitor is building your case and this information will help them to calculate the right amount of compensation to be claimed.

2. Collect Evidence at the Accident

If you can do so safely, try to gather evidence from the accident scene as soon as it’s happened. This can include photos of the location, any marks on the road caused by the accident, photos of your bike that show how badly it’s been damaged and images of any accident debris, such as broken bike or vehicle parts, street lights or traffic signs, as this can all help to show evidence of what happened to you.

You should also get the contact and insurance details of the other drivers involved in the accident, as well as their vehicle registration number, and if possible, the details of anyone who witnessed the accident.

We know that if you’ve been severely injured in your motorbike accident, you won’t have been able gather this evidence. In this case, we may be able to obtain evidence such as CCTV cameras that have recorded what happened.

3. Report the Accident to the Police

A police report will be further proof that an accident took place and a document of where, when and what exactly happened.

4. Get a Specialist Solicitor to Represent You

Don’t accept any legal representation that’s offered to you by an insurer, or be tempted to settle your claim without getting any independent legal advice whatsoever.

If you’re offered a compensation settlement by the other side, it’s unlikely that you’ll get the full amount of compensation and rehabilitation support you’d actually be entitled to.

A specialist Motorbike Accident Solicitor will examine the impact of your accident in full, using their expert knowledge to assess everything from your medical prognosis, and damages to your bike, to any loss of earnings you’ve experienced.

While settling a claim by yourself could be quicker, this can be a false economy, and you could soon realise you’ve accepted an amount that does little to actually address your problems.

5. If the Other Side Doesn’t Accept Liability

Don’t give up. Going through legal channels to claim compensation can seem extremely daunting, so it can be tempting to give up if it doesn’t seem to be going your way. For instance, the other party may deny liability (fault), or even argue that you were partly responsible for the accident.

But that doesn’t mean the end of your claim. If necessary, we can pursue your claim in Court, but we should stress this only happens in a small handful of cases. And if the other party believes you should accept a share of the liability, you can still claim on that basis, accepting a slightly reduced compensation package. We call this Shared Liability.

Contact us

If you or a loved one has had a motorcycle accident, our Road Accident Solicitors can help you to make a compensation claim. It doesn’t matter if you were driving the motorcycle or riding pillion, we can help you. Our team are experts in dealing with motorcycle accident claims, which is a highly specialised area of law. We’ve got passionate bikers in our team who understand what it means to be a biker and have a good insight into some of the issues bikers face on the roads.

They work hard to get the best outcomes for injured bikers, such as access to specialist medical treatment and physiotherapy and adaptations to bikes so they can continue to ride after serious or life changing injuries.

If a family member died in a motorcycle accident, we can support you through the Inquest and attend any criminal Court if we need to. We want you to get justice for your loved one.

For a free claims assessment, contact our Motorcycle Accident Claims Solicitors on 0808 239 6443.