Personal Injury Solicitors

Campaign group Road Safety GB North East is warning motorcyclists to slow down and anticipate the mistakes of other road users, after new figures show that nearly 2,500 motorcyclists have been killed or injured on roads in northeast England the last five years.

A campaign to encourage bikers to kill their speed was launched before Easter, when traditionally motorcyclists are more in evidence on the roads and motorcycle accident figures rise.

Between 2011 and 2015, a total of 52 bikers were killed and 771 were seriously injured, with 2015 seeing a 13% rise in the most serious accidents, with15 bikers killed in that year.

Statistics show that motorcyclists are 38 times more likely to be killed in a road accident than car drivers.

Chairman of Road Safety GB North East, Paul Watson, has appealed for all road users to drive according to the roads and conditions – and to spend a second longer looking out for each other.

Mr Watson said the majority of motorcyclist fatalities involved bikes over 500cc, with 69% occurring on urban roads, rather than in rural areas.

County Durham has seen the highest number of serious accidents and fatalities during the last five years – followed by Northumberland, Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside.

Mr Watson added that, given the size of County Durham and Northumberland and the nature of the roads, the figures were “to be expected”.

Redcar and Cleveland recorded 103 motorbike accidents in total, a relatively low figure in comparison with other areas. However, four were fatal accidents – and in South Tyneside, three people were killed in a total of 120 road collisions involving motorbikes.

Mr Watson said:

“It’s the time of year when bikers like to get their machines out and tour around the region, so understandably we tend to see a sharp rise in accidents involving motorcyclists between March and October.

“Failure to look properly is a factor in almost half of the accidents involving bikes – and quite often, riders simply lose control of their vehicles.

“We are not here to tell people not to ride motorbikes – we appreciate it’s a much-loved pastime for a lot of people.

“However, we do want people to take it easy – and to make sure they have the skills and experience required for riding the larger bikes.”

He added that motorbike accidents were not always the fault of the rider –
and it was vital that all road users “looked out for each other”, particularly at times of higher risk.

“Drivers of cars and heavy goods vehicles may simply not see a biker as they pull out of a junction, or may fail to see them in their blind spot as they pull out on a motorway to overtake,” Mr Watson added.

“It’s also easy for a driver to underestimate how fast a motorbike may be travelling.

“Bikers are obviously very vulnerable because they don’t have the same protection, so it’s little wonder that motorcycle accidents tend to be far more serious, with greater consequences.

“The message is clear – drivers need to take a second look for bikers, because I don’t think anyone would want the death or serious injury of a biker on their conscience; and bikers need to be sensible.

“There are no unsafe roads out there – only poor road users and bad decisions.”

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Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those who sustain injuries in motorcycle accidents caused by the negligence of another road user or a poorly maintained road surface on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation.

Motorcycle accident claims have to be made within three years of injury, including claims made by motorcycle couriers against another road user or employer.

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For expert legal advice on no win no fee Motorcycle Accident Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.