Helping a motorcyclist rebuild his life after a serious non‑impact road traffic incident

The incident took place when our client was riding his motorcycle along a main road. A driver pulled out from a minor road into his path, leaving him no choice but to brake sharply to avoid a crash. He managed to avoid the other vehicle, but the sudden braking caused him to lose control and fall from his motorcycle. 

A non‑impact collision is an incident where a rider is forced into an evasive manoeuvre to avoid another road user and is injured even though the vehicles never make contact. These incidents are less common and often misunderstood. They can happen when road users, particularly vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, are not seen or properly assessed by drivers who pull out without checking the road is clear. 

In this case we found that the police carried out limited investigations at the scene and concluded he had “overreacted”, despite no specialist collision investigator attending. Every road user, including drivers, owes a duty of care to others on the road. Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable if that duty is breached. Important factors such as visibility, positioning, speed and approach angles were never explored. This early assumption shaped the dispute that followed and made the case significantly more complex. 

Although there was no physical collision with another vehicle, the consequences were severe. Our client experienced: 

• A traumatic brain injury 
• Fractured ribs 
• Soft tissue injuries 
• Internal injuries 

The emotional effects were just as significant. He developed: 

• Depression linked to the incident 
• Anxiety about what had happened 
• A long period of recovery while trying to make sense of an event that unfolded in a matter of seconds 

From the outset, this was a challenging claim. The police’s initial conclusion placed fault on our client, and important evidence about visibility, positioning and the sequence of events had never been explored. Our role was to help him rebuild the picture of what had happened and make sure his account was properly understood. 

We spent time getting to know his experience, how the incident unfolded, and how his injuries had affected his life. With that foundation in place, we brought together the specialist evidence needed to challenge the early assumptions made about the collision. 

Our support included: 

• Reconstructing the incident with a collision expert, who examined speed, positioning and sightlines to establish what actually happened  
• Instructing medical specialists to assess the full extent of his physical and psychological injuries  
• Reviewing the police’s initial findings and explaining where key evidence, including visibility and approach angles, had been overlooked  
• Issuing court proceedings to keep the case moving while liability remained disputed, preparing the case for trial  

Despite the lack of physical evidence, we were able to build a compelling case. A hearing date had been set, but before it took place the defendant made an offer at a Joint Settlement Meeting (a Joint Settlement Meeting, where both sides try to agree a settlement before the case goes to trial). We talked this through with our client, helping him understand the implications and make a decision he felt comfortable with. He chose to accept the settlement. The 6-figure settlement reflected his pain and suffering, his loss of earnings, and the cost of his ongoing rehabilitation and care. 

In Louise’s own words 

“I am delighted we managed to bring our client’s claim to a successful conclusion. It’s an honour to represent clients during such a challenging time in their lives. I hope the settlement achieved in this case allows him to move forward with his life in a positive way, and I wish him all the best in his new chapter.” 

“We always felt kept in the loop with how our case was moving, even when the other side made some surprise moves. 

We always felt there was full control of the complexities around the legal procedures and the court‑approved timescales. 

We would particularly like to thank Louise Cassidy for her warm, heartfelt understanding and for navigating us so professionally throughout. We genuinely don’t think he could have got through this without her invaluable help guiding him every step of the way, and we truly appreciated her support during the whole case.” 

Being injured in a road traffic collision can bring many challenges to a person’s life. The effects can be physical, emotional and practical, and it can take time to adjust to what has happened. This settlement has helped give validity and acknowledgment to what our client went through. It also provides the financial support he needs as he continues his recovery and gives him the opportunity to seek any extra help or rehabilitation he may need in the future.

If you have been injured because another road user failed to take reasonable care, our motorcycle accident solicitors can review what happened and tell you whether you have a claim.