Motorcyclist recovers six figure sum to rebuild his life after serious motorcycle collision

Our client was riding a 1995 Yamaha FZR 600 motorcycle and travelling within his lane when the driver of a BMW Z4 pulled out from a side road across his path. The collision threw our client from his motorcycle and onto the carriageway.

The BMW driver did not stop. Our client was left seriously injured in the road until passers-by found him and called an ambulance.

A front-seat passenger in the BMW later reported the driver to the police. The driver was arrested and prosecuted for failing to stop after a road accident, causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, failing to report the accident and driving without third-party insurance.

Because the driver was uninsured, our lawyers had to involve the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). The MIB provides a route to compensation for people injured by uninsured or untraced drivers.

Responsibility for the collision was not resolved immediately. Following the completion of the criminal prosecution, the MIB admitted liability in full.

Our client was taken by ambulance to hospital for his serious injuries. He had a displaced fracture to the radius in his right arm, a ruptured posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an injury to his right ankle. He also went on to experience a psychiatric reaction.

His treatment included surgery to his right arm, where a metal plate was inserted to fix the fracture. He also underwent surgery to his right knee, with two screws inserted, followed by further surgery to remove the screws.

The injuries to our client’s right knee and ankle left him unable to crouch or kneel and significantly affected his mobility. This disability was considered likely to be permanent.

Before the collision, our client was self-employed as a vehicle valet. The lasting effects of his injuries meant he could not return to this work.

Our experts secured the MIB’s agreement to work collaboratively under the Rehabilitation Code 2015. This included funding a case manager to coordinate our client’s rehabilitation privately.

The rehabilitation helped our client maximise his function and recovery. He was eventually able to return to alternative employment and move forward with his life.

Road safety depends on every driver and rider taking responsibility for their actions. In this case, our client was positioned within his lane when the BMW pulled out from a side road across his path, leaving him unable to avoid the collision.

The driver then failed to stop despite the serious injuries caused to our client. A passenger in the BMW subsequently reported the driver to the police, including the fact that the vehicle was uninsured.

The case also shows why the Motor Insurers’ Bureau can be important when someone is seriously injured by an uninsured driver. Its involvement provided a route for our client’s claim to continue despite the driver having no third-party insurance.

Alongside pursuing compensation, our specialists focused on our client’s rehabilitation. Securing funding for a case manager gave him access to private rehabilitation while his claim progressed.

Our client was ultimately able to return to alternative employment. His claim concluded with a six-figure settlement, providing compensation following a collision that had left him with serious injuries and prevented him from returning to his previous work as a vehicle valet.