Road traffic accident news
10/03/2011

Verdict makes motorbike accident claim impossible

The family of a motorcyclist, who died after suffering severe head injury in a crash in June 2010, will be unable to make a motorbike accident claim for their loss.

The 27-year-old was riding his motorbike on the B2192 near Halland in East Sussex, when after taking a bend in the road he ended up on the wrong side of the highway. Unable to rectify the situation and losing control of his bike, he collided with a car coming towards him.

A man and his wife were in the other vehicle involved and were unharmed but understandably shaken by the incident.

In reports the driver said, "I just shouted 'no!' because the moment I saw him I just knew we were going to hit."

The motorist's wife was the first to get out of the car to help the biker. She explained, "I couldn't see where [the victim] was so I was panicking thinking, 'I can't see him, I can't see him.

"And then I saw where [the victim] was in the hedge."

The emergency services were called but the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. A police investigator said the crash site showed that the rider had "lost directional control, crossed the centre line and collided virtually head on with a [vehicle]".

He added that, "It is my opinion that an error of judgement on behalf of the rider… has ultimately led to this tragic incident."

Now an inquest verdict of "accidental death" has been decided upon and the driver of the car involved in the road traffic accident has not been found liable – making motorbike accident claim for their loss will not be a possibility for the family of the casualty.