Accident Scenarios
We all know the most common reason for a motorcycle accident. It’s the failure on the part of
a motorist to see the two wheeled road user. However not all
accidents are straightforward and on occasion both parties can be to blame.
Have you ever wondered where you stand in Civil Law if you were involved in an accident but
had been speeding, filtering or overtaking at a junction?
The following situations provide some examples of how the courts allocate blame
Overtaking
Junctions
Speed
Pedestrians
Emergency Situations
Emergency Situations
Dorning -v- Personal Representative of Paul Rigby ( 2007)
Two motorcyclists were travelling one behind the other. The first motorcyclist failed
to take a left-hand bend and collided with an oncoming car sustaining fatal injuries. The
first motorcyclist was found to be negligent. The second motorcyclist was travelling close
behind the first and reacted to the collision in front of him. As a result, he slid across
the road. It was held that if the second motorcyclist had allowed a few more yards space, he
may have had time to react to the emergency situation and avoid the necessity of an instinctive
reaction of slamming on his brakes and losing control. The first motorcyclist was found at
fault for the accident but the second motorcyclist’s award was reduced by 20% as he was travelling
so close as to the first motorcyclist to be found partly to blame.
If you wish to make a motorcycle accident claim in Scotland, call
the Digby Brown Motorcycle Law Department on
0845 273 2323 or complete an
Enquiry Form .
