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If you’re involved in an accident, it is important to get as much information as possible. If you are injured or in a state of shock, there is still information you can provide by returning to the scene of the accident as soon as possible and jotting down a few pointers.

This will assist your claim by helping both your insurance company and solicitor obtain the best possible outcome at a later date. It is advisable to carry a pen, paper and disposable camera in your car to help you to accurately record the accident details.



1. Contact details including names, addresses and telephone numbers of drivers, pedestrians and passengers involved. If a party is driving within the course of his employment, take both the driver and the employer's details. It may be worth noting a description of the driver, location and any distinguishing features
2. Time and date of the accident
3. Gather as many vehicle details including vehicle make, model, registration number, colour, any modifications and if relevant, the number of passengers in each vehicle
4. Whether the parties were using headlights and/or indicator lights
5. The weather, visibility and lighting conditions, including street lighting
6. Name, "collar number" and force details of any police officer attending and other emergency services details if appropriate
7. Identify the damage to each vehicle involved.
8. Identify any injuries to persons involved
9. If you have a camera, take some photographs of the accident scene
10. Useful information to jot down at the time or after the accident
11. A full description of what happened including sketches of the vehicles’ positioning.
12. Estimated speed of the vehicles involved
13. The type of road
14. A description of the scene of the accident, including any relevant road markings, signals, obstructions etc (i.e. skip outside property at road junction)
15. Whether the parties were using headlights or indicator



- It is an offence to refuse to give details to the other driver following an accident, if there has been injury or property damage
- Accidents must be reported to the police within 24 hours
- Inform your insurance company of the accident as quickly as possible. The company may refuse to insure you if you have not notified them of the accident within the time period set out in the policy.

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1. Repairs to your vehicle
 2. Your Insurance Policy excess
 3. Loss of earnings
 4. Damage to your property
 5. Transport costs, such as taxi fares, or the reasonable cost of hiring a vehicle
 6. Personal injury

Although you can claim yourself, in most circumstances you should get specialist help.

In cases involving an injury, there is a 'protocol' which must be followed by both your solicitor and your opponent to ensure the case is dealt with as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Your solicitor would first write to your opponent holding them responsible for your injuries, stating why they hold your opponent responsible, and summarising your injuries and expenses. Your opponent or their insurance company must acknowledge receipt of that letter within 21 days.

If your opponent is insured, then the insurance company will normally take over the claim. Within three months they must confirm whether or not they will settle the claim. Straightforward cases are normally settled quicker.

Your solicitor and your opponent's insurer will usually attempt to agree upon a choice of medical experts to examine you and prepare a report detailing your injuries, the treatment that you have received and your prognosis.

Upon receipt of that report, it is often possible for your solicitor to advise you as to the value of your claim, and proceed to negotiate settlement with your opponent's insurers.

If it isn’t possible to reach an agreement as to who was responsible for the accident, or to the value of your claim, then the issues could be decided at a court hearing.

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The main concern for many people considering an insurance claim following an accident is the cost. The cost will depend on how you decide to pursue the case with the main options listed below. A firm of solicitors are likely to be instructed at some stage, whether directly, or via your insurance company or a claims management company. Only a solicitor can represent you if your case goes to court.



Many solicitors now agree to pursue cases on a ‘no win no fee’ basis. Under the agreement the solicitor will agree not to charge you if the case is unsuccessful. If the case is successful, the bill will be passed onto your opponent’s insurer. Your opponent will only have to pay your 'reasonable costs', and it is worth asking your solicitor to guarantee any costs not paid by your opponent will not be deducted from your compensation.

Some solicitors will also suggest you take out an insurance policy when you sign the conditional fee agreement. You would make a claim on the insurance policy if you lost your case, and it would cover your opponent's costs and often your own expenses.

ALWAYS ask your solicitor: 'Will there be anything to pay if I lose, and will anything be deducted from my compensation if I win?'

You can apply for legal aid in cases involving exceptional circumstances or injuries. In these cases, you need to approach a solicitor with a 'Personal Injury Franchise'. You can get a list of firms with a franchise from the Law Society, the Community Legal Service, or your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Finally, you can pay your solicitor on a private basis. This is the traditional way of paying for a solicitor, and you would be responsible for the solicitor's fees and expenses whether you win or lose your claim.



If you don’t wish to approach a solicitor directly, you can contact a claims anagement company. They will approach a firm of solicitors on your behalf ensuring they have the proper experience to deal with the claim.

Varying levels of ongoing service and accountability may be offered as you pursue your claim. Some companies will raise an additional charge to the solicitor. Again, always ask: 'Will I have anything to pay if I lose the case, and will I have anything deducted out of my compensation if I win?'



Many household and motor insurance polices now include 'legal expenses insurance' as an option. It should be clear from your policy documentation whether or not the cover is available, or you could telephone the insurance company or your broker directly.

The insurance company will often nominate a firm of solicitors to act on your behalf, although it may be possible to request a firm of your choosing. The policy will normally cover your opponent's costs if you were to lose the claim so there would be no need for a conditional fee agreement. There is a limit under the policy as to the amount of your opponent's costs which will be covered. Always check the limit.



If you’re injured in the accident, or wish to claim for expenses in excess of £5,000, it is not recommended that you act for yourself. However, if there is no injury, and your expenses are relatively low, you may bring a claim in your local County Court under the 'small claims procedure'.

Information leaflets and the necessary forms are available from your local County Court upon request. The Citizens Advice Bureau may also be able to offer some advice regarding this type of claim.

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Bike Trader have teamed up with Bennetts to provide our users with a great online deal for their insurance.
You don't need registration details to get a quote
Flexible payment options**
Buy online 24/7
Quote valid for 30 days
Instant cover
Lower prices for over 25s
Savings for bikes over 3 years old
Lower rates for female bikers
Multibike policies for upto 6 bikes
Helmets & Leathers cover available
Free 24 hour claims line
No credit card surcharges
*Based on a survey in July 2006. ** Subject to status

Bennetts is a trading name of BISL Limited. Registered in England (No.3231094). Registered Office: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6YS. Bike Trader is a trading name of Trader Publishing Limited, an appointed representative of BISL Limited. BISL Limited is an independent intermediary dealing with selected insurers and authorized and regulated by the financial services authority.



There are many things to watch out for with motorbike insurance. What we have produced below for you is a guide to some of these things, many of which will save you money.

– Watch out for expensive cancellation charges from brokers. Because your risk is calculated over an annual period, if you try and cancel a policy mid term ie halfway through you will find that you get only a small amount of the premium back. In most cases, after 8 or 9 months you will  not get anything back.

– Always check this because often the APR charged on insurance instalments is much higher than your bank will charge you to use a credit card. Sometimes a broker will appear cheap but by the time you have paid the interest charges, it works out more expensive.

– Some policies allow this extension and some don’t. If you plan on riding your mates bike, always check with the insurer that you are covered.

– Even if your bike as the smallest modification, that you don’t think makes any difference, always tell your insurer just to be sure that its noted on your policy.

– All calls you make to brokers have to be recorded now by law. So make sure you always tell the truth about your circumstances as otherwise you will be found out.

– Some companies offer a monthly insurance policy. However, be careful as often the premiums are pro rate a lot more expensive than an annual policy so you may end up paying a lot more for a lot less.

– Most brokers will work very hard to keep your business when it comes to renewing your policy. However, always check a few more brokers just to make sure you are getting the best deal.

– Always check that the excess on your insurance is right for you. You can often opt to take a voluntary excess to reduce your premium. Compare the rates and see what suits you best.

– Rarely is the first price you get the best price.

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If you are ever unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident with your motorcycle there are some important things that you should make a note of that will assist you in dealing with the incident and make sure that you have all the information that you may need for after the event.

When an accident has occurred it can be very confusing as to what has happened and who’s at fault, by taking a few simple steps you can make sure that you have all the information you may need at a later date.

You should always try to report accidents to the police, especially in cases where any injury is involved.  If you or any party has any injuries no matter how small they seem at the time you should ensure that you or the party gets medical treatment.

If you are involved in an accident due to a bad road surface or an object in the road it is especially important to try to get some evidence or details from any witnesses. You may have to prove circumstances at a later date especially if you need to make a claim.

Ensure you get the name, address, telephone number and if possible the insurance details of any party involved.

If possible get details of any witnesses. Again, try to capture their name, address, telephone number etc.

Note the registration number of all vehicles involved, it is wise to also note the vehicle registration number of any witnesses just in case you have any problems contacting them at a later date.

Ask any passers by if they wouldn’t mind assisting you in taking details.

If you have a camera phone try and take pictures of the scene and any damage. You never know just how handy these could be at a later date.

If you are unfortunate enough to be in an accident then make sure that you shop around for bike insurance when your renewal comes as often insurers can load your premium significantly as you have made a claim.

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Nobody wants to pay more than they have to for motorbike insurance. Regardless of your age, bike or level of No Claims Bonus, everyone wants to save money on their motorbike insurance.

Unfortunately though, your motorbike insurance is important. Not only is it law to have insurance but the quality of it is crucial in the event of any accident of theft.

However, there are ways to save money on your insurance without compromising on your cover. Take a look at our hint’s and tip’s below to help you save money on your insurance premiums.


It really is worth looking into what cover is right for you and your bike, what you get for different covers and how much different policies are in terms of cost.



There are basically 3 types of cover available to you;
A. Third Party Only - This provides cover for any third party in the event that you cause an accident. This is the cheapest type of bike insurance.
B. Third Party Fire & Theft – This provides cover for the above and in addition covers you if your bike is stolen. There may be conditions as to where the bike is kept so always check with the insurer.
C. Fully Comprehensive – This is the highest level of cover. Provides you with cover for the above and also for your bike if you have an accident that is your fault.


If you feel that you need or your circumstances don’t warrant a fully comprehensive policy as for example your bike is not worth much more than the excess on your insurance policy, then you could save money buy buying a Third Party, Fire and Theft policy.  Do be aware though that being underinsured may cost you in the future.


There are so many different companies out there on the market now so comparing them is a great idea.  Not only should you be comparing their premiums you should also compare what you are getting for your money. The best way to do this is to use an insurance comparison website as you can literally save hundreds of pounds.


Your bike insurance will usually come with an excess. An excess is the first amount you have to pay in the event that you make a claim on your insurance policy. By adding a voluntary excess, you can sometimes save a lot of money. So, try getting a quote with and without a voluntary excess.


There are loads of extras that insurers either include for a fee on your bike insurance or that they try and sell you. 2 examples of this are Legal Expenses Insurance and Breakdown cover. Don’t forget that if your bike is less than 3 years old you may already have a breakdown policy in place.

Most brokers will offer you instalment facilities. Be warned though, the interest rate is very high and usually much more than if you had made payment by credit card. Check out how much extra it will cost you by accepting the broker’s instalment terms and compare this to a credit card or overdraft.

The fact is, the longer you go without making a claim, then the cheaper your insurance gets. Before making a claim, remember that you will be penalised for between 3 and 5 years for a claim. So its worth getting a quote from a broker to see how much your insurance will be for next year with a claim versus not c laiming. If you’re going to pay a lot more over the next few years in insurance costs than the amount of your actual claim then think again.

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