Can a Biker Claim Compensation for Diesel in the Road?

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If you were riding a motorcycle and lost control on the road because of a diesel spill, and you were injured as a result, you could claim compensation.

Many bikers in the UK believe that you can’t make a motorbike accident claim because of a diesel spill on a road or motorway which caused injury. But this is not the case, as you may have been doing nothing wrong at the time of the accident, in which case you’ve been injured through no fault of your own.

Our specialist Motorbike Accident Solicitors are experts and have some passionate motorcycle riders in our team. So if you’ve been injured in a motorbike accident because of a diesel spill, get in touch for a free claims assessment and legal advice. Ask if we can deal with your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.

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Who Would I Claim Against?

If you can’t identify the owner of the vehicle that caused the diesel spillage, you could claim compensation through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) instead. Our Motorbike Accident Solicitors have years of experience of handling MIB claims and can talk you through the claims process.

What to Do if You’re Injured in a Diesel Spill Accident

  • Get medical attention as soon as possible
  • Report the accident to the police within 14 days
  • Take photos/video of the accident scene if it’s safe to do so
  • Ask for the contact details of anyone who witnessed your accident
  • Write down any relevant information, such as damage to your bike, helmet, gloves, boots and leathers
  • Report the accident and the diesel spillage to the Local Council
  • Get free legal advice by contacting our Motorbike Accident Solicitors

Reporting what’s happened and gathering evidence in the hours, days and weeks after the accident can be very valuable when making a claim.

Our team includes Solicitors who ride motorcycles, so we fully understand the hazards that bikers routinely face on the road and how to deal with them. But we also understand that being injured in a motorcycle accident can be scary, and that even if you were wearing full protective gear, you can still be badly hurt.

What Causes Diesel Spills?

Diesel spills are often caused by:

  • Poor vehicle maintenance
  • Drivers overfilling (necking) their diesel tank
  • Not securing their fuel cap properly

Diesel is particularly likely to spill out on to road surfaces at junctions, roundabouts and corners, so bikers should be especially careful at these locations. Bikers should also look out for any discolouration that looks like a rainbow on the road surface in wet conditions, as this might also be a clue that a diesel spillage has happened.

But one big reason why diesel spills are so dangerous is that they’re very hard to see and can become extremely slippery if it rains.

So if you’re riding a motorbike at high speed, they can be very easy to miss, which doesn’t automatically mean you weren’t alert enough to hazards on the road. Diesel spills are nearly always caused by another road user’s negligence, and in that case, you could have grounds to claim compensation.

Get in touch, today!

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