Being knocked off your motorcycle is a difficult and frustrating incident to process, but it’s made far worse when the driver who hit you drives off.
In the UK, a hit-and-run is a serious criminal offence and can result in a range of penalties, including penalty points on a driving licence, fines, disqualification from driving and even imprisonment. The severity of the punishment depends on the circumstances of the incident, including the level of injury caused.
If you’re the victim of a hit-and-run incident while riding your motorcycle, you could be entitled to a financial settlement. As trusted motorcycle accident lawyers, we know how to handle cases like these.
What is a hit-and-run incident?
A hit-and-run incident refers to a situation where the driver of a vehicle is involved in a traffic collision but leaves the scene without stopping. By not stopping to provide assistance or exchange information with the other party, they have committed a serious criminal offence, which not only involves the initial incident but also the failure to fulfil the legal and moral obligation to stop.
Why is it illegal not to stop after a traffic collision?
There are three main reasons why a hit-and-run is illegal in the UK:
- Safety – Leaving the scene of a road traffic accident puts the other party at risk, which makes it harder for the emergency services to provide medical assistance and to investigate the incident.
- Accountability – Somebody who commits a hit-and-run crime is attempting to escape their responsibility for their actions, which have potentially harmed other people.
- Justice – Driving away after a traffic collision deprives the victim of the opportunity to seek compensation or pursue legal action.
What you should do immediately after a hit-and-run
The immediate aftermath of a traffic collision where the other party has fled is important. There are certain steps you must take, and some things you shouldn’t do, to ensure you’re healthy and that the person responsible is brought to justice.
Prioritise safety and medical attention
First of all, it’s essential you seek medical attention, even if you feel fine. After an accident, the adrenaline running through your body can mask injuries and pain, so there may still be some damage despite feeling okay.
This is important in ascertaining the level of injury you’ve experienced because of the traffic collision, and can be used in your injury claim.
Contact the police
A hit-and-run is a criminal offence, so you should contact the police immediately to make them aware of the situation. They can then take witness statements and investigate the scene upon their arrival.
In some cases, the other vehicle’s number plate – or part of it – can come off and still be at the scene of the incident. This helps to identify the responsible party.
Do NOT chase the other person
Despite the adrenaline in your body possibly telling you to get up and go after the other person, just stay where you are and contact the police.
You cannot stop them, and chasing them will only create more chaos and danger to you and other road users.
Gather any evidence you can safely
Now, it’s important to safely take as much evidence as you can. You can do this in a variety of ways, including taking photographs and videos of the damage done to you and your motorcycle. This helps your claim to determine how much your settlement should be, as we can look into the value of your motorbike and the damaged parts.
If you can, try and speak to any witnesses in the area who saw the incident. If they’re happy to, get them on video explaining the situation and how they saw the other person drive away after the collision.
The next step you could take is to ask for dashcam footage of other vehicles in the area. Your own footage could be key to your claim, too. If you were near businesses, check if their CCTV covered the area where the incident occurred.
Do NOT discuss fault
The last thing you should do is not discuss fault. Avoid making any statements that could compromise your claim.
How specialist motorcycle accident lawyers can help you
At Injury Lawyers Direct, we specialise in helping people just like you who have been injured in a road traffic collision. We understand the repercussions of something like this, including the pain from any injuries and the psychological shock of being hurt suddenly.
We aim to make the claims process as smooth as possible for you, reducing as much stress as we can on an already difficult situation. Our team of experts will listen to the circumstances of your incident, advise on our eligibility and oversee the case on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.
We have a team of medical and legal specialists who can look into every detail of your claim to ensure you get the best possible representation.
Speak to Injury Lawyers Direct
So, have you recently been in a motorcycle accident and need to speak to expert injury lawyers?
You’ve come to the right place! At Injury Lawyers Direct, we’re specialists in helping people like you receive a fair settlement for the injury you’ve endured.
Don’t hesitate any longer. Contact us today to speak to our team of specialists.
