Foggy weather and motorbike compensation claims

As far as driving is concerned, the winter months are known for their more treacherous conditions, whether it be darkness, snow, ice, or fog. Due to the reduced visibility of other vehicles on the road, foggy weather is one of the most difficult circumstances for a driver to navigate.

However, this is no excuse for careless driving, and motorcyclists should not have to bear the brunt of other drivers’ complaints of poor observation. Indeed, the complaint of reduced visibility is an attempt at a defence that some drivers may try to fall back on all too frequently, and they may try to position motorcyclists as the guilty parties in road accidents. However, if a car collides with you, you are not at fault simply because of your smaller vehicle being harder to see, and you may in fact be able to claim compensation for your injuries. Read on to find out how you could be eligible to pursue a motorbike injury claim.

The dangers of foggy weather

As a motorcyclist on a foggy road, it is important to take all the safety precautions you can if your journey cannot be avoided. Lights are one of the most important tools for improving visibility in foggy weather, and fog lights can be fitted to the front of the bike if they are not already. In addition, reflective gear can help other drivers to see you, whether it is a reflective jacket or fluorescent strips stuck to the frame of your bike.

Cautious driving is a must, and if other drivers are failing to respond to the differing conditions of the road, it is on you to outweigh their recklessness if you can. This may not be the case legally speaking, but for your own safety, you just need to be wary of the negligence of other road users. This is a sad fact life!

Not only does fog reduce visibility, it can also be a sign that the roads may be wet, meaning that stopping distances are longer. As such, it is important to maintain an even greater distance from a vehicle around you and be overly cautious about your speed.

Your eligibility for a compensation claim

If all your caution is not enough, and you do still become the victim of a collision, you may be eligible to make a compensation claim. Foggy weather does not mean a guilty driver can be let off lightly – in fact, it may be a sign of extreme carelessness.

Even if you are deemed partly to blame for the incident, you can still be eligible to make a claim, though other law firms may be reluctant to represent you. For instance, if 25% of the blame falls on your head, you may simply have an equal reduction from your compensation amount, so this should not dissuade you from claiming.

The compensation amount also depends on the type and severity of the injury involved. In most cases, severe head injuries will be valued at much higher numbers than minor arm injuries, for instance.

Claiming with The Motorbike Injury Lawyers

At The Motorbike Injury Lawyers, we are strong advocates for motorcyclists, who are often misjudged as more reckless and irresponsible road users. We do not stand for this prejudice, so we will not let guilty drivers get away with the ‘foggy weather’ excuse simply because they think you are driving a more dangerous vehicle.

We know that motorbike injuries can cause serious damage, affecting your mobility, way of life, ability to work, and your earnings. We may be able to recover compensation for all of these factors. If you believe you have a compensation claim to make, contact us for free, no-obligation advice on your eligibility.