POTHOLES & ROAD DEFECTS
Road defect accidentclaims.
A pothole or damaged surface can bring a ride to a sudden end. If you’ve been injured, tell our specialist biker lawyers about the road, the incident and how it has affected you.
A BIKER LAWYER'S PERSPECTIVE
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ACCIDENT
Two wheels.One damaged surface.
A damaged or uneven road can unsettle a motorcycle and lead to a fall. These incidents may involve a pothole, a poor repair or another hazard in the surface, with no other vehicle involved.
SITUATIONS YOU MAY RECOGNISE
A wheel hits a pothole.
Your tyre enters a hole or damaged section of road, upsetting the bike. The defect’s position and the route you were taking help describe the incident.
The surface changes abruptly.
A sunken cover, uneven repair or broken road edge interrupts the surface beneath you. What the road looked like and how the bike reacted are important details.
Grip is lost on loose material.
Gravel, debris or material around roadworks affects the bike’s grip. The location of the material and the conditions at the time help explain the loss of control.
HOW WE ASSESS YOUR CASE
A closer look.A clearer picture.
The defect itself.
The hazard’s location, size and condition, supported by safely obtained photographs, help show what your bike encountered.
How the bike responded.
Your route, the loss of grip or control, the conditions and the damage help connect the hazard with the accident.
The road’s maintenance history.
Who maintained the road, and what inspections, repairs or previous reports show, are part of the investigation.
The effect on you.
Your injuries, treatment, time off work and everyday difficulties help us understand the support you need and the losses to investigate.
NEXT STEPS & QUESTIONS
A few next steps.Some clearer answers.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Put your safety first.
Your safety and any medical treatment come first. Gather information only when it is safe, and ask someone to help if you are unable to do so.
Keep the location and condition.
Save a precise location, the date and time, and safely obtained photographs of the defect and surrounding road. Keep original footage, witness details and photographs of the bike’s damage.
Report the road hazard.
Report the defect to the organisation responsible for that road and keep its reference number. Notify your motor insurer about the incident. A defect report is separate from making a compensation claim.
Talk through your options.
Tell us what happened and what concerns you. You can start with the information you have, and we can explain what may be needed next.
Questions about road defects
Does finding a pothole mean I can claim?
Not automatically. The defect must be connected to the accident, and the relevant maintenance responsibility and any available defence need to be considered. The condition of the road, inspection and repair records, and previous reports may all be relevant.
Who is responsible for the road?
It depends on the road and where it is. A local authority or another highway authority may be responsible for a public road; different arrangements may apply to private land. We can help identify the appropriate organisation before considering a claim.
Should I report the defect even if it is repaired?
Keep a record of the location, what you encountered and any report reference. If the defect has been repaired, retain the photographs or footage you already have. A repair does not replace the need to understand the condition at the time of your accident.
How soon should I get advice?
Get advice promptly. Claims have time limits, and recordings or other evidence may become harder to obtain. The deadline depends on the location, circumstances and claim route, including matters such as age. We can check the position for your case rather than relying on a general date.
How is a claim funded?
We can talk through the funding arrangements available for your case, including any fees, insurance costs or deductions and what happens if the claim does not succeed. You should understand those terms before deciding whether to proceed.