Injured pillion rider

You were riding pillion, not driving, when the crash happened. Claiming can feel awkward, especially if the rider was your partner, a friend or a family member. That discomfort is common, and it usually rests on a misunderstanding.

Is your claim against the rider or an insurer?

Your claim is made against an insurance policy, not against the person you rode with. If the rider was at fault, their insurer answers the claim, as it would for any other third party.^[1]

The claim runs through the insurers, so it does not have to come between you and the rider.

What if another vehicle was at fault?

Sometimes another driver caused the crash, not your rider. You can generally claim against that driver instead, since a pillion passenger is a third party whichever vehicle was at fault.

You do not have to work this out yourself. The evidence gathered afterwards decides where responsibility sits.

Does a missing helmet count against you?

A pillion without a helmet can have their own compensation reduced if it affected a head injury.^[2] It does not end the claim, and it is judged separately from what the rider did.

What if the rider had no insurance?

The path changes. A route through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) may still apply, but only if the vehicle can be identified. Claiming against an uninsured driver sets this out.

What should you do next?

Get treated, and write down what you remember of the crash while it is fresh. Passenger injury claim covers the wider claim path, and motorcycle accident claim explains the evidence a rider’s crash usually needs.

If you feel uneasy about starting the claim yourself, an independent lawyer can take it on and deal with the insurers for you. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no), and the police report status.