Family of Dead Motorcyclist Receives £110,000

The family of a motorcyclist who died as a result of an accident caused by diesel spilt on the road has won £110,000 in compensation from the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), an organisation set up for the purpose of compensating the victims of negligent uninsured and untraced motorists. It is believed to be the first claim of its kind in the UK.

Richard Cooper, 58, was travelling to a motorcycle rally when he hit a fuel slick on a B-road in Lincolnshire. He lost control of his motorbike and hit an oncoming transit van. He later died in hospital from his injuries.

To make a direct claim for compensation in such circumstances it is necessary to track down the person or company responsible for the spillage. However, this is not always possible. In this case, there was no way for Mr Cooper's family to find out who was responsible for the spilt diesel, so they submitted a claim to the MIB.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that motorcyclists are twice as likely to have a serious or fatal accident as a result of spilt fuel than they are because of ice on the roads.

It is not widely known that it is possible to receive compensation when the person responsible for an accident is uninsured or cannot be traced. For further information on the MIB, see the MIB website.