Now I’m older, fatter, and greyer, I’ve moved on to a Multistrada as the riding position suits my old knees better. According to the Ducati website, the Multistrada “…takes you to the discovery of incredible landscapes, beyond the boundaries marked on the maps.” That may well be true but, on this occasion, it took me to the car park of my local shop and into a designated motorbike parking bay.

I was just about to get off when an articulated lorry making a delivery to the shop reversed and hit me. He then carried on reversing over my bike, and me, until my work colleague ran over shouting at him to stop. At this point, I dragged myself out from under the bike with a fractured knee and a smashed ankle. The driver then got out and had the cheek to start shouting at me for being behind him.

If I could have done, I would have got up and given him a slap. He then shouted at the poor shopkeeper for not coming out to watch him reverse. The driver eventually drove off, shouting that I would have to speak to the shopkeeper’s insurer as it happened on her property. I am currently emailing this from hospital. I don’t know what to do. Is it the shop’s fault as he was delivering to them? I am gutted about my bike and would like it sorted as it’s my pride and joy.

Michael

Answer

I suspect my personal biking history isn’t as cool as yours as it includes a Honda C90. Reliable, yes. Exotic? Not particularly. Turning to your current problem, try not to worry and stress if you can. Whilst I know that is easy for me to say, you are still in hospital and need to rest up and recover as quickly as possible so you can get home.

I get that you’re worried about your bike but it can always be replaced, whereas you only get one body. Turning to the diabolical driver, he is well and truly up the proverbial creek without a paddle. Mr Diabolical was driving the lorry that caused the damage due to his negligence. From what you’ve said, this happened when he reversed into and over you and your bike.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the poor shopkeeper. If that were a good argument, no shop would have a car park. Can you imagine a supermarket being liable for every prang in a car park? Long story short, you can bring your claim against Mr Diabolical and his insurance company. From what you’ve said, there is no negligence on the part of the shopkeeper or you.

In the not-too-distant future, get yourself a specialist personal injury solicitor to advance your claim. Whilst I understand your bike is your pride and joy, you will also have a claim for your injuries, which will likely require rehabilitation. Getting as well as you can as quickly as possible is more important than everything else.

Should liability be denied, your solicitor will need to issue court proceedings. If Mr Diabolical tries to defend it, I have no doubt a judge will find against him and award you compensation that his insurer will have to pay. However, I suspect it will not get that far as it is a hopeless defence and his insurer will not want to waste money pursuing it. Lastly, I do wonder if Mr Diabolical was dropped on his head as a baby. I’m just thinking aloud.

Andrew Prendergast

Adventure Bike Rider – May | Jun 2026