The MCM legal column is compiled by managing partner Andrew ‘Chef’ Prendergast and his bike-riding barristers and solicitors at White Dalton Motorcycle Solicitors.
The firm deals with personal injury claims and its sister company, Motor Defence Solicitors, deals with all the motoring offences.
White Dalton lawyers have a vast knowledge of bike law, and they have full bike licences, too. They don’t act for insurance companies or the prosecution.
White Dalton is Britain’s premier specialist motorcycle law practice, and if its professionals don’t know the answer to your question, there probably isn’t one. Don’t rely on the advice from your insurance appointed solicitor, get proper independent advice.
Aftermarket Levers
18 Aug 2016
I bought a sports bike about four years ago. I added aftermarket brake levers among other things. About a month ago, the manufacturer contacted me with a recall on the front master cylinder. I took it to the dealer who completed the work and off I toddled… for about three miles.
Living Room Storage
11 Aug 2016
I hate the state. Have they not got anything better to do? I bought an old Norton off my mate to add to my collection (the wife ain’t too happy as it’s in our living room!). He had been riding it last year legally on the road.
Dipstick Solicitor
04 Aug 2016
I am part-way through my claim after some old biddy knocked me off my Bandit 1200 and a trial has been set for August. Liability has been admitted but the problem I have is with the medical evidence my dipstick solicitor has obtained from a supposed ‘medical expert’.
Careless Driving Scooter
28 Jul 2016
I was out with some mates riding our scooters at night. We were mucking about racing each other as you do.
Taxing Times
21 Jul 2016
I’m lucky enough to have four bikes in my stable including two old Fireblades. Anyway, long story short is over the winter I made a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) declaration on all the bikes.
Pigs on the run
14 Jul 2016
I was on my daily commute to work on a dual carriageway when a pig (yes a pig!) escaped through the farmer’s old broken fence and ran straight out in front of me causing me to swerve, crash into the central reservation and fall off. Not my best day out ever.
Break the ice
21 Apr 2016
Sky, road, sky, road, sky, road… hedge. That was my view after I hit ice and clattered off my CG125. This trashed the bike and broke my arm. Now imagine an upturned tortoise laying on his shell with his legs moving, trying to right himself. That’s how I looked as I am a portly middle […]
Wheelie stupid
14 Apr 2016
Am I knee-deep in the proverbial? I went to a track day last September on my new R1 with a couple of mates. When we left we were all feeling a little lively and set off home ‘enthusiastically’.
Future representation
24 Mar 2016
I was on my Urban Tiger ‘Blade when a van pulled out from a petrol station directly in front of me. I had no chance and slammed into the side of it.
Claims texts
17 Mar 2016
I was on my MT09 waiting at a roundabout when some old woman rolled into the rear of me in her Vauxhall Viva. Yes a Vauxhall Viva!
Brake calamity
25 Feb 2016
I got a puncture on my ZZR1400’s rear tyre. My local garage said he could fix it and duly did for £30. Bargain! All was well… or so I thought.
Foggy Copper
18 Feb 2016
I was out with four mates riding our bikes and I was number two in the line-up. It was foggy so we weren’t speeding along when some dipstick copper jumped out from behind a parked car in a layby directly into the middle of the road to stop us.
Foreign Roundabout Claim
03 Dec 2015
Some spoon drove straight into me while I was on a roundabout in Swindon and smashed my leg to bits. Looks like surgery, metal work and about 18 months of rehabilitation for me. Nice one! Not.
The Dog’s Danglies
26 Nov 2015
I hate insurers. I have always wanted a Ducati 916 since it came out. After saving for years I bought one last summer. To say I was chuffed was an understatement. I “tricked it up” with some carbon cans, a carbon mudguard and a custom paint job. It looked the dog’s danglies.
Insurance Diversion
22 Oct 2015
I decided to be a good Samaritan and leant my old Diversion to a ‘mate’ as he had binned his GSXR1000 on a track day. My ‘mate’ told me that he had insurance and I took him on face value. No problems I thought.
Construction site calamity
15 Oct 2015
I was riding on my new R1 past a building site when the front wheel just washed out from underneath me. Thereafter, it was a shiny R1 down the road, trashed kit and a broken arm.
Video online? Wheelie bad idea
17 Sep 2015
I got a Notice of Intended Prosecution for dangerous driving after me and a couple of mates were seen pulling wheelies and doing burnouts. I read on the internet that if you don’t ID yourself and give someone else’s name then the CPS can’t do you so me and my mates all gave each other […]
Second-hand bike seized up
10 Sep 2015
I bought a second-hand motorbike from a dealer. About a month later I was riding along a motorway and went to exit up a slip road when the bike seized up in 5th gear.
