Quad bikes, fun in the sun and holiday injury compensation claims
Going on holiday is great fun; you go somewhere different, the sun is shining and you want to try new and exciting activities such as quad biking, perhaps. It all seems thrilling and harmless, but following several recent reports of tragic quad bike accidents causing, sometimes, fatal holiday injury, we would like to offer some safe quad biking tips.
Quad biking to avoid holiday injury
- Quad bikes are designed for off-road-use. They may look like four-wheeled motorbikes, but they have very different characteristics. Experience gained driving a car or a motorbike will not make you a good or safe quad bike rider; they handle very differently and can overturn easily, especially when taken off-road. Turning and cornering techniques should be practised and mastered before driving on or off-road, and on holiday, you may not have the time to gain the experience you need.
- As quad bikes are mainly for off-road use, they do not conform to road regulations. Unless modified they will not have legal tyres, lights, horn, speedometer etc. If you are riding a quad bike check that it conforms to the road regulations of the country you are in. Even a modified quad bike may not be suitable for the road conditions you will be facing. Riding on the road is very different from hill climbing and off-road scrambling.
- Always wear a crash helmet, even if local laws do not require it. Your holiday insurance may be compromised if you decide not to wear one.
- It is also recommended that you wear protective clothing such as boots, biking jackets and trousers etc. Some of the worst biking injuries are caused when a rider comes off a bike and hits the road beneath him or her; devastating skin injuries can occur unless bare flesh is adequately protected.
- Unless specially designed, quad bikes are not designed to carry passengers. An extra rider can unbalance the machine, making it difficult to handle, and so, the likelihood of a toppling accident is increased.
- Know what weather and terrain conditions you will face whilst riding. Make sure your quad bike is suitable for those conditions.
- Above all, exercise caution. If you do not ride at home, being on holiday may make you feel like you can do anything and that everything is fun, but there is a large element of danger. Quad bikes are powerful pieces of machinery and have the potential to kill.
YouClaim and holiday injury claims
If you have sustained injury in a holiday accident that was not your fault, we can advise you very quickly if we believe you would be eligible to make a compensation claim. We will then provide you with an experienced and specialised personal injury solicitor who will guide you personally throughout your claim for compensation.
Working on a no win, no fee basis our professionals work to strict and exacting standards laid down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Our success rate is high and you are guaranteed to receive 100% compensation in the event of a successful claim.
Call our helpline on 0800 10 757 95 or have an e-chat. If it's not convenient right now we can call you back, or you could give us a few details about your holiday injury claim by filling in our online claim form and we will call you to discuss it further. However you contact YouClaim you can be assured we will give you the best service available.
