Injured pillion rider
You were riding pillion when the bike crashed, and claiming feels awkward if it was someone you know.
You were riding pillion, not driving, when the crash happened. Now claiming feels complicated, especially if the rider was your partner, a friend, or a family member.
That discomfort is common, and it usually rests on a misunderstanding worth clearing up early.
Your claim is against an insurer, not a person
A claim for your injuries is made against an insurance policy, not against the person you were riding with. If the rider was at fault, their insurer answers the claim, in the same way it would for any other third party.[1]
This does not damage your relationship with them the way suing a person personally might feel like it would.
What if fault sits with another vehicle?
Sometimes another driver, not your own rider, caused the crash. You can generally claim against that driver instead, since a pillion passenger is treated as a third party regardless of which vehicle was at fault.
You do not need to work this out yourself. The evidence gathered afterward decides where responsibility actually sits.
Does a helmet, or your position, count against you?
A pillion not wearing a helmet can see their own compensation reduced if it affected a head injury.[2] It does not end the claim, and this is judged separately from whatever the rider did.
The honest limits
If the rider had no valid 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 plainly.
What to do next
Get treated, and keep a record of what you remember about 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.
Common questions
The rider was my boyfriend. Do I really have to claim against him?
You claim against his insurer, not against him personally.[1] The relationship between you does not change, since it is his insurance policy answering the claim, not his own pocket.
What if another vehicle caused the crash, not the bike I was on?
You can generally claim against that other driver instead, since you are a third party either way. Which driver is actually responsible is worked out by the evidence, not by which vehicle you were on.
I was not wearing a helmet as a pillion. Does that end things?
No. It can reduce your compensation if it affected a head injury, but it does not end your claim.[2] This is judged on your own facts, separately from the rider's.
What if the rider had no insurance at all?
A different route through the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) may apply if the vehicle is identified. [Claiming against an uninsured driver](/uninsured-driver-claim/) explains the conditions honestly.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.91 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
- Low & Partners, on s.12 Civil Law Act 1956 (contributory negligence) (accessed 2026-09-22)