Sometimes the guilty party will panic and flee the scene. We've all seen the videos where the rider pulls their bike out of a ditch and commences a high-speed chase in the name of justice. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you why this is a bad idea, but just incase:

• The bike is almost certainly damaged.
• The rider is likely to have injuries that are masked by adrenaline.
• You'll not get much sympathy from the authorities when you tell them that you caught a criminal by blasting through a city center at 200 MPH.

So what should you do?

Preserve life

Any member of the emergency services will tell you that the number one priority is to preserve life. Justice can come later. Your first responsibility is to make sure that you are safe, and then to make sure that others are safe.

Have a look at how to apply first aid. Even better, get yourself on a course.

St John Ambulance, British Red Cross or St Andrew's First Aid all run frequent first aid courses all over the UK.

Remember that neck injuries are particularly likely in motorcycle accidents, and that helmets should only be removed if required to clear a blocked airway.

Dial 999

If you've not already dialed 999 as part of preserving life, you should do so once you know that everyone is safe. Let the professionals take control of the situation and handle catching the culprit.

You can increase the chances that they'll be brought to justice by riding with a helmet camera. However, the price of a first aid course is much less at around £30, and is more likely to save someone's life.