I would hazard a guess that most people are aware that driving without insurance is illegal. However, we have many clients that come to us at The Injury Lawyers after being hit by an uninsured driver. It can be a particular point of frustration for an accident victim that the driver who caused them to have an accident has been driving without the insurance; something which most of us have the burden of paying monthly or annually. It has been quoted that on average 23,000 people are injured and 160 people are killed after being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Many of our clients are not only involved in accidents with uninsured drivers, but also with untraced drivers. This again can be a point of anger and frustration for an accident victim that they have been involved in an accident, that was not their fault, whilst the driver at fault has fled the scene of the accident without the potential claimant being able to gain their contact/insurance details, and without being able to take note of a registration plate. A recent news article brings this topic of untraced drivers to the forefront as it details an accident which took place on the M3 near Camberley where a man sadly died at the scene whilst another of the cars involved fled the scene.
The first question many of our clients ask after being involved in an accident with an uninsured or untraced driver is: ‘can I still claim?’ The answer to this is ‘yes’. Any claims with uninsured or untraced drivers can be dealt with through the Motor Insurers Bureau, or the MIB as they are more commonly known. The MIB was formed in 1946 and is funded by motor insurance companies. Ultimately the MIB is funded through a portion of what we pay for our motor insurance premium. The cost to us can be calculated at between £15 – £30 per policy.
The Untraced Driver’s Agreement also states that claims from hit and run victims from untraced vehicles shall be considered by the MIB.
If you have been involved in a road traffic accident, it is important to seek medical attention for your injuries and ensure the medic makes a detailed entry in your medical records. It is also important to report the accident to the police as they may want to compile a report. Check for any witnesses to the accident as they may be able to provide valuable support to any later claim you may have. You should always seek the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer to advise you on an MIB claim and act on your behalf throughout the process.
