Many drivers will simply flee the scene of an accident. They are more often not caught. If they do not give correct details, they might not be covered by insurance. If they are kind, they might stop and call emergency services.
Insurers could deny coverage for someone driving the vehicle that is not listed or allowed by the policy. If the driver is driving the car for an unpermitted purpose (usually business), or because the policy does not specifically cover driving drunkenly, the insurer may not cover the driver. If the driver is suffering from a medical condition, they may deny coverage. The driver might stop and give a Gallic shrug. This is Gallic because foreigners with overseas registrations may cause crashes. But most people don’t know how to recover these losses.
And in lots of other cases, the driver never bothered paying for insurance in the first place or the cover note has expired – with premiums of 𧺬 or more for third-party cover for young male drivers, and court fines often much less than that, it is hardly surprising.
Motor Insurers’ bureau exists to aid injured victims in getting compensation for injuries or damage to their property.
If you use a lawyer, the MIB will pay the full legal costs for an uninsured motorist case, but only a limited amount (𧺬 plus most disbursements) on an untraced (hit and run) case. A solicitor will sign you to a conditional fee agreement. This is unless you have your own legal expenses coverage. You are likely to receive all or almost all of your damages. A contingency fee agreement may be required for untraced drivers claims. They may ask you to sign a contingency fee agreement. This will usually mean that they will take a fixed amount of your damages (typically 25% or more).
Insurance companies must deal with claims from uninsured drivers if they have any insurance coverage – so even if insurers do not cover the case (e.g. if the driver was drunk or fails to report a medical condition), they have to pay the victim. There is one difference: the insurance company can seek a refund from their policyholder. The insurance company must pay for the damages caused by someone else’s car theft or injury. However, they cannot try to recover money from you or reduce your no claims bonus.
The MIB can only pay a certain amount of property damage and an excess for each case. If the victim was a passenger and the driver was not insured, the MIB will not pay. It only covers accidents on public roads. This means that you will be responsible for any pub car park or petrol station prangs. A joyrider may trip over the kerb hitting people on the council estate’s grass, but they won’t pay if they hit you on the pavement next to the road. The damage must be done by a motor vehicle. A baby being pushed by a bicycle is not covered. Injuries caused by someone using their vehicle as a weapon or intentionally injuring you are not covered by the MIB.
According to law, injuries resulting from an accident must be reported to police immediately. The MIB will request a copy of the police report to confirm what you have told them. Whiplash injuries, for example, can be painful and take up to a whole day to feel. Report the accident immediately. It is possible to become unconscious or immobile in hospital. If this happens, it is a reason to delay. But, once you get up, make sure that you have checked with the police that someone has already reported the accident.
The MIB holds a large database of insurance details. They can often locate an insurer even if you or the police are unsuccessful. Drivers may threaten victims or give false names to others – it’s not always Mickey Mouse. The driver might mention a friend’s address and name, which sounds plausible. This could allow the friend to prove that he was indeed in Canada at that time. If you can, obtain the registration number, along with a description of your vehicle, including its make and model, as well as a description and description of the driver.
The MIB is funded by the insurance industry. That is, all of us who contribute every year. It is not surprising that the MIB will need your insurance information if you were driving at the time you were hurt. If you do not have insurance, they will not pay. I wouldn’t bother to appeal that decision.
You will need legal advice if more than one vehicle was involved in an accident. You can fill out the form by yourself to see how it goes.