Road Traffic Accidents involving Hit and Run Drivers

Introduction to Road Traffic Accidents involving Hit and Run Drivers
  About RTA's involving Untraced Drivers
How would my Hit and Run claim be dealt with?
  Who would pay my Hit and Run Compensation Claim?
About the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB)
  Information about how the MIB can help with a Hit and Run Claim
Action to take after being involved in a Hit and Run Accident
  What to do if you are involved in an accident with an Untraced Driver
News Stories about Hit and Run Compensation Claims
  Untraced Driver Compensation Claims we have dealt with
Examples of Hit and Run Claims we have won
  Hit and Run Compensation Claims we have dealt with
Hit and Run Compensation Claim Advice
  Start a claim for Compensation after being injured by an Untraced Driver

Introduction to Road Traffic Accidents involving Hit and Run Drivers

About RTA's involving Untraced Drivers

Being involved in a road accident can be a very traumatic time, particularly if you were injured; however, the experience can be even worse if the person responsible for the accident leaves the scene without providing their details.

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a road traffic accident, which was not your fault, regardless of whether the responsible party provides you with their details you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim.  The way in which your claim is handled may be different than normal however.

Untraced drivers can be involved in accidents with other drivers, passengers, cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians.

For more information about how we may be able to help you if you have been injured as a result of a hit and run accident, contact us.

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How would my Hit and Run claim be dealt with?

Who would pay my Hit and Run Compensation Claim?

If the Police manage to trace the driver responsible for your accident and they have a valid insurance policy in force then Thompsons Solicitors can make your personal injury claim as normal to the insurance company.

If the Police manage to trace the driver responsible for your injury and they do not have a valid insurance policy in force, Thompsons Solicitors might be able to help you make a claim via the MIB through the Uninsured Driver Scheme on a cost-free basis to you.

If the Police do not manage to trace the driver responsible for your accident at all then your only option may be to approach the MIB directly to see if they can help you.  In cases of untraced drivers, Thompsons Solicitors can only help Trade Union members or their families via their union scheme.

If you would like to discuss your particular case in more detail to find out if we can help you with a Hit and Run compensation claim, contact us on 08000 224 224.

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About the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB)

Information about how the MIB can help with a Hit and Run Claim

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) is an organisation which deals with claims for innocent members of the public who have been injured or had their property damaged by an uninsured or untraced driver. It is always an option to deal with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau directly; however, the procedure may be a complicated and lengthy one and most people prefer to have professional legal assistance with this.

If your case involves an uninsured third party, Thompsons Solicitors may be able to deal with your claim via the MIB scheme on a cost-free basis to you.  In cases of untraced drivers, Thompsons Solicitors can only help Trade Union members or their families via their union scheme.

To discuss your Hit and Run claim in more detail and to find out how we can help you, contact us.

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Action to take after being involved in a Hit and Run Accident

What to do if you are involved in an accident with an Untraced Driver

As with all personal injury compensation claims including Hit and Run Claims, you would need to prove that another person was responsible for your personal injury (in this case, the third party driver).

To help your case, you should take names, addresses and telephone numbers of any witnesses to the accident and take photographs of the accident locus if possible. If the third party driver has no valid insurance, leaves the scene or admits to driving a stolen vehicle, you should contact the Police immediately and report the incident.

If you are intending to claim expenses such as prescription costs and travelling expenses, remember to keep receipts as evidence.

If you have been involved in an accident with an Untraced driver, contact us on 08000 224 224 to find out how we can help you with a Hit and Run Compensation Claim.

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News Stories about Hit and Run Compensation Claims

Untraced Driver Compensation Claims we have dealt with

In the past, we have published many news stories on our website about clients we have helped with Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims.  To read all of these stories, visit our News Desk.

One story in particular which may be of interest is about a Fire Fighter who had to be medically retired after injuring his knee in a Hit and Run Accident.  He was cycling over the brow of a hill when a driver collided with the rear of his bicycle and knocked him to the ground.  His cycle landed on top of him and the car driver simply drove off without checking to see if he was alright.

The hit and run driver was never traced but as the fire fighter was a member of the FBU, Thompsons Solicitors helped him with his claim against the MIB via his union scheme.  He recovered £280,000 compensation.  To read the full story visit Leicester fire fighter who was medically retired following hit and run accident secures £280K damages.

To find out if you have a Hit and Run Compensation Claim which we could help you with, contact us.

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Examples of Hit and Run Claims we have won

Hit and Run Compensation Claims we have dealt with

• Mr Yeoman was a member of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) and was put in touch with Thompsons Solicitors by his union after he was involved in a cycle accident.  Mr Yeoman was cycling along the road when a car crossed his path and collided with his wheel. He managed to steady himself but the vehicle then performed an emergency stop right in front of him and he collided with the vehicle again.  Mr Yeoman was thrown over the handlebars of his cycle and onto the ground which injured his shoulder. The car driver stopped and asked if he was alright; however, when he said that he needed an Ambulance, the car driver left the scene of the accident.  The hit and run driver was never traced so Thompsons Solicitors made a claim for Mr Yeoman via the Motor Insurers Bureau's Untraced Driver Scheme and he was awarded £5,000 compensation.  His thank you letter said "I wish to thank you for the work you have undertaken to negotiate the final settlement to my claim. I am extremely satisfied by the offer made and although I sustained a bad shoulder injury I have continued with exercises gained through my physiotherapy and I am now well on the mend and improving. Again, thanks for all your hard work on my behalf".
• Our client was the driver of a double decker bus and was a member of a Trade Union through work.  He was injured when, suddenly and without warning, his vehicle was struck from behind, jolting the bus forward and causing him to suffer a whiplash injury. Although in pain, our client got out of the cab in time to see a large lorry driving off from behind his vehicle.  The road traffic accident compensation claim was fought on the grounds that the driver of the lorry collided with our client’s vehicle, failed to keep any proper look out, was driving too fast, failed to stop, slow down, swerve, or manage to control their vehicle to avoid the accident.   Although there were witnesses to the accident, which took place whilst the bus was stationery at a bus stop, where passengers had alighted, investigations failed to identify the driver. During these investigations, which included a review of CCTV footage, the ownership of the lorry and ultimately the driver, was contested as it had recently changed hands. The compensation claim for this uninsured accident was eventually referred to the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) who settled the claim through their untraced agreement with the industry. Although minimal damage was caused to his vehicle, our client suffered whiplash injuries as a result of the shunt to the rear of the bus, and was absent from work for several weeks. Our client still suffered pain from his injuries many months after the accident involving an uninsured vehicle, although these eventually improved. Our personal injury solicitors, who specialise in all types of RTA compensation claims, including those involving hit and run and uninsured vehicles, fought to achieve an acceptable settlement from the MIB for our client.

If you have been involved in a Hit and Run Accident we may be able to help you make a caim for compensation.  Contact us on 08000 224 224.

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Hit and Run Compensation Claim Advice

Start a claim for Compensation after being injured by an Untraced Driver

If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury as a result of a road traffic accident, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim including claims originating from Hit and Run Accidents.  For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.

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