Support for serious injuries: Victims of untraceable or uninsured drivers entitled to compensation

There are approximately 1 million uninsured and untraced drivers on UK roads, which amounts to around 4% of the UK population. If you’re unlucky enough to be involved in an accident with one, the consequences can be dire.

However, a little-known scheme is gaining popularity thanks to a recent court case shared by the Hull Daily Mail. It means that thousands of victims could claim reimbursement for motor accidents beyond their control.

Effectively, people who have been the victim of a motor accident across the nation could be eligible for compensation, even if the driver of the offending vehicle is unknown, untraced, or uninsured. 

Assurance without insurance: victims of motor accidents could claim 

Ordinarily, in accidents where the offending vehicle responsible for an accident cannot be traced to an owner, or there is no insurance in place, the case may be dropped due to lack of evidence or insurance to claim from for the repairs to your car or for your injuries. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as a lack of witnesses, unreadable or false licence plates, or simply that the driver of the car has fled the scene!

It can prove especially frustrating for victims as it often leaves them with physical and mental injuries that can put them out of work and out of pocket.

This was the case for a cyclist in Hull, who had been knocked from their bicycle while travelling to pick up his daughter from nursery. As a result of the impact with the motorbike, the father suffered a broken wrist and injuries to his leg - both of which required hospital treatment and left him unable to work. 

As the driver of the motorbike couldn’t be identified, the case could not be pursued by police, leaving the cyclist relying on money and support from friends and family. The man (who wished to remain anonymous) reached out to a local solicitors firm for advice. He was surprised to learn of a little-known scheme that led to him receiving £18,000 in compensation for the accident and loss of earnings.

Making a claim through the UK Motor Insurers’ Bureau

The little-known schemes in question are courtesy of Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) who were set up some 70 years ago by the Government to manage the funds to compensate victims of these types of accidents. Funds are provided by a small contribution taken from every insured driver’s premiums, with the funds then used to compensate those who are the victims of uninsured or untraced ‘hit-and-run’ drivers.

The two schemes are available for victims to claim if they are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, an untraced driver or accidents in the UK involving a foreign-registered vehicle.

The MIB essentially acts as an insurance company would do, had the vehicle that caused the accident been insured, or the untraced vehicle or driver been known.

While victims have the option of submitting a claim directly, it pays to seek professional advice from a personal injury lawyer to maximise your prospects and ensure that nothing is overlooked that may impact the outcome of your case.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a motor accident involving an uninsured or untraceable driver either in the UK or abroad, the first step is to report the incident to the police. Once you have obtained a crime reference number, get in touch with our specialist personal injury and accident solicitors for advice on the next steps.