Hit And Run Claims – What To Do After An Untraced Driver Accident

Being in a road traffic accident can be an extremely distressing experience, but what happens when the driver responsible for the incident flees the scene? Not only can you be left with potentially life-changing injuries and financial loss, but you may also be stressed about whether you can seek compensation if the driver who hit you is untraceable. If this is the case for you, we’re here to put your mind at ease and explain how the hit and run claims process works.

Key Takeaways In Hit And Run Claims

• Drivers have a legal obligation to stop at the scene of a road traffic accident if there are injuries or damage to another party other than themselves.
• It can be an offence to leave the scene of a road traffic accident without exchanging details where appropriate.
• CCTV, dashcams, and other video footage can be used to help trace drivers who flee the scene of an accident.
• If the negligent driver cannot be traced or is uninsured, you may be able to claim compensation through the non-profit Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). 
• A specialist No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel could help you gather evidence and secure a settlement reflective of your pain, suffering, and financial loss.

Making a claim can seem daunting at first, especially if you’re focusing on recovering from your injuries. That’s why our advisors and panel of solicitors are here to help. Get in touch today for a free claims assessment and see if you can get started pursuing compensation for your hit and run accident with a solicitor who will always be by your side:

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Claim Compensation For A Hit And Run?
2. Who Will Pay My Hit And Run Claim Compensation?
3. What Compensation Can I Get For A Hit And Run?
4. What Should I Do After Being Involved In A Hit And Run?
5. What Is The Hit And Run Claims Process?
6. Do Time Limits Apply To A Hit And Run Claim?
7. How Can A Solicitor Help Me To Claim After A Hit And Run?
8. Learn More

Can I Claim Compensation For A Hit And Run?

Yes, you can make a compensation claim for a hit and run if you can prove that you were injured because of the negligent actions of another driver. All road users owe one another a duty of care. Essentially, this is the responsibility to navigate in a way that avoids causing injury to anyone on the road (including themselves). This duty of care also requires adherence to The Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988. 

In particular, Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 declares that those who have been in an accident on the road must stop at the scene and exchange details with everyone else involved if any damage or injuries have been suffered. 

As such, to be eligible to claim compensation for a hit and run accident, your circumstances must meet the following criteria:

1. A driver owed you a duty of care at the time of the hit and run.
2. They breached their duty of care.
3. This caused you to be injured. 

What If The Driver Cannot Be Traced?

If the negligent driver cannot be traced after a hit and run accident, your claim for compensation would be made through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), rather than directly against the road user’s insurance company. Nevertheless, the main eligibility criteria, as outlined above, would remain the same. 

The MIB is a UK-based organisation that offers compensation to victims of a road traffic accident when the liable driver is either:

• Untraceable. 
• Uninsured. 

If you connect with a personal injury solicitor from our panel, they will be able to make an online claim to the MIB and gather as much evidence as possible on your behalf. So, please contact our advisors today for a quick and carefully reviewed case assessment to see if you’re eligible to begin the hit and run claims process.

Who Will Pay My Hit And Run Claim Compensation?

An insurance company will pay your hit and run claim compensation if the driver can be traced after the accident, while the MIB will be responsible for any payout if the road user cannot be identified.

All motor insurance companies in the UK are legally required to be members of and contribute to the MIB’s funding, as per the Road Traffic Act 1988. These companies contribute to the MIB’s funding through a levy scheme. This levy is spread across the insurance industry and is ultimately covered by policyholders through their premium payments. 

This way, the MIB can pay out compensation.

You can seek advice 24/7 to help you take your first steps toward starting the hit and run claims process. As part of our advisory team’s free services, they can assess your case to see if you can claim with a solicitor from our panel and get personalised support from start to finish. 

What Compensation Can I Get For A Hit And Run?

The compensation you can get for a hit and run will depend on the injuries you’ve sustained, their impact in the short and long term, and whether they have caused you financial losses. Ultimately, compensation is valued depending on each hit and run victim’s individual circumstances.

Hit and run compensation can cover:

• General damages: The physical and psychological effects of any injuries suffered.
• Special damages: The financial losses that have resulted from your injuries.

To value general damages, legal professionals often turn to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) and the claimant’s medical records. The JCG is a document containing guideline compensation brackets for all sorts of injuries. 

In the table below, you can find some of these guideline compensation brackets. However, remember, none of them can be guaranteed, as all hit and run claims are different. 

Please also note that the very top figure hasn’t been sourced from the JCG. Additionally, the bottom 2 figures are from the fixed tariff set by the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. If you have suffered whiplash in your hit and run accident, please read our dedicated guide on whiplash injuries to learn more. 

Injuries	Guideline compensation	Severity
Multiple very severe injuries + special damages	Up to £1,000,000+	Associated financial costs may be for medical bills, vehicle repairs, and loss of earnings.
Paralysis	£396,140 to £493,000	Tetraplegia (a) - cases at the top end of this bracket include when physical pain and inability to communicate are present.
	£267,340 to £346,890	Paraplegia (b) - level of award depends on factors such as degree of independence, life expectancy, and pain.
Neck	In the region of £181,020	Often linked to incomplete paraplegia or a neck injury that results in spastic quadriparesis that is permanent.
	£30,500 to £46,970	Includes dislocations or fractures with symptoms that are severe and immediate, potentially requiring spinal fusion.
Back	£111,150 to £196,450	Severe (a)(i) - the most severe damage to nerve roots and spinal cord that leads to very serious consequences.
	£33,880 to £47,320	Moderate (b)(i) - e.g a prolapsed intervertebral disc that necessitates surgery.
Knee	£85,100 to £117,410	Severe (a)(i) - where there's been gross ligamentous damage and disruption to the joint.
	£18,110 to £31,960	Moderate (b)(i) - dislocations or torn cartilages that result in mild future disabilities.
Whiplash	£4,345	Lasting between 18-24 months - where at least 1 minor psychological injury is suffered as well.
	£4,215	Whiplash on its own lasting between 18-24 months.

Special Damages In A Hit And Run Claim

As touched on above, special damages can reimburse the present and future financial losses that you incur as a result of the hit and run injury. For example:

• Loss of earnings if you’ve required time off work to recover. 
• Future loss of earnings if you’re unable to work again due to the injury. 
• Damage to your car/vehicle repairs. 
• Medical bills for private treatments, prescriptions, and occupational therapy.
• Modifications made to your home or vehicle to support independence and improve overall accessibility.

You must keep financial evidence such as receipts, bank statements, payslips, and invoices in order to recover these losses. A solicitor from our panel can help you gather and present this evidence. 

For more information on the support offered by our panel of solicitors and how hit and run claims are valued, feel free to reach out any time during the week.

What Should I Do After Being Involved In A Hit And Run?

After being involved in a hit and run accident, you should ensure your safety, seek medical attention, inform the police, and write down details about what happened. In particular, the following steps can help protect yourself and improve your chances of having a successful compensation claim:

1. Ensure your safety – Move to a safe area within the accident scene if possible, such as a parking bay or hard shoulder. Switch your hazards on and turn the engine of your vehicle off (if you are in one).
2. Check whether you’re injured – Even if you and any passengers seem okay, you should still always seek medical attention. This is because some symptoms may take a while to show. 
3. Call the police – Notify the police as soon as you can to give them a better chance of finding the negligent driver. If you cannot swap details with the other drivers involved in a road traffic accident, you have a legal obligation to report the incident. 
4. Write down basic details – Record the accident location, the date and time the incident took place, details about the vehicle (model, colour, registration plate, etc.), and witness contact details.
5. Stay at the accident scene – Don’t try to follow the hit and run driver, as the police may hold you equally responsible for the accident. You could also lose the chance to gather valuable evidence, such as witness contact details. 

We know that this can be a lot to take in after an accident, so please reach out today to see whether you can connect with our panel of specialist solicitors.

What Is The Hit And Run Claims Process?

The hit and run claims process involves reporting the incident to the police, gathering as much evidence as you can at the accident scene, contacting your insurance company, and consulting with an experienced solicitor.

Step 1 – Report The Incident

Your first step after a hit and run incident will be to report what happened:

• Go to your local police station or phone the police as soon as possible. 
• File a report and get a crime reference number. 
• Give the police as much detail as possible regarding the hit and run incident, such as the liable vehicle’s make, model, and colour. 

Step 2 – Gather Evidence

Next, you will want to gather evidence to support your version of events and show you have sufficient grounds to pursue compensation:

• Take photographs of the accident scene and any damage to your vehicle. 
• Collect contact details from witnesses. 
• Get copies of your medical records if you have been injured and sought medical attention. 
• Request CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident. 

• Record what medical treatment you’re receiving.

Step 3 – Contact Your Insurance Company

The third step to take is to contact your insurance company to inform them about the hit and run:

• Tell your own insurance company about the incident with as much detail as possible. 
• Provide them with the police crime reference number and all the evidence you have collected so far. 
• Have them review your policy to determine what it may cover in such an incident (e.g., courtesy car and/or other benefits).

Step 4 – Seek Guidance From A Solicitor

Finally, seek guidance from a solicitor with a proven track record in handling road traffic accident claims to help you pursue compensation:

• Get in touch with a specialist road traffic accident solicitor. 
• Our panel of solicitors, in particular, work nationwide and have decades of experience combined working on hit and run claims. 
• They can help you navigate the process of claiming via the MIB.
• They strive to put their clients first and can gather evidence on your behalf.

Contact us today to check whether you can pursue a hit and run claim today. We can help set your claim up and connect you with a specialist road traffic accident solicitor from our panel, who can guide you through the hit and run claims process. 

Do Time Limits Apply To A Hit And Run Claim?

Yes, a 3-year time limit will typically apply to a hit and run claim, commencing from the date the accident took place. This is established by the Limitation Act 1980, but this legislation does pause the time limit for minors and mentally incapacitated individuals. That is because individuals from these categories cannot claim on their own if they are under 18 or lack the capacity to manage their own affairs.

Instead, the claims time limit will only take effect from the date of a claimant’s:

• 18th birthday. 
• Recovery of their mental capacity, if at all. 

While the time limit is paused for these claimants, a loved one can step in and pursue compensation for them as a litigation friend. 

To learn more about the role and the limitation period in general, please read our dedicated car accident claims time limit guide. You can also have a chat with one of our advisors, who would be happy to answer any questions you have.

How Can A Solicitor Help Me To Claim After A Hit And Run?

A solicitor can help you to claim after a hit and run by identifying and obtaining sources of evidence, communicating with all parties involved, and negotiating the best settlement possible for you. Here at UK Law, our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors offers the kind of client-focused support that can only be provided thanks to years of combined experience advocating on behalf of clients nationwide.

To help you in many ways through each step of the hit and run claims process, they can:

• Collect and present your evidence. 
• Negotiate to ensure that the settlement is fair and accurately covers all of your suffering. 
• Correspond with all parties involved in the case on your behalf. 
• Organise the legal representation you need if the case is sent to court (which will be very unlikely, as most hit and run claims are settled before ever reaching this stage).
• Set you up with rehabilitation specialists to assist your recovery in the short and long term. 
• Explain legal jargon you come across. 
• Send you prompt updates to keep you in control of the claims process. 

The fact that these services are provided on a No Win No Fee basis (under a Conditional Fee Agreement) means you:

• Don’t have to pay any upfront service fees for your solicitor’s work.
• Don’t get charged service fees while the case is in progress. 
• Don’t pay any fees at all for your solicitor’s work if the case is lost. 

Moreover, you will keep the majority of the compensation if the case is successful. That is because your solicitor will just keep a small, legally-capped percentage of your compensation if you win (known as the success fee).

Contact UK Law’s Advisors

For further guidance, contact UK Law’s friendly advisors to chat anytime about your hit and run accident. They are available 24/7, and can confirm your claim eligibility with no pressure or obligation to proceed with our services:

• Call 020 3870 4868
• Fill out the form on our ‘Claim Online‘ page. 
• Send a message in our live on-screen chat box. 

Learn More

You can learn more about road traffic accident claims by browsing our related guides:

• Read about split liability claims.
• See how to claim as a passenger.
• Find out who is liable in a multi-vehicle pileup.

Additionally, you can explore these pages:

• Police.UK – Information on what to do after road collisions and incidents. 
• Think! – Government campaign featuring advice for road users.
• Gov.UK – apply for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you’ve taken time off work for your injuries. 

We hope that you now feel more confident about the hit and run claims process, and please remember that our friendly advisors are here to answer any questions you may have at any time.