Hit And Run Accident Compensation Claims

Being involved in a road traffic accident can be highly distressing. You may have suffered significant injuries which require specialist treatment, and your vehicle may have also become damaged in the process. Usually, you would be able to make a claim against the person at fault – but what happens if they flee the scene?

Unfortunately, hit and run accidents do happen, making it harder for you to get the justice you deserve. With no information about the absconding driver, it becomes practically impossible to trace them in an attempt to hold them responsible.

The good news is, Compare Compensation Claims can help. We can assist you with your claim by helping you find and compare high quality legal representation to give you the best possible chance of receiving the financial compensation you’re entitled to.

Can I Make A Hit And Run Compensation Claim?

If you have been involved in a hit and run accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be eligible for compensation. In a hit and run accident, the driver responsible for causing an accident flees the scene without stopping to provide their contact information to the other people involved in the accident or to report the incident to the police. This means that you can’t claim against their insurance the same way you would in any other road traffic accident.

You may be wondering about claiming through your insurance but in doing so, you may lose some or even all of your no claims discount, and you may end up paying a large excess. Unless you have comprehensive cover, there is also a chance that you could end up paying for the repairs yourself and losing your insurance benefits because there is no one for you to claim against.

The alternative is to file your claim with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) who act like an insurer in that they investigate the accident to establish what happened and who was at fault. As the driver didn’t stop, they will be difficult to trace meaning the MIB will rely on you to assist them in their investigation by providing the necessary details and evidence.

Dealing directly with the MIB can be long-winded, complex and frustrating at times as you do a lot of the work yourself. Therefore, it may be a good idea to find a specialist lawyer to take control of your case and progress it forward. Making the process as easy and stress-free as possible, we are here for you and can assist you in finding a suitably qualified solicitor to ultimately get you the payout you deserve.

The duration of a hit and run claim to the MIB from start to finish does vary depending on how complex the case is. Straightforward cases can be settled in a few months whereas more complicated cases can last a lot longer. Your solicitor will work with you to ensure you receive the best outcome as soon as possible.

How To Make A Hit And Run Compensation Claim

If you are involved in a hit and run accident, there are a number of things you can do to prove it was not your fault and claim the compensation you deserve, even if the driver to blame cannot be traced.

Fees And Compensation

Working with a solicitor will help you to settle your case more quickly and give you the best possible outcome. The good news is you won’t lose any money through hiring a solicitor as the majority of solicitors work on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. This means you don’t pay anything if your case is unsuccessful. If it is successful, you pay what is known as a success fee which is a set percentage of your compensation amount. Legally, this is capped at 25%.

It can be difficult to predict how much compensation you will receive. The exact amount you are entitled to will depend on a number of different factors, including:

• Physical injuries
• Impact on your mental health
• Medical treatment costs
• Loss or reduction of income
• Impact on your quality of life
• Travel expenses
• Changes necessary to your home or vehicle.

For an estimate on how much hit and run compensation you may receive, simply add a few details into our claim calculator tool.

Time Limits On Making A Claim

It is important to start the claims process as soon as you can. This is partly because the MIB may cover private medical treatment, speeding up your recovery period. It is also because there’s a three year time limit which usually starts from the date of your hit and run accident. There are exceptions to this. For example, in the case of a minor, the three year time limit doesn’t start until they turn 18.