What Happens if the Driver Who Hit Me Was Uninsured or Didn’t Stop

Discovering that the driver who injured you was uninsured, or watching the vehicle disappear without stopping, can add anger and helplessness to an already frightening accident.

A common assumption is that without an insurer, or without the driver’s identity, there is nobody from whom compensation can be obtained. In the UK that is not necessarily the case. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau exists in part to deal with qualifying claims involving uninsured and untraced drivers.

Report the accident and preserve what you know

If the other driver is uninsured or has failed to stop, report the matter to the police and retain the reference information.

For a hit-and-run, small details may matter: part of a registration, vehicle make or colour, direction of travel, location, dashcam footage, nearby CCTV and witness information.

Do not put yourself or others at risk trying to pursue a fleeing vehicle.

Tell your own insurer as well. Your policy may contain cover or procedures relevant to the accident even where the other driver cannot be identified.

What does the Motor Insurers’ Bureau do?

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the motor-insurance industry. It operates arrangements that can compensate qualifying victims where an accident was caused by an uninsured driver or an untraced driver, as well as certain other situations.

MIB allows people to make claims directly. You can also choose professional representation.

Uninsured and untraced cases are not identical. The applicable agreement, evidence and eligibility requirements can differ, so check the current MIB guidance for the type of accident involved.

What will I need for a claim?

MIB’s process asks for information about the accident and your losses. Depending on the claim, that can include police information, medical evidence, details of the vehicle or driver where known, witnesses and financial losses.

Complex or serious-injury cases may justify independent legal advice, particularly where future care, earnings or rehabilitation are involved.

The important point is not to abandon the possibility of help simply because the driver had no insurance or disappeared.

The emotional effect can be different too

Hit-and-run victims can become preoccupied with the fact that somebody left them. Anger may focus not only on the collision but on the decision to drive away.

If the driver was uninsured, you may feel that somebody else’s disregard for the rules has left you carrying the consequences.

Those emotions can sit alongside fear, pain and financial pressure. A compensation route can address certain legal losses, but it does not process anger, fear or traumatic memories for you.

Counselling can provide a separate space for that. You do not need to wait for the driver to be identified or for a claim to conclude before addressing how the event has affected you.

Important informationThis guide provides general information and is not intended to provide legal, financial, medical or other professional advice. Individual circumstances can be different. You may wish to check current information from official sources and seek advice from an appropriately qualified professional before making important decisions.