By Danielle Nicholson. Last Updated 30th September 2022. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a hit and run accident then you may think that, if the driver has not been identified, that you can’t make a compensation claim for any injuries sustained but that’s not always the case.
There are schemes in place in the UK which protect injured parties following a hit and run injury which means, here at Advice.co.uk, we can help anybody who’s been injured if the accident was caused by the driver who left the scene.
This is true for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclist, passengers and drivers as well.
If you’d like us to begin a claim for your injuries today, then please call us on 0161 696 9685 and one of our team will listen to the details of your accident right away.
If you’d like to know more information first, then carry on reading this guide.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Compensation Claims For A Hit And Run Accident
- Hit And Run Accident And Injury Compensation Calculator
- What Can A Hit And Run Injury Claim Include?
- What Is A Hit And Run?
- What Can Cause A Hit And Run Accident?
- Where Can You Claim Compensation From After A Hit And Run Accident?
- Hit And Run Claims Through The Motor Insurers’ Bureau
- Should I Claim Through My Own Insurance?
- Hit And Run Accident Claims On Behalf Of A Child
- Common Types Of Hit And Run Injuries
- Hit And Run Whiplash Injury Claims
- Claim For Fatal Injuries Resulting From A Hit And Run Accident
- Can I Claim If I Was Cycling When Injured In A Hit And Run Accident
- Hit And Run Accident Claims Time Limits
- What Steps Do I Need To Take If Injured In A Hit And Run Accident?
- How Do I Start A Hit And Run Injury Claim?
- No Win No Fee Claims For Hit And Run Accident Injuries
- Why Make Your Claim With Our Team?
- Call Our Team Of Advisors
- Additional Information
A Guide To Compensation Claims For A Hit And Run Accident
Any road traffic accident can be traumatic, regardless of the injuries sustained by any victims. When the person responsible flees the scene of the accident though (known as hit and run), the trauma is multiplied.
Hit and run accident claims guide
The other driver may have left the scene because they simply weren’t aware the accident had occurred, had committed a criminal offence such as drink driving or were uninsured and wanted to avoid criminal prosecution.
Whatever the reason for a hit and run accident, this guide will explain what you should do in the event of an accident, what amount of compensation you may be entitled to, who the Motor Insurers Bureau are and how no win no fee services can be used to make your claim.
We want to ensure that you’re fully equipped with the correct information prior to making a claim so, if you can’t find all of the information you need within this guide, you can contact one of our team for free legal advice about making a hit and run accident claim.
Hit And Run Accident And Injury Compensation Calculator
When some people start making a claim, one of the first things they look for is a personal injury claims calculator to see how much compensation they may be entitled to.
Unfortunately, calculators aren’t really very accurate as it’s impossible for them to calculate all of the different parts of a claim that can be made (when you read the next section, you’ll understand this better).
The part of claim that calculators can handle is called General Damages which is the part for pain and suffering. Rather than a calculator, we’ve provided a table, below, which shows different types of injuries that could be sustained during a hit and run accident:
| Type of Injury/ Body Part | Level of Severity | How Much Could You Claim? | Further Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries With Financial Losses | Severe | Up to £1,000,000+ | Compensation for multiple injuries that are severe plus special damages such as a loss of earnings. |
| Brain/Head Injury | Very Severe Brain Damage | £282,010 to £403,990 | Little or no response to environment, little or no language function and double incontinence. There may be some ability to follow basic commands and recovery of sleep and waking patterns. |
| Arm Injury | Severe | £96,160 to £130,930 | The injuries will fall short of amputation but will still be incredibly serious and leave the claimant little better off than if the arm had been lost. |
| Hand Injury | (B) | £55,820 to £84,570 | Serious damage to both hands. There will be a significant loss of function and permanent cosmetic issues. |
| Knee Injury | Severe (ii) | £52,120 to £69,730 | Leg fractures that extend into the knee joint. This will cause permanent pain alongside other issues. |
| Back Injury | Moderate (ii) | £12,510 to £27,760 | Could include disturbance of muscles and ligaments. It could also involve the exacerbation of a pre-existing condition. |
| Foot Injury | Serious | £24,990 to £39,200 | Injuries leading to the risk of future arthritis or continuous pain from traumatic arthritis. There will also be a need for prolonged treatment and risk of fusion surgery. |
| Wrist Injury | (C) | £12,590 to £24,500 | Less severe injuries where the result is still some form of permanent disability. |
This shows the compensation range that can be applied to any particular injury. For a more thorough assessment of your injury and to get a better estimate of how much compensation you might receive, give us a call to speak with one of our specialist advisers.
What Can A Hit And Run Injury Claim Include?
As discussed in the previous section, a hit and run lawyer can use multiple elements in a claim to ensure their client is fully compensated for both physical and financial losses.
The point of any compensation is to ensure that you can recover fully (physically, mentally and financially) and that you aren’t left worse off because of the accident. The main parts of a claim (or Heads of Loss in legal terms) are:
General Damages
These constitute the financial compensation awarded to cover the pain and suffering caused because of the injuries, examples of payment amounts can be seen in the table from the previous section.
Special Damages
Away from the injury itself, Special Damages are compensation designed to reimburse any financial losses caused because of the accident including:
Personal Property Costs
If any item of personal property was damaged during the accident such as clothing, your mobile phone or jewellery then the cost of replacement or repairs can be claimed back.
Medical Treatment
There are some cases where NHS treatment isn’t sufficient, and more specialist care is required. If this can be proven by medical experts, then the costs can be claimed back. Ensure you speak with a personal injury solicitor prior to undertaking this kind of treatment to ensure you’ll be able to claim the cost back.
Future loss of income and current lost income
If you have to change jobs because of your injuries or are unable to work at all then it is possible that you will be compensated for future lost income.
The same is true if you remain in your job but require time off to recover or to attend medical treatment. In this case, if your employer doesn’t offer full sick pay, then you can claim for the lost earnings.
These are just a sample of the parts of a claim your solicitor can make so it’s vital that you give them as much information as possible. Once a claim is settled, you are unable to go back and ask for more compensation, even if it is a valid claim.
What Is A Hit And Run?
Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 sets out what you must do following a road traffic accident if a person is injured, or property is damaged. This includes:
- Stopping
- Giving your name and address, or the name and address of the vehicle’s owner, and the vehicle’s registration number to anyone requiring them, such as the other driver or the police.
- If you failed to give your contact details at the scene, you need to report these to the police within 24 hours.
- Present an insurance certificate at the time of the accident or present it to the police within seven days.
You might ask, ‘what is a hit and run’? A hit and run is when the above procedures are not adhered to. It can involve a car hit and run between two vehicles or it can involve a driver fleeing the scene after hitting a pedestrian or cyclist.
You can still make a hit and run claim even if the driver remains unidentified. We explain the process for claiming through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) further in this guide.
What Can Cause A Hit And Run Accident?
Hit and run accidents make up about 12% of all road traffic accidents in the UK (or those that have been reported to the police, which isn’t every accident).
Some drivers don’t believe the accident is serious enough and simply leave the scene, but it is a very serious offence that, if prosecuted, can result in:
- A driving ban
- A fine
- Up to 10 penalty points on the offender’s driver’s license
- In serious cases, imprisonment.
Other reasons that people commit hit and run offences include drink driving, dangerous driving, panic, no insurance for the vehicle they’re driving or fear for what might happen to the them.
Where Can You Claim Compensation From After A Hit And Run Accident?
When you sustain a hit and run injury, there are still a number of ways to make a claim for compensation, depending on if the driver can be tracked down or not.
The 3 options are to:
- To claim through your own insurance
- To claim through the Motor Insurers Bureau
- Or to make a personal injury claim
Advice.co.uk can offer you free legal advice, once we’ve understood your accident better.
Hit And Run Claims Through The Motor Insurers’ Bureau
The Motor Insurers Bureau is a non-profit organisation which can help compensate victims of hit and run accidents or where the other driver was not insured.
They can compensate you for injuries to anybody in the vehicle, or pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists or drivers where you can prove that the other driver didn’t stop at the scene of the accident (usually with witness reports and police crime reference number) and that the injuries you are claiming for were caused by the accident (usually with medical records from a doctor or hospital). If the driver is wanting to claim it will have to be proved that the third party driver was to blame. It is vital that the incident is reported to the Police right away in order to claim through the MIB.
In the event that your own vehicle is damaged, the MIB may also pay out for the costs of repair in certain circumstances. It would have to be proven that the third party driver driver was at fault, so dashcam footage or witness statements could be vital.
Here at Advice.co.uk, we have specialist advisers who can help you with the complexities of claiming through the MIB if you wish to go down this route so please get in touch.
Should I Claim Through My Own Insurance?
You can always make a claim for damage to your vehicle from your own fully comprehensive insurance policy but the problem, in most cases, is that you’ll have to pay any excess costs on your policy and also are likely to lose your no claims bonus.
If you do go down this route your insurer is likely to ask for evidence including the crime reference number, the other vehicle’s details, witness details and photographs showing the damage to the vehicle.
Speak to our team if you’d like to no which type of claim would be right in your case.
Hit And Run Accident Claims On Behalf Of A Child
As a parent, guardian or responsible adult you may be able to claim for compensation if a child is injured by a hit and run driver by becoming a litigation friend.
This means that, up until the child turns 18 you could seek compensation for the child’s injuries and, in serious accidents, any modifications to the home and any care costs.
If you don’t do this, the child has 3 years from their 18th birthday to make their own compensation claim.
Common Types Of Hit And Run Injuries
Some of the more common types of injuries sustained in hit and run accidents include:
- Head and brain injuries where there is an impact to the head. This could the steering wheel or seat in a car or with the pavement in the case of pedestrians involved in hit and run accidents.
- Back injuries can occur when the car is hit from behind. The severity of the injury can vary massively depending on type of impact ranging from minor bruising through to complete paralysis.
- Neck injuries are common in car collisions, especially whiplash injuries but in more severe cases this can result in injuries that require physiotherapy, surgery and long-term care.
- Internal injuries can occur from other injuries such as broken ribs puncturing internal organs like lungs. Some injuries aren’t immediately obvious which can be very dangerous and cause long-term problems.
- Psychological damage can occur following the trauma of a hit and run accident such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.
This is a small sample of the more common injuries caused by hit and run accidents but the team at Advice.co.uk can help with any type of injury so long as the hit and run driver was the person who caused the accident and subsequent injuries.
Hit And Run Whiplash Injury Claims
Whiplash is a very common injury sustained in road traffic accidents, even when the impact was fairly minor.
The symptoms may not be immediately obvious and can resolve itself over days or weeks following any accident but you should ensure you visit a doctor for a proper assessment and treatment of your injuries to ensure there is nothing more serious causing any pain.
Claim For Fatal Injuries Resulting From A Hit And Run Accident
There is no scenario in which money can compensate, or replace, the death of a loved one following a hit and run accident but there are cases where it’s important to make a claim.
Under UK legislation a dependent of the victim can seek compensation in the same way that the victim could have, had they not been killed in the accident. It can be vital, especially if the victim was the main breadwinner in the family, as the claim can help the dependent person to be able to cover everyday expense while they adjust following the fatality.
A dependent can be a partner or spouse, a relative, somebody who’s co-habited with the victim for at least 2 years, children (including step and adopted children) and parents or grandparents of the victim.
We understand that this type of claim will be difficult as well as complex so we can offer free legal advice to you, with no pressure or obligation, should you need it.
Can I Claim If I Was Cycling When Injured In A Hit And Run Accident
Cyclist injured in hit and run
The short answer to this question is, yes. If you’ve been injured while cycling by a hit and run driver you could seek damages from the MIB.
If the third party, who left the scene was responsible for the incident and your injuries you could be able to seek compensation for any injuries caused by a hit and run driver.
Please call one of our specially trained advisers for further advice on how to begin a claim.
Hit And Run Accident Claims Time Limits
As is the case with all personal injury claims, there are time limits for making a hit and run accident claim. These are:
| Type of Claim | Time Limit |
|---|---|
| Personal Injury Claim | 3 Years from date of incident or knowledge of injury. |
| Claim via the Motor Insurers Bureau | 3 years (may vary) |
If you’re unsure whether your claim is still valid, please contact us for verification.
What Steps Do I Need To Take If Injured In A Hit And Run Accident?
When you’re involved in a hit and run accident, you’re very likely to be dazed and confused by the ensuing situation but the first concern should be to seek medical treatment for any body who’s been injured in the accident.
You should also report the crime, as all hit and run accidents are criminal offences, to the police, either by dialling 999 or 101 for less urgent accidents. The police may attend the scene or ask for details over the phone but, to be able to claim from the Motor Insurers Bureau, you must report the accident to police.
Once everyone has received treatment you should make an assessment at the scene as to whether your vehicle needs recovering or not and then you can gather some evidence which will help with any compensation claim you decide to pursue. This can include:
- Writing down the number plate of the other vehicle if you saw any part of it.
- Writing down the details of the car such as colour, make and model and their direction of travel following the accident.
- Asking any witnesses for a statement of what they saw at the time of the accident, their contact details and, if their vehicle has a dashcam, ask for a copy of the recent footage.
- Photograph the scene of the accident, including any damage to your own vehicle and any immediately obvious injuries.
All of these will provide evidence that the accident happened and help a personal injury solicitor to begin a claim for you.
How Do I Start A Hit And Run Injury Claim?
The first thing to do, to begin your claim, is to get in touch with us at Advice.co.uk. We have a team of claim specialists ready to take the details of your claim and who can advise on how likely you are to receive compensation for your injuries.
We offer a free consultation to start with and then, if we agree that your case is likely to be won, we’ll connect you with a personal injury solicitor who works on a no win no fee basis.
No Win No Fee Claims For Hit And Run Accident Injuries
One of the main reasons people don’t claim compensation for accidents, including hit and runs, is that they worry about the financial risk of making the claim.
With no win no fee claims, this worry is taken away because, if the solicitor loses your case, then you don’t pay them for any of the time they’ve put in to preparing your case.
When you sign up to no win no fee, you’ll be provided with a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) which specifies how much of your compensation the solicitor will keep (up to a maximum of 25%) if they win and then, when compensation is received, they send the remainder to you.
It is true that with other types of agreements, you’ll keep 100% of any compensation that is won for you, but you have to pay the solicitor out of your own pocket, even if they lose the case.
Why Make Your Claim With Our Team?
All of our friendly team strive to ensure that you receive the correct amount of compensation that your injuries deserve. When you decide to contact us, we’ll follow this process:
| Step One: Get in touch with our team via email, phone or our live chat. | Step Two: We’ll assess your claim with you. | Step Three: When you’re ready, we’ll commence your claim for you. |
Call Our Team Of Advisors
Whether you’ve been involved in a minor hit and run accident or are claiming because of fatality, Advice.co.uk can help with claims from anywhere across the UK. We are personal injury specialists and only work with solicitors who offer no win no fee agreements.
If you’re happy to begin your claim with us today, then you can contact us via:
- Telephone: Call us on 0161 696 9685 to speak with a member of our team straight away.
- Email: Send a message, with details of your accident, to [email protected]
- Online: Fill in this quick form and we’ll get in touch with you
However you choose, we’ll always offer free advice and a free consultation prior to any claim you decide to make, we’ll honestly assess your claim and advise you if you’ve got good grounds to continue with a no win no fee claim.
Additional Information
How To Claim Compensation Through The Motor Insurers Bureau Compensation Calculator
If you have been involved in a hit and run find out if you are eligible to claim compensation through the Motor Insurers Bureau ( MIB ).
A Guide To Making A Car Accident Claim
View our guide to making a car accident claim for injuries and car damages.
How To Claim Compensation For A Pedestrian Accident Claim?
If you are a pedestrian who has been injured in a hit and run accident find out if you are eligible to claim compensation and get free legal advice.
A Guide To Cycling Accident Claims
Have you been knocked of your cycle by a hit and run driver? find out if you are eligible to claim for a cyclist accident contact us today.
Here are some more useful guides which we think are relevant and may help you further:
Whiplash Injuries – a guide from the NHS about whiplash injuries, symptoms and treatment.
Motor Insurers Bureau – the non profit organisation setup to protect those injured by uninsured drivers and hit and run victims.
If you require any further information, then please contact a member of our team.
Edited by MM.