By Richard Robinson. Last Updated 28th January 2021. If you have been involved in a hit and run accident and been injured as a result, then you may be able to claim for hit and run compensation even if the person to blame has not been caught or identified.
Hit and run UK accidents may involve drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists. Even though it is a criminal offence to leave the scene of an accident, unfortunately, there are a lot of cases where this still happens regardless. If you have been injured through no fault of your own due to a hit and run accident, you may be considering making a claim for compensation.
Hit and run accident claims are often more complex than general road traffic accident claims especially if the person liable is unknown, however, it can still be done and our expert panel of solicitors at Legal Helpline can help you to successfully claim the hit and run compensation you rightly deserve. Just call us on 0333 000 0729 and we can help and guide you on the best course of action to take.
Jump to a Section
- Hit and run compensation claims guide
- Hit and run definition
- Statistics for hit and run accidents in the UK
- Why do hit and run accidents happen?
- Types of hit and run accidents
- I’ve been injured in a hit and run accident, what should I do?
- Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) hit and run claims
- What compensation could I claim for following a hit and run accident?
- Hit and run compensation calculator
- Can Legal Helpline process my hit and run compensation claim?
- No Win No Fee Compensation Claims
- Contact Legal Helpline to start a hit and run compensation claim today
- Helpful Links and Resources
Hit and run compensation claims guide
Legal Helpline has put together this guide to reassure you that help is available and compensation can successfully be claimed when you have been involved in a hit and run accident.
Unfortunately, accidents classed as hit and runs are fairly common in the UK despite them being illegal. This tends to happen generally because the driver who was at fault either, panics, doesn’t have insurance or does not want to be involved in a legal battle. Astonishingly, some driver’s aren’t even aware that they have indeed hit something or someone and drive off not knowing what they have done, this is rare, however.
Hit and run compensation claim
The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) is a company whereby victims of vehicle accidents can claim compensation when it is impossible to go through the usual route such as when the person liable for the accident flees the scene, or they haven’t the legally required insurance cover. The MIB was created to ensure that victims of hit and run accidents, and accidents involving uninsured drivers, could still claim compensation for the financial burden they may be left with as a result of an accident that wasn’t their fault.
In this guide, you will find lots of helpful information such as what to do after a hit and run accident, what is involved in hit and run compensation claims, why reporting a hit and run accident UK is important, how much you might receive in compensation and much more. Hopefully, the guide will provide the answers to the many questions you may have about hit and run compensation claims. However, for further information, help and advice, please don’t hesitate to contact Legal Helpline.
Hit and run definition
A hit and run accident is when the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident, possibly involving other road users, pedestrians or property, and who is responsible for causing the accident, leaves the scene of the accident without leaving their name, insurance or any contact details. According to hit and run accident UK law, it is a criminal act for a driver responsible for causing an accident to flee the scene without leaving their details.
Statistics for hit and run accidents in the UK
There are no national statistics in relation to hit and run accidents, unfortunately. However, to give us some insight we can look at the response to a Freedom of Information Request by North Yorkshire Police, dated 23rd October 2020.
Between January 2019 and December 2019, there were a total of 131 hit and run accidents reported to North Yorkshire Police. From January 2020 to September 2020, the figure is 68.
The top 3 types of vehicle involved in hit and run accidents in the North Yorkshire area for 2019 and 2020 combined were:
- Car – 153 incidents
- Van/Goods vehicle – 23 incidents
- Pedal cycle – 8 incidents.
Although these figures are regional, they provide great insight into the nature of hit and run accidents. Cars are significantly more likely to be involved in hit and run road traffic accidents than any other vehicle type.
So if you’ve been injured in similar circumstances, you may be entitled to hit and run compensation. Get in touch with our personal injury claims team today to find out if you could take action.
Why do hit and run accidents happen?
Hit and run accidents are more common than you think. It is estimated that half of these are reported by witnesses such as pedestrians and other drivers who were present when it happened.
Leaving the scene of a road traffic accident that you were involved in is a criminal offence and you may be faced with the following as punishment:
- A penalty fine that is unlimited
- As many as 10 penalty points
- Imprisonment
- Losing your licence and being disqualified from driving
According to the MIB, as many as 45% of hit and run drivers hadn’t realised that it was a criminal offence, and had they known, they would not have fled the scene.
Commonly, drivers aged between 16 and 34 tend to leave the scene of an accident because of, lack of insurance, they had been drinking alcohol, they just panicked or because they were scared of the consequences that may follow. Whereas drivers aged 34 and over commonly chose not to stop as they didn’t think the accident was serious enough to be reported.
Types of hit and run accidents
There are many different ways in which a hit and run accident may occur resulting in someone becoming injured. Some of the more common types of hit and run accident include:
- As a pedestrian – If you were injured in a hit and run car accident as a pedestrian, you will have good reason to make a compensation claim. Your case could even be strengthened if the accident involved in the vehicle mounting the pavement or knocking into you whilst you were crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing as the driver is clearly breaking the highway code and dangerously driving.
- As a cyclist – just as with drivers who are victims of hit and run accidents, cyclists can also claim hit and run compensation through the MIB.
- Children hit by an uninsured driver – If a child below the age of 18 is injured by a hit and run driver, the parents of the child can make a compensation claim on their behalf. Once they turn 18, if a claim has not already been made, they have until they turn 21 to make a claim themselves. Any monies awarded to the child will be put into a child trust fund until they reach 18 when they will be able to access the compensation. However if the child needs medical care or other incurs other costs due to their injury, the compensation can be used for payment of this if the court grants the parent’s permission to use it for this purpose.
- Those with whiplash from the hit and run accident – Although whiplash usually gets better on its own in time, occasionally, the victim can have long-lasting problems associated with this injury. Whiplash claims are the most common hit and run injury claim and we process hit and run compensation claims for whiplash all of the time.
- Hit and run accidents resulting in a fatality – No amount of money will ever take away the traumatic and distressing experience losing a loved one can bring. However, claiming compensation can reduce the financial burden loved ones and dependants may be faced with after their loved one’s unexpected death. The Fatal Accidents Act 1976 states that dependants of someone who has been killed in a road traffic accident can claim for compensation. Dependants can include:
- Partner or Spouse. Or ex-partner or ex-spouse.
- Children, step-children, adopted children.
- Relatives such as parents or grandparents that are dependent on the deceased.
- Relatives such as siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins etc.
- Anyone who has been living for more than 2 years with the deceased.
I’ve been injured in a hit and run accident, what should I do?
If you have been injured in a hit and car accident, you may be worrying that there is nothing you can do about it as you haven’t any details about the driver who was to blame, however, you really needn’t worry as although it makes the process more complicated, you can still make a hit and run compensation claim. In order to ease some of the complexity surrounding hit and run car accident claims, there are a number of things you can do to help if possible, such as:
- Witnesses – In cases where the driver at fault has fled the scene, it’s imperative to gather as many witnesses as possible as not only will they be able to back up your claim, their account may also give clues leading to the identity of the driver liable. Therefore gather as many witness contact details as possible, they may be pedestrians, cyclists, other drivers or just people who were in the area at the time.
- Photos – If possible, take as many photos as you can capturing the accident site, any damage caused to other vehicles or property as well as your own and also of the injuries you have sustained. When photographing the scene of the accident, try to take photos from all angles to give a better overview of what happened.
- The UK has a fantastic network of CCTV and so if you are unable to record any witness statements or take photographs perhaps due to your injuries, don’t worry, your accident is more than likely recorded on one of the many cameras.
- Medical Assistance – Of course, the most important thing to do is to see a medical professional and get any injuries checked. This is most important, certainly for your health’s sake, but also so that you will be able to provide a medical report on the type and severity of your injury.
Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) hit and run claims
When dealing with your hit and run compensation claim, if we are unable to identify the offending driver or find out that they were uninsured, the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) is the organisation that we will obtain your funds from for your accident.
The compensation is paid out through the MIB who will pay it through using the insurance premium of motorists. The MIB work alongside the Police, Motor Insurance Companies and the DVLA.
If you hire us as your claim experts, we will deal with the MIB on your behalf to get the hit and run compensation amount owing to you.
What compensation could I claim for following a hit and run accident?
When making a compensation claim, you want to ensure that you claim for the maximum amount possible so that you can cover any costs you may have incurred and to be able to afford any future costs that you may face as a direct result of your injury, and to also feel that you had some justice for the pain and suffering you have endured.
Although the main influence on the amount you get awarded is the type of injury you have sustained and it’s severity, there are other factors that need to be included which will then all be added together to make up your final settlement amount. Things to be included in your claim are:
- General Damages – These are the physical and psychological aspects of your claim and the main deciding factor of the amount you will be awarded. So these reflect the severity of your injury, the pain and suffering you have experienced and your future prognosis. Psychological problems such as anxiety, panic attacks, depression and so on, brought on by, or made worse by the accident will also be considered under general damages.
- Special Damages – These reflect the financial implications of your accident and include the following:
- Medical Expenses – Any medical fees for treatments, prescriptions, counselling etc should be included in the claim.
- Travel Expenses – If you have extra travel costs due to your injury, or have had to make any vehicle adaptions, you can include these within your claim.
- Loss of Income – Any income that you have lost, or future income you may potentially lose as a direct result of your injury should be included.
- Care Claim – If you have needed help around the home or carers to look after you because of your injury, you can claim for this.
It is important to keep any receipts and records of expenses that are of a direct result of your injury, as in order to claim the money back for these in your compensation claim, you will need to show proof that these expenses are genuine.
Hit and run compensation calculator
It is impossible to correctly predict the exact hit and run compensation amount you may get awarded as every case in unique and individual and consists of many different variables that all have an effect on the final settlement amount. Some personal injury claims firms might claim that by using a hit and run compensation calculator, they can tell you what you are going to be awarded, but this just isn’t possible as, as already explained, there are too many parts that make up the final compensation amount and a decision will not be made until everything has been considered in court. However, that being said, although we cannot advise an exact amount you might receive, we can show average amounts that have been awarded for certain injuries in accordance with the latest judicial guidelines in order to give you at least some idea of the amount you might possibly be looking to receive.
| Reason for Compensation | Average Amount Awarded | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Head Injuries | £2,070 to £11,980 | Any damage to the brain will be minimal with expected full recovery within a few weeks. |
| Less Severe to Moderate Brain Injury | £14,380 to £205,580 | Injury to the brain causing memory and focusing problems, and personality changes. The higher amount awarded to those with more severe damage. |
| Moderately Severe to Very Severe Brain Injury | £205,580 to £379,100 | Symptoms similar to those above but more severe. The higher amount will be for very severe problems where brain is damaged to the extent the victim has no quality of life and no awareness of their surroundings. |
| Minor to Severe Back Injury | Around £2,300 to £151,070 | Soft tissue, disc and muscular injury with expected full recovery, to severe damage to spinal cord and nerve damage with on-going permanent pain and suffering. |
| Lesser to Severe Pelvis and Hip Injury | £3,710 to £122,860 | Soft tissue injury with full recovery, to complicated fractures and dislocations resulting in permanent disability. |
| Less Severe to Severe Leg Injury | £11,110 or less to £127,530 | Soft tissue injury and simple fractures to severe breaks resulting in surgery, possible permanent disability and on- going pain and suffering. |
| Minor to Severe Shoulder Injury | From around £2,300 to £45,070 | Soft tissue injuries with full recovery expected, to major break or dislocation needing corrective surgery, full recovery unlikely. |
| Simple Fractures to Severe Arm Injury | £6,190 to £122,860 | Simple fractures and soft tissue injuries, to severe damage to arm resulting in loss of function and permanent disability. |
| Minor to Severe Elbow Injury | £11,820 or less to £51,460 | Injuries to the elbow that usually heal within one year, to severe damage and permanent impairment of the elbow joint. |
| Minor to Severe Wrist Injury | £3,310 to £56,180 | Very minor undisplaced fractures to severe fractures and damage leading to loss of function. |
| Moderate to Severe Hand Injury | £5,260 to £58,100 | Simple fracture that heals completely in under six months, to severe damage to hands rendering them permanently useless. |
| Minor to Severe Knee Injury | £12,900 or less to £90,290 | Damage to the knee but full recovery expected, to severe dislocation and disruption of the knee joint resulting in osteoarthritis and permanent on-going pain, discomfort and disability. |
| Loss of income | £5,000 - £500,000 | This will depend on the claimants pay grade at the time of the accident. |
| Mental Anguish | Up to £4,380 | Fear of impending death and unexpected loss of life. |
As can be seen, the more severe the injury is, the higher the compensation payout will be and so to get the correct compensation payout amount that reflects your injury, it is really important to get a medical diagnosis.
Again, these are just average amounts that could be awarded but are not a promise of the amount you may actually get awarded. For more information, give Legal Helpline a call.
Can Legal Helpline process my hit and run compensation claim?
Legal Helpline has been helping people for a number of years successfully claim the compensation they deserve for being injured in a hit and run accident. We deal with many different personal injury claims, but with hit and run accidents on the rise, we have frequently dealt with more and more of these types of accident claims over the years.
We offer a fantastic service that includes a free, no-obligation consultation session where you can discuss the details of your potential case with a personal injury claims solicitor completely free of charge, we can offer you a free, local medical if required and we work with a fantastic no win no fee policy that takes away any worries of how filing a compensation claim using a solicitor may affect your finances because quite simply, it doesn’t.
We are respected in our field as being highly professional and good at our job of successfully winning our client’s the compensation that they deserve, often securing them the maximum compensation payout possible.
We are not only very experienced and good at what we do, but we are also friendly, reliable and sincere in our efforts to help you. We understand that you are most likely going through a stressful time at the moment and so try our best to work as quickly, efficiently and as effectively as possible, to get your compensation claim to completion whilst keeping you informed every step of the way, allowing you the time to concentrate on your recovery.
No Win No Fee Compensation Claims
One of the main reasons people often put off making a compensation claim is that they cannot afford the cost of having a solicitor to conduct their case for them, or sometimes, although they might be able to afford the solicitor’s fees, they don’t want to risk losing any money they have paid out if they were to lose their case.
We have the solution to this problem. Our panel of solicitors works on a no win no fee basis. If we take on your case for you but fail to win, we will not ask you to pay us anything at all for any of the work undertaken on your case, as the name suggests, no win no fee means no fee to be paid. However, in the more likely case that we do win your case for you, we simply take our fee as a small percentage of your final settlement amount once it has been paid.
No win no fee allows our clients to have the best legal help to win their case without any financial risks as there are no payments upfront or during the claiming process required, and therefore their current finances are not affected at all.
Contact Legal Helpline to start a hit and run compensation claim today
If you’re interested in having Legal Helpline conduct your compensation claim on your behalf, give them a call on 0333 000 0729.
On answering your call and asking just a few short questions, you will be offered a free, no-obligation consultation session so that you can ask any questions you may have regarding making your claim completely free of charge, and we can use the time to gather information from you surrounding your case to make an informed decision as to whether you have a valid claim.
In most circumstances, if your claim is legitimate, we will offer to run your compensation claim on your behalf under a no win no fee agreement. We may also offer you a free, local medical if we feel it could be beneficial to your case.
Once we have all the details, we can set about gathering further evidence in support of your claim to build you a strong case in readiness for starting court proceedings.
Helpful Links and Resources
You’ve nearly reached the end of our guide to hit and run compensation claims. Before we leave you, however, we wanted to provide you with some extra resources.
More advice from Legal Helpline on road traffic accident compensation claims can be found through the above link.
This link leads to the government’s site giving advice on victim’s applying for compensation and includes a link to the MIB website for further information.
Here, advice is given by the RAC on what you should do if you are the victim of a hit and run driver.
This link leads to the Metropolitan Police website and it offers advice on what to do in order to report a road traffic accident.
Other Guides You Can Read:
- How Do I Claim For Anxiety After A Car Accident
- Pedestrian Injury Compensation
- Get more information on the whiplash injuries claims process with our helpful compensation claims guide.
Thank you for reading our guide on hit and run compensation.
