Learn About Claiming Compensation For An Accident With A Stolen Car

By Olivia Windsor. Last updated 8th March 2021. Welcome to our guide to making a stolen car compensation claim. There’s no denying that an incident involving a stolen car can be both distressing and overwhelming. You may be left feeling unsure of what steps to take next or where you stand legally. However, did you know that if you suffered because of an accident with a stolen car then you could be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries? Although this process can be complex, with the help of a personal injury lawyer, you could file for compensation quickly and easily without having to wrap your head around the legal jargon.

In this stolen car accident claims guide, we will discuss in great detail what makes a valid claim for road accidents involving stolen vehicles and how victims of such incidents could receive maximum compensation for their suffering. When you feel ready to begin your claim, simply call us on 0333 000 0729 or consider the alternative contact methods at the bottom of this guide.

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A Guide To Claims If Injured In An Accident With A Stolen Car

Although the topic of car theft is difficult, our panel of solicitors are well-versed in personal injury law and have decades of experience in representing victims of third-party negligence. Therefore, they could help you secure a settlement amount for your suffering no matter how complex the circumstances may seem.

Accident with stolen car

Accident with stolen car

Throughout this stolen car compensation claims guide, we will seek to answer some questions commonly asked of our expert advisers, such as:

  • “If I was hit by a stolen car, who pays compensation in the UK?”
  • “If I was injured by a stolen vehicle, how could a personal injury solicitor help me when making a claim to the MIB?”
  • “What happens if a stolen car hits you in the UK?”
  • “My car was stolen and involved in an accident, what should I do?”
  • “Who is responsible for damage caused by a stolen car?
  • “What happens if someone steals your car and crashes it?”

We will also touch upon the various articles of legislation that apply to incidents which involve car theft and individuals injured by a stolen car.

What Is An Accident With A Stolen Car?

An accident with a stolen car is not dissimilar to any other road traffic accident. A traumatic incident involving a stolen car, bike, van, lorry or any other mode of transport could cause a range of injuries to all those involved just as easily as an incident involving an insured driver. The main difference, however, is how your personal injury claim is made.

As with many personal injury claims, you will still need to prove that the other road user was at fault for your suffering. To assist your legal representative in highlighting this, you should gather the names, addresses, and other contact details of those involved, if possible, along with contact details for any witnesses at the scene of the accident. If you can, try to take photographs too. If this is not possible for whatever reason (i.e. the person at fault flees the scene) then you should contact the police immediately to report the incident.

If you are wondering “My car was stolen, what should I do?” Then again, it could be wise to report the incident to the police. Even if the car is reported stolen after an accident, it’s important for the police to be aware of these details.

Whether you were hit by an uninsured driver as a pedestrian or involved in a road traffic accident while driving your vehicle, there is potential for the insurance policy taken out by the original owner to settle the claim. However, this is at the discretion of the insurance company in question.

What Role Does The Motor Insurers Bureau Have In Stolen Vehicle Accidents?

The Motor Insurers Bureau (or ‘MIB’ for short) is an organisation that seeks to reduce uninsured driving and support claims for victims of road accidents involving uninsured vehicles. Under the Untraced Drivers’ Agreements, victims of such accidents can still receive a settlement amount for their suffering even if the perpetrator cannot be traced.

For a claim to be valid under this agreement, a police report must be filed within 14 days of the incident for personal injury or within 5 days for property damage. When the incident is filed as a crime, the police will issue a crime number which is imperative to your personal injury claim application.

It’s important that you have valid insurance for your vehicle. If not you could not only be held liable for costs associated with the accident, but you could also receive a fixed penalty fine of £300, have your vehicle seized and be disqualified from driving altogether (among other repercussions).

Please continue reading to learn how to make a stolen car accident claim for an incident in a public place. Alternatively, contact one of our specialist advisors today for a free consultation.

Accidents With A Stolen Car In A Public Place

A road traffic accident of any sort can be unpleasant for those involved. But if the party at fault was driving a stolen car, then matters could become more complicated. In the event of such circumstances, it may be possible for the insurance company of the original owner to compensate the person(s) injured. However, this is not always guaranteed.

If this is not possible, another course of action may be to pursue a claim through the MIB. Again, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible (names, addresses, witness contact details, photographs, etc.) to strengthen your case.

Please continue reading to learn how to make a stolen car accident claim for a workplace vehicle. Alternatively, contact one of our specialist advisors today for a free consultation.

Accidents With A Stolen Car Whilst Driving A Work Vehicle

When your work vehicle is hit by a stolen car, you may be wondering who pays the damages. If you were involved in an accident with a stolen car that was the fault of another party, then it may still be possible to claim compensation for damage to your vehicle, property and health, along with the financial repercussions associated with your injuries (e.g. medical costs and loss of earnings).

Again, it is against the law to drive without motor insurance. As your personal injury solicitor will explain to you in further detail, one purpose of this insurance policy is to cover the costs of accidents. Therefore, if the party to blame does not possess insurance, then your claim may be directed towards the Motor Insurers Bureau.

How Long Do I Have To Claim Through The Motor Insurers Bureau?

As a potential claimant, you have up to three years from the date of the accident to make a stolen car compensation claim. However, for claims made through the MIB, you are limited to claim within a period of just 9 months.

An exception to the 3-year personal injury claims time limit is if the victim is a child under the age of 18. In such an event, a claim can be made on behalf of the child by a parent or guardian. If no claim is made, the child then has from their 18th to their 21st birthday to conduct a claim on their own accord.

Statistics – Stolen Vehicles

In the year ending 2019, there were 1,870 reported road deaths according to the Department for Transport. In the same reported road casualties report, it has been highlighted that this is an increase compared to the previous year.

According to the Office for National Statistics, a total of 45,561 incidents relating to vehicle theft, which were subsequently not recovered, were recorded in the year ending December 2017. However, it should be noted that these estimations are based on a small response to the survey.

Accident With A Stolen Car Compensation Calculator

In the table below, there are various injuries associated with road traffic accidents accompanied by example settlement amounts. These amounts are based on Judicial College Guidelines, an organisation that detailed example compensation awards based on their experience in the judicial system.

However, as each claim is unique, these figures may not apply to your specific stolen car accident claim. Therefore, instead of relying on an online personal injury claims calculator, you could receive a more relevant estimation of your potential damages under a free, no-obligation consultation with our advisers.

InjurySeverityAmountInformation
Back InjuryMinor£7,410 to £11,730Over a two to five-year period, a full recovery could be made without surgery to a nuisance level at most.
Back InjuryModerate£26,050 to £36,390A wide variety of injuries will be taken into consideration for this bracket. For example, cases of lumbar vertebrae compression/crush fractures, traumatic spondylolisthesis with continuous pain or cases of prolapsed intervertebral disc with irritation to the nerve root are just a handful of examples which may be eligible for this bracket.
Back InjurySevere£85,470 to £151,070The most severe cases of spinal cord and/or nerve roots which lead to a combination of serious consequences not commonly associated with serious back injuries. The victim will experience severe pain and disability as a result, combined with incomplete paralysis and significant impairment to the bladder, sexual function and bowel as a result.
Neck InjuryMinor£4,080 to £7,410A full recovery from an injury of this nature will take place over a one to two-year period. These types of injuries may include short-term acceleration, exacerbation injuries or others of the likes.
Neck InjuryModerate£23,460 to £36,120An injury associated with this bracket will cause severe symptoms which may require spinal fusion in order to aid recovery. Other symptoms that this bracket may look to include serious damage to additional parts of the anatomy or soft tissue in the neck and back.
Neck InjurySevereIn the region of £139,210An injury of this nature will cause incomplete paraplegia or, in circumstances where a collar is worn for 24 hours a day for a number of years, the injured person will still suffer from little to no movement in the neck region.
Brain DamageLess Severe£14,380 to £40,410In spite of the injury at hand, the individual in question will have made a good recovery and return back to a functioning social/work life. However, they may not be fully restored back to normal functions. As a result, poor concentration and other such problems may persist.
Brain DamageModerate£140,870 to £205,580It is likely that the victim of such an injury will endure change to their personality, sight, senses, speech and a deficit of their intellect as a whole.
Brain DamageModerately Severe£205,580 to £264,650This bracket encompasses both physical and cognitive injuries, such as limb paralysis or impairment of intellect and personality. A person will be left seriously disabled and, as a result of this injury, will require substantial dependence on professional care.
Brain DamageVery Severe£264,650 to £379,100A case associated with the top end of this bracket will reflect a severe lack in ability to follow basic commands, return to sleep and walking patterns, to name but a few. The individual will show little, if not none, indicators of basic language function.

Financial Losses Or Expenses You Could Be Compensated For

If you’re awarded compensation as part of a stolen car accident claim, your payout may consist of two heads of claim: special damages and general damages. These categories take into account various aspects of your personal injury claim to estimate your potential settlement amount. But what exactly constitutes special damages and general damages?

The purpose of special damages is to compensate you for any financial losses or expenses incurred as a result of your injury. This could cover the likes of prescription costs, the costs of travelling to and from medical or legal appointments, loss of earnings if you had to take time off work, and, if your injuries are sufficiently serious enough to prevent you from returning to work, the loss of future earnings. 

General damages, on the other hand, are designed to compensate you for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity you have experienced as a result of your injury. The potential value of general damages has been set out in our compensation calculator section.

How To Claim For An Accident With A Stolen Car

While it is possible to conduct a claim for compensation after a road accident involving a stolen vehicle on your own accord, you could benefit from the assistance of a personal injury lawyer. With their expertise and guidance, you can relax and let your legal representative handle any difficult occurrences, such as whether to take a pre-medical offer or what steps to take if the defendant denies liability.

Further, you can take your own steps following an accident with a stolen car to help strengthen the prospects of success of your case. For example, as road traffic accidents tend to be cleared away as quickly as possible, you should seek to take as many photographs of the scene as possible. This includes evidence of any damage to your car and photos of your injuries too. You should also seek medical attention for your suffering, no matter how minor the injury may seem. 

In cases of whiplash, the injury may not be apparent straight away, so you should speak to a doctor when you begin to notice any symptoms. Finally, if there were any witnesses of the accident then you should gather their contact details. While you cannot retrieve a statement from them yourself, your legal representative will approach them at a later date to hear their account of the incident in question.

How Legal Helpline Could Help The Victim Of An Accident With A Stolen Car

Regardless of whether a stolen car damaged your property or a stolen car crashed into your car in the UK, you could be able to make a stolen car compensation claim. At Legal Helpline, we work with a panel of solicitors that possesses the capabilities to handle any issues that may arise in such cases. All of our solicitors strive to achieve the maximum compensation possible for their clients. They’ll keep you fully updated on the progress of your claim using communication channels of your choice and if ever you have a query, they’ll be on hand to take your call. 

All you have to do is contact one of our friendly advisors to get the ball rolling. We offer free, no-obligation consultations to all our potential claimants, which means you could receive a free assessment of unique circumstances in one quick and easy phone call. To learn more about our services in the meantime, please continue reading to see how we could help your stolen car compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis.

No Win, No Fee Claims For An Accident With A Stolen Car?

When you begin your stolen car accident claim, your personal injury lawyer will manage your case on a No Win, No Fee basis. Also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), this type of financial contract outlines how your solicitor’s fees will be settled in accordance with the outcome of your case.

A CFA is designed to offer claimants financial protection and the confidence to pursue compensation. If you sign a CFA with a solicitor from our panel, you will not have to pay any fees upfront, nor will you have to pay any fees during your claim either. And if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay any of the fees your solicitor has incurred in pursuing your case.

If your claim is successful, your solicitor may seek a small contribution towards their costs. This is known as a ‘success fee’ and would be deducted from the compensation awarded at the end of the claim. Don’t worry, the success fee is legally capped and will be agreed with your solicitor before you begin the claim. To learn how to get in touch about your stolen car compensation claim, please see below.

Talking To Legal Helpline

The start of your stolen car accident claim is just a phone call away. By contacting our friendly advisers, we could provide you with a free assessment of your claim and start working on your claim that very same day. Please consider the contact methods below. Our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can call at a time that best suits you.

Stolen Car Accident Claim FAQs

Here’s a brief look at some common questions regarding stolen car compensation claims.

Who pays for damage caused by stolen car?

It’s important that you have valid insurance for your vehicle. If not you could not only be held liable for costs associated with the accident, but you could also receive a fixed penalty fine of £300, have your vehicle seized and be disqualified from driving altogether (among other repercussions).

The Motor Insurers Bureau (or ‘MIB’ for short) is an organisation that seeks to reduce uninsured driving and support claims for victims of road accidents involving uninsured vehicles. Under the Untraced Drivers’ Agreements, victims of such accidents can still receive a settlement amount for their suffering even if the perpetrator cannot be traced.

Every claim proceeds differently, depending on its unique circumstances. In any case, however, it’s important that you seek to make your claim as soon as possible after the incident or upon realising you suffered as a result of it. This is due to the fact that claims have time limits that determine your eligibility for compensation. For a free assessment of your eligibility, please contact Legal Helpline free today.

Supporting Resources

What To Do If Your Vehicle Has Been Stolen
How to report your vehicle as stolen and inform the DVLA if your insurance company pays out

Vehicle Insurance If The Accident Wasn’t Your Fault
Information and advice from the Citizens Advice about what to do if your vehicle is in an accident.

Learn more about car accident claims below:

Thanks for reading our guide to making a stolen car compensation claim.

Guide by HS

Edited by REG