Hit and Run Claims: How to Claim When the Driver Didn't Stop
A hit and run claim is a claim for injury and, in many cases, vehicle damage caused by a driver who left the scene without giving their details; where the driver cannot be traced, the claim is made through the Motor Insurers' Bureau rather than an insurer, it depends on reporting the accident to the police promptly, and National Accident Support Line assesses the claim, refers the injury to a specialist solicitor and handles the vehicle side, with a callback within 2 minutes.
The driver who hits you and drives off has committed a criminal offence, and most people's first thought is that without a registration number there is nothing to be done. There is. The Motor Insurers' Bureau exists to compensate victims of drivers who cannot be traced or who had no insurance, funded by a levy on every UK motor policy. The claim works differently from a normal one, and the first days matter more.
We'll call you back within 2 minutes with a straight answer on where you stand.
Who pays when the driver drove off
If the driver is traced, their insurer, in the usual way; a partial registration, dashcam footage, CCTV or a witness often identifies the vehicle in the days after. If the driver cannot be traced, the Motor Insurers' Bureau under its Untraced Drivers Agreement, for injury and, where the vehicle can be shown to have been involved, for property damage. If the driver is traced but had no insurance, the MIB under its Uninsured Drivers Agreement. If you have comprehensive cover, your own insurer will repair your vehicle in the meantime, and the MIB route recovers what your policy does not.
What a hit and run claim covers
The injury and its effect on your life. Lost earnings, treatment, travel and care. Damage to your vehicle, bike or belongings, where the untraced vehicle's involvement can be shown. Where the MIB route is used, there are rules about what is recoverable and how it is assessed, and a specialist solicitor works within them. Where the driver is traced, the claim is a normal one against their insurer and includes a like-for-like replacement vehicle through credit hire.
How the routes differ
| Route | When it applies | What it covers | What it needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver traced and insured | Registration, footage or a witness identifies the vehicle | Injury, losses, vehicle repair, replacement vehicle | The usual evidence |
| Driver untraced (MIB) | No way of identifying the driver | Injury and losses; property damage where the vehicle's involvement is shown | Police report made promptly, crime reference, evidence of the collision |
| Driver traced but uninsured (MIB) | Driver known, no valid insurance | Injury, losses and property damage | Police report, driver's details |
| Your own comprehensive policy | Any hit and run with vehicle damage | Repair of your vehicle, subject to your excess | Report to your insurer promptly |
We'll call you back within 2 minutes with a straight answer on where you stand.
The situations people describe to us
"I only got part of the plate"
A partial registration plus the make, colour and location is often enough for the police or an investigator to identify the vehicle, and the claim becomes a normal one against the driver's insurer. Write down everything you remember while it is fresh.
"My car was hit while parked and there's a note with nothing on it"
Check for CCTV from nearby properties, shops and any doorbell cameras, and ask neighbours. Report it to the police. If the driver cannot be found, your own comprehensive policy repairs the car and the MIB route may recover the rest.
"I was injured and the police say it's a civil matter"
The police record the report and give you a crime reference; that reference is what the MIB claim needs. Whether the police investigate further does not decide whether you can claim.
"It was weeks ago and I didn't report it"
The MIB expects the accident to be reported to the police as soon as reasonably possible, and late reporting weakens a claim. Report it now, get any evidence that survives, and get in touch; a specialist solicitor will tell you whether the claim can still run.
What to do after a hit and run
Get medical help and get the injury on record. Write down everything about the vehicle: any part of the registration, make, model, colour, damage, direction of travel, the driver's description. Photograph the scene, your vehicle and your injuries. Take the names and numbers of witnesses. Look for CCTV, dashcams and doorbell cameras and ask for footage to be kept. Report the accident to the police as soon as possible and get the crime reference. Report it to your own insurer. Then get in touch.
How a hit and run claim works with National Accident Support Line
Tell us what happened, by the form, WhatsApp or a call to 0333 212 2730, and web enquiries are called back within 2 minutes during opening hours. We ask what happened, what you know about the vehicle, whether it has been reported and what evidence exists. If the driver can be traced, we handle the vehicle side directly and refer the injury to a specialist solicitor. If the driver cannot be traced, we refer the claim to a solicitor who handles Motor Insurers' Bureau claims on a no win no fee basis. If there isn't a claim, we tell you straight. NASL is an FCA-regulated claims management company, not a law firm. Injuries after any road accident are covered on our road traffic accident claims page, pedestrians should start with pedestrian accident claims, and where the driver is traced the vehicle side works as it does after any non-fault car accident.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim if the driver drove off?
Yes. If the driver cannot be traced, the claim is made through the Motor Insurers' Bureau, which compensates victims of untraced and uninsured drivers.
Do I have to report a hit and run to the police?
Yes. A prompt police report and crime reference are required for a Motor Insurers' Bureau claim, and the report itself often helps trace the driver.
Can I claim for damage to my car?
Yes. Your own comprehensive policy repairs it in the meantime, and the MIB can pay for property damage where the untraced vehicle's involvement can be shown. If the driver is traced, their insurer pays in full.
How long do I have to claim?
Three years from the date of the accident for injury. Report to the police and get in touch as soon as you can, because late reporting weakens an MIB claim.
What if the driver is found later?
The claim becomes a normal one against their insurer, including a replacement vehicle through credit hire.
Will the MIB pay for my injury if I was a pedestrian or cyclist?
Yes. The MIB compensates anyone injured by an untraced or uninsured driver.
What does no win no fee mean?
Nothing to pay upfront and nothing if the claim fails. If it succeeds, the solicitor's success fee, capped at 25% and agreed before the claim starts, comes out of the award.
We'll call you back within 2 minutes with a straight answer on where you stand.
National Accident Support Line Ltd is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in respect of regulated claims management activities, registration number 829991.
Hit & Run Cases
Experiencing a road traffic accident of any kind is distressing but there’s none worse than a hit and run scenario.
Crashing your bike is upsetting, but when the guilty party flees the scene of the accident, that really leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Fortunately, there’s still something that can be done, even if the culprit is nowhere to be found.
You’re entitled to make a Hit and Run Traffic Accident Compensation Claim; firstly, the incident should be reported to the police straight away.
If the police can’t apprehend the criminal, we can help you file a claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, a designated service for helping victims who’ve been injured in hit and run situations or with untraceable drivers.
If you were involved in a hit and run accident while working as a PCO taxi driver, you may still be eligible to make a compensation claim, even if the at-fault driver cannot be traced.
At NASL, we’re here to help you out; using our specialist skills, we can help with your case every step of the way and get you what you deserve.