Victim of a hit and run - not sure what to do.

Maccydu

On Tuesday night I was minding my own business waiting for some traffic lights to turn green when I was struck from behind by a Transit Van. The impact pushed me across to the other side of the lights, so it was a hefty whack, and as such I don't remember a great deal about it.

From what I gather, and from what the police and witnesses have told me, the van drove off, but later returned with possibly a different driver, who then tried to abandon the van and make a run for it. Some people who were attending to me gave chase (including the police) and the guy was aprehended and kept in custody.

I went to hospital for cuts to my head, and general concussion etc, and was released later that night because I kept insisting I was fine (I dont remember a great deal about it to be honest, I think I may have still been in shock).

However, the next morning is where the fun begins. I went to the police station to find out some details, and was later contacted by the officer present at the incident. It turns out they cannot prove who was driving the vehicle at the time, the guy they have in custody (who was over the limit, has no fixed address, and is classed as a "traveller") is refusing to speak, and the van is registered to a vacant plot of land in Manchester (I live in the Midlands, where the accident took place).

I'm insured fully comp, and my car is (was) only worth about £2000, but I'm not sure what happens now regarding getting some money back, and if I'm covered for the injuries I've sustained. The police said what's most ironic is that the insurance documents the guy produced are valid and would more than likely cover him, but he's refusing to admit to being the driver, and none of the witnesses can agree as to who was driving.

If it helps, I'm with Swiftcover, and I DO have legal protection, although I've never really known what that means. I've filled in a claim online, but not sure what to do next. I went to see my car yesterday, and it's a write off (there's pretty much no back end any more).

I'm really frustrated because I've always religiously maintained my car, MOT, Tax, insurance etc, have over 10yrs no claims, and now it could all be gone, and i've been hurt as well.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Quentin

You need to report all this to your insurers and take advantage of your legal protection insurance to follow up on this.

You have fully comprehensive insurance, so whatever the final outcome over the third party, you won't be left with "it all gone"!

Oscar_The_Grouch

Sorry to hear of your accident - never a nice thing to go through.

Your insurers will pay out for your car less the excess. You were injured in the accident so are entitled to compensation for that too.

All UK insurers contribute towards an organisation called the Motor Insurers Bureau. They are there to help in these circumstances and will appoint a UK firm to act as "the insurer" for the other car.

Your legal expenses insurer should be able to advise you (and obtain a copy of the police report confirming that the driver of the other car was not identified). They should also be able to make the approach to the MIB, although you may have to complete a form for them.

With regard to your excess, the MIB will only consider "property damage" (your car, the excess, etc) if they are over £300. As your insurers will pay the majority of the car costs (and they cannot recover the money from the MIB), I am sorry to say that you will just have to accept that you will have to pay that part.

Good luck with the injury claim.

laura122

But is it not the case that MIB will pay peanuts for accidents and scrimp and save the medical bill?

I was always led to believe that..

Oscar_The_Grouch

The MIB don't deal with the injury claim; they appoint a UK Car Insurer (on a strict rotation) to deal with the claim and pay the costs out on their behalf. I think you may be thinking about the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, which is a government sponsored body rather than an industry one.

laura122

So people qill get fairly compensated in that case?

Wont that mean that people will forcefully claim to be in an accident to get a payout?

geri1965_2

laura122 wrote: »

So people qill get fairly compensated in that case?

Wont that mean that people will forcefully claim to be in an accident to get a payout?

Do you mean falsely claim? They do that anyway.

movilogo

As long as you are not bothered what happens to your No Claim Bonus, there is nothing to worry about. You are comprehensive - so you should get current market value of your car and should get treatment for you injury too.

mattymoo

laura122 wrote: »

So people qill get fairly compensated in that case?

Wont that mean that people will forcefully claim to be in an accident to get a payout?

I used to handle MIB investigations on behalf of Royal Insurance (before it became RSA). We had to account to the MIB so all the work was pretty thorough.

The victims will receive the same level of compensation as if you were claiming from somebody who was properly insured, less the excess for the property damage aspect, already mentioned above.

The only people who lose out are the solicitors acting on behalf of the claimant. They receive a fixed fee only which back in the early 90's was pretty low (£175 iirc). To counter this, the MIB and their appointed insurer do all the running about and pick up the disbursements such as medical report fees along the way.