Claims against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) for injury caused by uninsured or untraced (hit and run) drivers
Compensation payments for serious injury arising from road traffic accidents (RTAs) caused by negligent drivers are usually paid by the negligent driver’s insurer. These claims can be substantial, so to ensure that drivers who cause injury have the financial means to pay compensation to their victims, the law says that drivers of cars, motorbikes, and other motor vehicles must have ( at least ‘third party’) insurance.
After an RTA, it is standard practise for drivers to stop and exchange insurance details. A driver who is not insured or fails to stop and provide their details after causing an accident (often known as hit and run) is breaking the law. In those circumstances, where there is no defendant insurer, the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) provides the means for the injured person to recover compensation.
Strict time limits, reporting requirements and other rules apply to claims against the MIB.
Individuals can make a claim directly to the MIB but risk their claim being refused or their settlement being significantly undervalued, particularly in more complex claims or where the injuries are severe.
We strongly advise anyone who has suffered serious injury in an accident caused by a hit and run or uninsured driver to contact our experienced, personal injury claims specialists immediately for urgent advice. We will carry out the necessary steps to investigate, notify, gather additional evidence and negotiate your claim with the MIB on your behalf to ensure you receive the level of compensation you deserve.
Making your MIB claim through our specialist lawyers can significantly increase your prospects of success and the compensation you receive.
What is the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB)?
The Motor Insurers' Bureau was set up in 1946 to provide compensation for victims of road traffic accidents (RTAs) caused by uninsured and untraced (hit and run) drivers. MIB’s responsibility to handle claims and make compensation payments comes from The Uninsured Drivers' Agreements and The Untraced Drivers' Agreements, made with the government. MIB can only pay compensation in circumstances where compulsory motor insurance should have been in place, including where death, injury (and in some cases property damage) was caused by the use of a motor vehicle on a road or a public place.
Following injury in a road traffic accident, MIB helps:
- Victims of uninsured drivers;
- Victims of untraced drivers (hit and run accidents;
- UK residents involved in accidents with foreign-registered vehicles, in the UK or in some foreign countries.
Every company which underwrites motor insurance must be an MIB member. A proportion of every insured driver’s insurance premium goes towards funding the MIB. Since the MIB was created, it has paid out over £2 billion in claims to people who were entitled to compensation but could not claim in the usual way from the negligent driver’s insurer.