Motor Insurers’ Bureau
You are driving along the road and due to the carelessness of another driver you are involved in an accident. You obtain the names and addresses of witnesses who confirm that the other driver was at fault. You think to yourself that at least you will be able to make a claim against the other driver’s motor insurance policy for the damage sustained to your car. You subsequently learn that the other driver was driving without insurance. Your heart sinks. What do you do next?
Well all this not lost. Help is at hand in the form of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. Each year thousands of motorists commit a legal offence by driving without being insured. As a result the insurance companies contribute (funded by a portion of the insurance premium paid by motorist’s who do take out motor insurance) to fund the work of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau. The Motor Insurers’ Bureau each year pays out compensation to victims of uninsured drivers and victims of untraced drivers (hit and run drivers).
Should you wish to make a claim against the Motor Insurers’ Bureau the procedure is set out in two agreements made between the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and the Secretary of State for Transport namely: Compensation of Victims of Uninsured Drivers and Compensation of Victims of Untraced Drivers. Although you can conduct the claim yourself it is advisable that you consult a Solicitor, The Citizens’ Advice Bureau or your Trade Union (if you belong to one) due to the often complicated legal issues.
In pursuing a claim against an uninsured driver you can invoke your legal expense insurance cover if you have one. Alternatively the Motor Insurers’ Bureau will provide free legal expense cover to meet your legal costs.
Unfortunately, if you pursue a claim against the Motor insurers’ Bureau (as you will not be able to claim against an untraced driver as the driver cannot be traced) on a hit and run accident and you decide to instruct a solicitor (although you can conduct the case yourself) you will be responsible for paying the solicitors’ costs. However the Motor Insurers will, if you are successful in your claim, pay a contribution towards your costs details of which is set out in the agreement entitled: Compensation of Victims of Untraced Drivers.
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