The UK may be the fastest-growing economy in the G7 at the moment, and that should come as some consolation to those who’ve lived with almost 6 years of recession.
Sadly, that is not the only chart in which the UK leads the way. The UK also tops the list for the number of accidents caused by untraced and uninsured drivers. The police and the AA estimate that up to 2.5 million drivers on our roads are driving without insurance at the moment. That’s 1 in 25 drivers. By contrast Germany’s rate of offending is 1 in 500, whilst in Sweden the rate is thought to 1 in 1,000. Why this important? Well, for two reasons really. Uninsured and untraced drivers cause up to 200 deaths on our roads each year and are responsible for an estimated 23,000 injuries. What’s more, uninsured and untraced drivers are costing you money: they add an average £30 to your insurance bill each year simply because they refuse to toe the line like law abiding folk.
The effects of their antisocial behaviour can have devastating consequences for families. Not only are they more likely to be injured by uninsured or untraced drivers, but in the event of a road traffic accident, the innocent parties are often the ones who are left to pick up the pieces. Harold Stock & Co. Solicitors has seen at first hand a marked increase in the number of personal injury compensation claims in road traffic accidents caused by untraced and uninsured drivers. We’ve represented a number of clients who been involved in accidents cause by uninsured drivers and we’ve had to fight to get the injured parties the compensation they fully deserve.
If you’ve been involved in this type of road accident, what should you do?
Who can you claim compensation from? Who do you claim against? Well, if the accident was caused by either an uninsured or untraced driver the answer is this: with our help you can make a claim through the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB). The organisation was created jointly by the government and the insurance companies to ensure that law abiding motorists would not lose out if they were involved in an accident that was not their fault.
The MIB is an industry-led organisation created to compensate victims of accidents involving uninsured or untraced drivers. Although the MIB’s initial role was to compensate victims for personal injury, its remit has now grown to include property damage claims (subject to an excess of £300). The MIB compensation claims process is generally speaking the same as claiming from an insurer. However, it can often be more complicated than a standard claim, so claimants will need the services of a specialist claims solicitor, like Harold Stock & Co, who are used to dealing with the MIB.
If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured vehicle and forced to claim on your own insurance, then the MIB will compensate your insurer for the costs of your claim. Once this compensation has been received, your insurer should reinstate your no-claims discount and cancel any corresponding premium increase. However, when a driver is untraced the MIB can pay compensation for property damage only where the vehicle concerned has been identified. If both driver and vehicle are not identified, as in ‘hit and run’ accidents, then the MIB will pay out for personal injury claims, but won’t pay out for property damage.
If you, or someone close to you, has recently been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, we would urge you to contact Harold Stock & Co Solicitors as soon as possible. Harold Stock & Co Solicitors are proven experts at helping clients make a road traffic accident claim for compensation following accidents with uninsured drivers. We have a team of specialist solicitors with both the knowledge and experience to ensure that we secure for you the compensation that you deserve. Depending upon the extent of your injuries, you may well have other immediate concerns too – about your long-term well-being, your job and your finances, for example. As part of your road accident claim, Harold Stock & Co can also help you recover compensation for any additional expenses or losses that you have incurred.
Harold Stock & Co will ensure that you have access to all the help and advice that you will need, not only to make a claim for compensation, but also to assist in arranging any medical support you may require to speed up your recovery. Our legal advisers will gather all of the necessary evidence to ensure we give your claim the best possible chance of success. For further information contact Harold Stock & Co Solicitors on 01457 83 5597.
