UNINSURED DRIVER ACCIDENT
MOTOR INSURERS BUREAU (MIB)

The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) is an independent statutory body set up by government to pay compensation to the victims of untraced hit and run drivers or uninsured drivers. About 1 in 20 people drive a motor vehicle without a valid policy of insurance which amounts to almost a million uninsured drivers on UK roads. The legislation relating to these matters is complex and the technical requirements to make a valid application can be onerous. Most of the work carried out by the MIB relates to the victims of uninsured drivers or to the victims’ of untraced drivers which have separate requirements under agreements entered into between the Secretary of State for the Environment and Transport and the Motor Insurers Bureau :-

The Untraced Driver Agreement
Under this arrangement the MIB will pay compensation to the victims of untraced drivers for personal injury provided that the matter has been reported to the police without delay. A claim for compensation for damage to property will also be considered if the report to the police is made as soon as possible or within 5 days of the accident. There is a nominal £300 excess which is deducted from any single award. The MIB make no contribution to legal costs under this agreement.

The Uninsured Driver Agreement
Under this arrangement the MIB will satisfy any judgements made in a court of law against an uninsured driver. They will deduct a nominal excess of £300 and will also contribute towards the legal costs of the action awarded in favour of the claimant against the uninsured driver defendant.

The Motor Insurers Bureau is funded by a levy on all of the motor insurance companies throughout the UK and it is estimated that the cost to every motorist is in the region of £30 per year. Being involved in a collision with an uninsured driver can be a very unpleasant experience. Whilst the Motor Insurers Bureau pay the award made in favour of the claimant they do in fact attempt to obtain re-imbursement from the defendant uninsured driver. It is quite likely therefore that drivers caught without an insurance policy will try to squirm out of their responsibility to reimburse the MIB who fortunately make great effort to recover the money. Some of these uninsured drivers will try to fool the police into thinking that they are insured in an attempt to avoid a conviction :-

One deceitful practice used by irresponsible uninsured drivers is to secure a policy, wait for an insurance certificate to be issued and then cancel the policy and claim a refund but continue to use the insurance certificate. When challenged they flash the paper to the police who then assume that they have adequate motor insurance.

Another trick is to buy stolen cover notes on the black market. This deceives the victim or the police officer into thinking that the motorist is insured and that the insurance certificate is just being processed.

We represent the victims of untraced or uninsured drivers using the no win no fee scheme. In the case of an uninsured driver that has been traced we pay compensation in full with no deductions however in the case of an untraced hit and run driver, because the MIB make no contribution to legal costs, there is an agreed percentage deduction from the compensation awarded to pay the solicitors charges.