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The amount of hit and run compensation you can claim is dependent on three factors. These include what injury you suffered, how severe it is and whether your injury directly caused you to lose money. At this stage, you may be unsure if you can even pursue a hit and run claim when the driver at fault fled the scene. Don’t worry, you can still claim. You would do so via the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), which compensates individuals who have been injured due to the negligent actions of uninsured or untraceable drivers. However, due to the fact that the driver responsible for your injuries is untraceable, it adds a layer of complexity to your claim. This is why we actively encourage you to work with our panel of road traffic accident solicitors. Our panel are expertly trained in car accident claims and is here to help.
Our advisors here at Legal Helpline can assist you with assessing your claim’s eligibility, providing a compensation estimate, and connecting you with a solicitor from our panel. Moreover, our panel will provide their legal services on a No Win No Fee basis, so you can start the personal injury claims process straightaway, as well as claim with confidence. Get in touch today.
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- How Much Hit And Run Compensation Can I Claim?
- Can Hit And Run Compensation Cover Financial Losses?
- Am I Able To Claim Compensation For A Hit And Run?
- What Is The Role Of The Motors Insurers’ Bureau (MIB)?
- Most Common Injuries Caused By A Hit And Run Accidents
- What Will I Need To Bring A Hit And Run Claim?
- How Can Legal Helpline Assist My Hit And Run Claim?
- Can Hit And Run Compensation Be Claimed On A No Win No Fee Basis?
- Learn More
How Much Hit And Run Compensation Can I Claim?
The amount of hit and run compensation you can claim is dependent on specific influential factors, including the type of injury you suffered, how severe it is and whether you have lost money as a direct result of your road traffic accident injury.
When a solicitor sits down to calculate how much hit and run compensation a client is entitled to, they will first consider a head of loss called general damages. General damages specifically cover the pain and suffering you have encountered as a result of your car accident injury, including psychological damage experienced, such as PTSD.
Of note is the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is often used by road traffic accident solicitors to help them determine how much a client is owed in general damages. The reason solicitors use the JCG as a blueprint is that it covers a wide range of injury types, severities, and suggested compensation brackets.
We have created a table listing several JCG compensation brackets for injuries that could result from a car accident of this nature. All except the top entry have been sourced from the JCG publication. We also ask that you use our table only as a guideline.
| INJURY | COMPENSATION BRACKETS | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries Plus Special Damages | Up to £1 Million+ | Multiple severe injuries plus special damages such as lost wages, medical expenses and professional care costs. |
| Paralysis - Tetraplegia (also known as Quadriplegia) | £396,140 to £493,000 | The mid-range of this compensation bracket covers claimants who are not in any physical pain and have full awareness of their disability. |
| Brain & Head - Very Severe | £344,150 to £493,000 | The injured person will require full-time nursing due things such as double incontinence and little to no language function. |
| Leg - Below-Knee Amputation of Both Legs | £245,900 to £329,620 | The level of amputation will influence the level of award, for example, the award will be higher for amputations just below the knee. |
| Back - Severe (i) | £111,150 to £196,450 | This compensation bracket will involve the most severe injury involving damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots. |
| Bowels - b) | Up to £183,190 | The injured individual will have sustained a total loss of natural function and dependence on colostomy, depending on age. |
| Neck - Severe (i) | In the region of £181,020 | This level of award considers injuries involving incomplete paraplegia or resulting in permanent spastic quadriparesis or where the injured person. |
| Arm - Loss of One Arm (i) | Not Less Than £167,380 | The injured person will have had their arm amputated at the shoulder. |
| Face - Very Severe Scarring | £36,340 to £118,790 | This compensation bracket is influenced specifically by age, for example, young claimants where the cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the psychological reaction severe will receive a higher level of award. |
| Wrist - a) | £58,710 to £73,050 | The injured claimant will have sustained such severe damage to the wrist that they will have suffered a complete loss of function in the wrist, e.g. where an arthrodesis has been performed. |
If you have pressing questions regarding hit and run compensation, please connect with an advisor today who will be more than happy to assist you.
Can Hit And Run Compensation Cover Financial Losses?
Yes, hit and run compensation can cover financial losses such as medical costs, travel expenses, and lost wages under the head of loss known as special damages.
Below, we have gone into great detail regarding the different types of financial losses that can be both incurred by a claimant and covered under special damages.
Medical Expenses
Sometimes the medical treatment we require falls outside of NHS services, leading to mounting medical expenses. For example, you may need a corrective surgery for a leg injury you sustained in a hit and run accident.
Loss Of Wages
Severe injuries often result in the claimant requiring long periods off work or even leaving their job due to the extent of the harm they have suffered, leading to lost wages. However, even relatively minor injuries, such as a broken finger, can require a claimant to take time off work if their job is manual labour-focused.
Loss Of Future Earnings
Due to the knock-on effect of time off work, claimants may incur future loss of earnings, such as a missed promotional opportunity or a bonus payment.
Professional Care Costs
If you have suffered a particularly serious injury or several injuries in a hit and run, it is likely that you will require the support of professional carers during your recovery period. This will inevitably lead to mounting costs for professional care, especially if you need it long-term.
Gratuitous Care Costs
When a loved one becomes injured or unwell, it’s only natural for family members to come to their aid and help them on a day-to-day basis with things like medical appointments, cooking meals, personal care as well as mobility challenges. This often requires family members to take time off work or spend extra money on petrol to provide gratuitous care, leading to financial losses.
Therapy and Rehabilitation Costs
Therapy and rehabilitation are essential for restoring an injured person’s physical, mental and cognitive functions after an accident. Whilst both therapy and rehabilitation do wonders for a patient’s health, the same cannot be said for their financial health, given how expensive they can be.
Travel Expenses
Due to the importance of monitoring injuries, you will likely need to travel to and from the hospital, GP, or other medical setting frequently, resulting in high travel expenses for public transport and petrol.
Car And Home Adaptations
If you have suffered an injury that has impacted your mobility, housing and vehicle adaptations may be needed in order to protect your independence. However, making both properties and cars more accessible to those with disabilities or mobility issues can be a very expensive process.
Miscellaneous Costs
Miscellaneous costs can also build up rapidly, including nonrefundable missed holidays due to injury and damage to personal belongings, such as phones and laptops.
If you have incurred financial losses as a direct result of your hit and run injury, you may be entitled to receive special damages. In order to be considered for this head of loss, you must first prove that you lost money because of your injury via strong evidence. More specifically, your solicitor will ask for things like payslips, invoices and receipts.
Are you wondering how much hit and run compensation you are entitled to? Arrange a free consultation with an advisor today to receive a compensation estimate for free.
Am I Able To Claim Compensation For A Hit And Run?
You are able to claim compensation for a hit and run if you are able to prove that the negligent actions of another driver directly caused you to suffer an injury.
When you’re new to the personal injury claims process, it’s understandable to feel unsure about the validity of your claim. To help bolster your confidence, we have provided you with the specific eligibility criteria below for you to compare in relation to your own hit and run compensation claim:
- You were owed a duty of care – The first important thing to understand is that all road users have a duty of care to each other to use the roads safely to prevent vehicles from getting damaged and people from getting hurt. In other words, this is a legal responsibility to ensure your reasonable safety. This duty also requires them to comply with the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
- The duty of care was breached – In order to have an eligible road traffic accident claim, another road user must have breached their duty of care towards you in some capacity. For example, another driver was speeding and crashed into the back of your car and fled the scene.
- This breach caused you to suffer an injury – Another crucial element of a road traffic accident claim’s eligibility is that you must have suffered a physical or psychological injury. For example, due to being hit by a speeding driver, you suffered whiplash and a seatbelt injury involving a fractured sternum.
Did you know that our advisors can assess the eligibility of your hit and run compensation claim for free? Call us today to have peace of mind regarding your road traffic accident claim’s eligibility.
What Is The Role Of The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB)?
The role of the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) is to compensate individuals who have been injured in a car accident due to the negligent actions of an uninsured or untraceable driver. The MIB ensures that those harmed in hit and run accidents are compensated fairly for both the injuries they have sustained as well as vehicle damage.
If you believe that claiming against the MIB is the right path for you and would like to learn more about what they do, please connect with an advisor today.
Most Common Injuries Caused By Hit And Run Accidents
The most common injuries caused by hit and run accidents range from whiplash to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
To give you a clearer picture of the impact a hit and run accident can have on the body, we’ve provided you with a list of potential injuries a person can sustain in such an incident:
- Broken bones, which can range from hairline fractures to open (compound) breaks that pierce through the skin
- Soft tissue injuries ranging from sprains and strains to torn cartilage, muscles and tendons
- Cuts, lacerations and burns
- Internal injuries involving organ damage
- Head and brain injuries such as concussions, skull fractures and brain haemorrhages
- Injuries to the back and spinal cord involving herniated discs, lumbar injuries and paralysis
If you have suffered one of the injury types above and it wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to hit and run compensation. Call Legal Helpline today to find out during your free consultation.
What Will I Need To Bring A Hit And Run Claim?
To bring a hit and run claim, you will need to gather as much evidence as you can such as your medical records and witness contact details, and also adhere to the legal time limit.
We discuss both these elements in more detail below:
Evidence To Help Prove Hit And Run Compensation Claims
Collecting as much proof as you can is the best way to set your claim up for success because it validates your narrative that you were injured and it wasn’t your fault. For more information on this, read our other guide on the evidence needed for a personal injury claim.
Hit And Run Compensation Claim Time Limits
It’s vital that you are aware of the legal time limit and that you start your hit and run compensation claim within it. The legal time limit, also known as the limitation period, is 3 years from the date you suffered the injury to start your personal injury claim, as outlined by the Limitation Act 1980.
Notably, there are exceptions to this 3-year window for specific parties. To discover who is exempt, head over to our other guide on the compensation claims time limit.
Did you know that our advisors can tell you if your hit and run compensation claim falls within the limitation period? Get in touch with an advisor today and secure your free consultation to discuss this.
How Can Legal Helpline Assist My Hit And Run Claim?
Legal Helpline can assist your hit and run claim by providing you with carefully designed support services intended to make the road traffic accident claims process easier. Please find below examples as to why you should trust our panel with your hit and run compensation claim:
- If you have suffered a particularly severe injury in a hit and run and struggle with mobility, our panel can arrange home visits where appropriate
- Our panel will secure you the necessary rehabilitation and medical care for physical injuries, such as soft tissue damage and broken bones
- Our panel will enlist the help of professionals such as counsellors, psychotherapists and psychiatrists to make sure you get the correct mental health support you need
- Our panel will build a powerful case for you by collecting strong pieces of evidence, ranging from dashcam footage to photographs of vehicle damage
- Our panel will provide a service tailored to your needs, ranging from acting as a dedicated point of contact to providing updates that skips the legal jargon
We want you to know that this is not an exhaustive list, and the road traffic accident solicitors on our panel have much more support to offer potential claimants like you. Call one of Legal Helpline’s advisors today to find out more.
Can Hit And Run Compensation Be Claimed On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Yes, hit and run compensation can be claimed on a No Win No Fee basis under a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). We’ve broken down the benefits of this funding option for you below:
- You won’t have to pay solicitor service fees if your hit and run compensation claim fails
- You won’t have to pay solicitor service fees while your claim is in progress
- You won’t have to pay any upfront solicitor service fees
If your hit and run compensation claim wins, you will pay a success fee. This is paid directly out of your road traffic accident compensation and will be capped as a percentage by law, as per the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013.
Here at Legal Helpline, we have a proven track record of securing high levels of personal injury compensation for road users injured due to the negligent actions of others. We make sure that those harmed by hit and run drivers get the justice they deserve, regardless of the driver at fault being untraceable. Please connect with one of our advisors using the contact details below if you are interested in how we stand out from the rest:
Contact Legal Helpline
- Ring us for free on 0333 0000 729
- Contact us online
- If you’re looking for a more convenient way to contact us, please text us using our live chat feature.
Learn More
Here you will find some more guides by Legal Helpline related to hit and run compensation claims:
- Read our guide on making a fatal road traffic accident claim.
- Have a read of our guide, which answers frequently asked questions about road traffic accident claims.
- Take a look at our guide on pedestrian accident claims.
Take a look through these external resources to help broaden your knowledge and research:
- Request a copy of your GP health record by accessing your NHS account from this NHS resource.
- Read these road statistics from Think!
- Request CCTV footage of yourself from GOV.UK.
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on how to secure hit and run compensation.