I Was Hurt In A Hit And Run Car Accident – Can I Claim?

Have you been involved in a hit and run car accident where a third party was at fault? You might have sustained an injury and are looking to seek a road traffic accident settlement. If so, this guide could help.

hit and run accident

Hit and run car accident claims guide

Despite the responsible party fleeing the scene, you could still be eligible to make a personal injury claim. We will explore the process of doing so throughout our guide. 

In this guide, we will cover:

  • The definition of a hit and run incident
  • Steps you can take following a road traffic accident that causes you harm
  • The evidence you can gather to support your claim
  • How compensation is often calculated

We will also look at how the services offered by the No Win No Fee solicitors from our panel could help you if you’re looking to seek legal representation.

Please continue reading for more information. Alternatively, you can speak with a member of our team. To get in touch:

  • Call 0133 460 1215
  • Get in touch via our contact page 
  • Or use the live chat in the bottom right of your screen

Choose A Section

  1. Guidance On Making A Hit And Run Car Accident Claim
  2. Calculating Compensation For A Hit And Run Accident
  3. Explaining Hit And Run Accidents
  4. What Steps Could I Take After A Hit And Run Car Accident?
  5. Could I Hire A Solicitor Under A No Win No Fee Agreement?
  6. More Information On Making A Hit And Run Car Accident Claim

Guidance On Making A Hit And Run Car Accident Claim

A hit and run accident is when a driver of a vehicle involved in an accident, flees the scene without leaving any identifiable details such as their name,  insurance details or contact information. 

The Road Traffic Act 1988 sets out the duty of care for road users. Additionally, the Highway Code provides guidance and rules for all road users to follow.

As stated in Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver must stop at the scene of an accident that they are involved in. They must also exchange their details in certain cases. 

If a road user fails to uphold the duty of care they owe, it could cause you to sustain harm in an accident. A hit and run car accident can involve different types of road users, including: 

  • Motorcyclists
  • Pedestrians 
  • Pedal cyclists
  • Drivers of vehicles, including cars, vans and lorries.

The hit and run claims process can differ to other types of road traffic accident claims. If the responsible driver is unidentified, you would make your claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) instead. The MIB provides those who have been involved in accidents with an uninsured or untraceable driver with a way to seek compensation.

Our expert panel of solicitors may be able to help you with the process. You can get in touch with our team to find out whether they can assign your case to a solicitor from our panel.

Calculating Compensation For A Hit And Run Accident

If you win your hit and run car accident claim, the compensation you are awarded could be made up of general damages and special damages. The two heads of claims compensate you for the different ways in which your injuries impact your life. 

For instance, general damages cover the pain and suffering that have occurred as a result of your injuries as well as the impact on your quality of life. For Instance, you may suffer from a broken leg which stops you from socialising with friends and family causing your mental health to suffer. All the ways in which your injuries have impacted your overall quality of life is taken into consideration when valuing the general damages portion of your claim.  

Additionally, legal professionals can use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them value general damages. This contains guideline compensation amounts for different injuries. We have included these amounts in the table below.

Despite the JCG being a document that legal professionals, such as road traffic accident solicitors, use to help them value settlements, it should only be used as guidance. This is because each personal injury claim is unique, and the compensation you may be awarded could differ. 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
1
Body PartSeverity
Compensation Bracket
Details
2
NeckSevere
In the region of £148,330
A neck injury that involves incomplete paraplegia or loss of functionality of the entire body. This bracket also includes little to no neck functionality.
3
NeckMinor (i)£4,350 to
£7,890
A full recovery will take place within a timeframe of 1-2 years.
4
BackSevere (i)
£91,090 to £160,980
Severe pain and disability along paralysis and significant impairments to the bowels and bladder and sexual dysfunction
5
BackModerate (ii)
£12,510 to £27,760
Disturbance of the ligaments and/or muscles that cause issues, such as back ache.
6
LegVery serious
£54,830 to £87,890
A very serious injury that causes permanent mobility issues and also requires crutches or other forms of mobility aid for life.
7
Leg
Less serious (iii)
Up to
£11,840
Simple fractures to the tibia or fibula as well as soft tissue injuries.
8
ShoulderSevere
£19,200 to £48,030
Severe disability caused due to damage to the brachial plexus.
9
ShoulderMinor (i)
£4,350 to £7,890
A soft tissue injury that causes considerable pain but makes a near full recovery within 2 years.
10
ArmC
£19,200 to £39,170
Despite there being notable disabilities, a significant level of recovery has or is expected to be made.
11
FootModest
Up to £13,740
An injury that involves continuing symptoms, such as aches and pains.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100

Moreover, special damages look to reimburse you for any financial losses that have incurred due to your injuries. For example, you might not be able to work for a prolonged period of time due to a severe neck injury. Special damages will cover the loss of pay as well as any potential future losses. It also covers:

  • Home adaptations
  • Care costs 
  • Medical expenses

You must provide evidence of all of the expenses incurred that you are claiming for. This can be done via receipts or bank statements. 

Our advisors can provide you with more information on compensation for a hit and run accident.

Explaining Hit And Run Accidents 

As mentioned, you must be able to prove a third party has breached their duty of care and caused you harm, either physically or psychologically, in order to make a hit and run car accident claim. 

We have provided some examples of how hit and run offences may occur:

  • As a pedestrian, you could be crossing the road at a zebra crossing. A car driver may fail to stop, colliding with you and fleeing the scene without stopping. As a result, you sustain a life changing injury.
  • As a motorcyclist, a van driver may not check their mirrors adequately and force you off the road and continue driving. Subsequently, you suffer a severe head injury and wrist injury. 
  • You may have stopped at a red light when another car rear-ends your vehicle due to a lack of concentration but drives away nonetheless. Consequently, you suffer from a severe knee injury

What Steps Could I Take After A Hit And Run Car Accident?

There are several steps you could take following a hit and run car accident.

The first port of call should always be seeking medical attention; this allows you to get the necessary treatment for your injuries and also generates medical records that could be used as evidence to support your claim. 

Additionally, you could gather other evidence, such as:

  • Collect witnesses’ contact details 
  • CCTV or dashcam footage
  • Photographs of the incident or your injuries

Lastly, you should seek legal advice. Our advisors are available 24/7 and could connect you with a solicitor from our panel if you have a valid claim. 

Could I Hire A Solicitor Under A No Win No Fee Agreement?

There are various forms of No Win No Fee arrangements. One in particular that our panel of solicitors can offer to represent your claim under is known as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). 

Under a CFA, if your claim is successful will you need to pay your solicitor a legally capped success fee from your compensation.

However, if your claim fails, you won’t have to pay for the services your solicitor provides. 

Find out if you are eligible to be represented by a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel. Our team of advisors are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Get Advice On Making A Hit And Run Car Accident Claim

If you have any queries about your potential hit and run car accident claim, get in touch by:

  • Calling 0133 460 1215
  • Getting in touch via our contact page 
  • Using the live chat in the bottom right of your screen

More Information On Making A Hit And Run Car Accident Claim

Here we have included some additional reading that you might find useful: 

We have also provided some of our own guides that you might find helpful: 

Thank you for reading our guide on claiming for a hit and run car accident. If you have any further questions, please get in touch.

Writer Beck Patch

Editor Meg McConnell