When the Other Driver Has No Motor Insurance

Uninsured drivers in the UK are more prevalent than you may think at first. Each year, uninsured drivers cost other motorists around 380 million a year, which works out at approximately 30 pounds on each individual's insurance premium.

Recent research has shown that uninsured drivers are more likely to be responsible for road traffic accidents and to ignore many of the road rules that keep other drivers and road users safe. They are ten times more likely to drive under the influence of alcohol and three times more likely to be convicted of unsafe driving in some form.

Statistics suggest that around one in ten car drivers have been involved in some type of accident with an uninsured driver. This is of course worrying as your chances of being involved in one are high so you should be aware of what to do in this situation and what the possible outcome may be.

At the Scene of the Accident

As with all accidents, you should take note of the other drivers car model and registration number. Get their name and address also and if you can, take note of any damage to their car and your own. If you can take a photo, that is even more beneficial and will show the weather conditions, road markings and other important points about the accident. If there's a witness, get their details also, you may need them at a later date, especially if you find out the driver of the other car is uninsured.

Speak to Your Insurance Company

One of the most important calls you can make, along side that of the police, is to call your insurance company and find out exactly what your policy covers. If you have comprehensive cover, your car and any damages to it should be covered. Sadly, you may lose your no claims discount here and many people are loathe to do so, especially when they've been involved in an accident that isn't their fault.

You may also have to pay your excess, which will vary dependent on what you agreed to in your policy. Some policies will waive any excess payment that you owe if you're hit by an uninsured driver, but these are very rare. If you don't have comprehensive insurance then you could find it more difficult to get your insurance company to help.

If you only have third party insurance, this means your insurance company don't have to pay for any repairs. The problem here is that if the other driver is uninsured then you're unlikely to be able to claim any money from him or her unless you pursue them in court. For most people, this approach seems to stressful and lengthy, so they approach the Motor Insurers Bureau.

The Motor Insurers Bureau

The Motor Insurers Bureau is an official body that exists to help motorists with claims that their insurance may not cover. They specialise in dealing with cases where the individual who caused the accident is uninsured or untraced. If you do intend to contact the Motor Insurers Bureau then it's mandatory that you have the other drivers car registration details. You must have also reported the accident to the police initially, so that there's an official record of the details of the accident.

If you have carried out this procedure, ask the police for a copy of their accident report as the Motor Insurer's Bureau will request this during the investigation of your case.

When you do contact them, they will make it easy to take you through the claims process and you can even submit a claim directly from their website. They will accept claims from you, your solicitor or an individual who has advised you at the Citizens' Advice Bureau. They'll consider claims for property damage or any injury you may have received exclusively - this means you're not able to claim from two individual places.

The best thing to do if you're unsure of your next step is call the Motor Insurers Bureau and ask for further advice. They understand the stress involved in being in an accident with an uninsured driver, so make use of their experience.