Road traffic accidents can injure road users, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. They can occur suddenly and could leave victims with physical and psychological injuries. These injuries can have short, medium, and in some cases, lifelong consequences for victims. If your accident involved an untraced or uninsured driver, you could make a Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) compensation claim.
Key Takeaways
- The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) compensates victims of uninsured and untraceable drivers
- The MIB is funded through every insurer that provides motor insurance
- MIB data is used by all UK police forces to stop, identify and seize uninsured vehicles
- According to MIB data, one person is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver every 20 minutes
- Our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors can help you claim MIB compensation following your accident with an uninsured or untraceable driver
Get help with your road traffic accident claim by talking to a member of our team.
Jump To A Section
- What Is MIB Compensation?
- How Much MIB Compensation Could I Receive?
- Who Can Claim Through The Motors Insurers’ Bureau?
- What Types Of Accidents Can The MIB Compensate?
- What Evidence Do I Need For An MIB Claim?
- How Long Do I Have To Claim MIB Compensation?
- What To Do After An Accident With An Uninsured Or Untraced Driver?
- Can I Claim MIB Compensation Without A Solicitor?
- No Win No Fee Agreements For MIB Claims
- More Information
What Is MIB Compensation?
MIB compensation is a way to seek damages for physical and psychological harm, as well as financial losses, following road traffic accidents with uninsured or untraceable drivers. The MIB is a not-for-profit organisation and is funded by insurance companies.
Later in this guide, we explain the eligibility criteria you must meet to be able to claim MIB compensation
Please talk to a member of our advisory team to learn more about making a claim through the MIB.
How Much MIB Compensation Could I Receive?
How much MIB compensation you could receive will depend on the types of injuries you suffered, their impact, and whether any financial losses were also experienced . You could be awarded a combination of general damages, for physical and psychological injuries, and special damages, for financial losses, as part of your compensation settlement.
Professionals valuing your claim for general damages could make reference to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that contains compensation guidelines for a range of injuries based on severity.
We have used some of these entries in the table below, aside from the first one.
Additionally, the final two entries come from the fixed tariff within the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, as these figures may impact your claim.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple severe injuries + special damages for lost income, medical bills, and care costs. | Severe. | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain damage | Very severe - A. The person may be able to open their eyes and follow a basic command. | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Paraplegia - B. Pain, depression, and life expectancy may be taken into account. | £267,340 to £346,890 | |
| Post-traumatic stress disorder | Moderately severe - B. Effects causing disability for the foreseeable future. | £28,250 to £73,050. |
| Neck injury | Severe (iii) - Fractures or severe soft tissue injuries. | £55,500 to £68,330 |
| Neck injury | Moderate (ii) - Wrenching or other soft tissue injuries. | £16,770 to £30,500 |
| Shoulder injury | Severe - Involving damage to the brachial plexus. | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Hip injury | Moderate (i) - A hip replacement may be required. | £32,450 to £47,810 |
| Leg injury | Less serious (i) - Incomplete recovery from a fracture. | £21,920 to £33,880 |
| Back injury | Moderate (ii) - Soft tissue injuries to the ligaments and muscles. | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Whiplash Tariff | Whiplash and psychological injuries lasting 18-24 months. | £4,345 |
| Whiplash Tariff | Whiplash injuries lasting 18-24 months, | £4,215 |
Special Damages When Claiming Compensation From The MIB
Special damages when claiming from the MIB can compensate for financial losses you have suffered due to your injuries. They can cover:
- Lost income, including earnings, pension contributions, and workplace benefits.
- Domestic or other care costs.
- Medical expenses.
- Travel costs, getting to and from appointments for medical treatment.
- Prescription fees
You must submit evidence of any financial losses you intend to claim. This can include proof of earnings, bank statements, and invoices or receipts.
Personal injury claims for road traffic accidents are assessed on an individual basis. This means how much compensation you receive will be individual to your case. Please contact us for an assessment of your potential MIB compensation.
Who Can Claim Through The Motors Insurers’ Bureau?
You can claim through the Motor Insurers’ Bureau if you were injured in an accident due to the negligent actions of an uninsured or untraceable driver. All road traffic accident claims must meet the following criteria to be deemed eligible for compensation:
- The other road user owed you a duty of care.
- They were in breach of this duty.
- Their breach caused your injuries.
All road users have a duty of care to use the roads safely to avoid causing harm. To adhere to this duty, they must also abide by the rules and regulations set out within the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code.
MIB claims may be made under either the Uninsured Drivers Agreement or the Untraced Drivers Agreement.
How Do MIB Uninsured Driver Claims Work?
Uninsured driver claims are made when the at-fault driver is identified but does not have a valid insurance policy. It is a legal requirement to have insurance to drive a motor vehicle on UK roads.
They are made via the MIB, which steps in in lieu of an insurance provider. Compensation can be awarded for personal injury and financial losses. This mirrors the standard personal injury claims process.
How Do MIB Untraced Driver Claims Work?
Untraced driver claims are made where the driver can not be identified or traced, such as in hit-and-run road traffic accidents. Untraced driver claims face stricter rules and a narrow scope under which they may pay compensation for property damage.
An advisor could review your case, and if they believe you are eligible to claim through the MIB, they can connect you to a solicitor from our panel.
What Types Of Accidents Can The MIB Compensate?
Types of accidents the MIB can compensate for include hit-and-run incidents, those involving an uninsured or untraceable driver, certain accidents abroad, or those involving foreign-registered vehicles.
Such accidents include:
- An uninsured driver fails to stop at a red light, causing a T-bone collision with another car, where that driver suffers multiple injuries, including a dislocated shoulder and back injury.
- A driver crashes into the back of another car due to being distracted by their phone, and they do not stop at the scene of the accident. The hit driver suffers a whiplash injury.
An advisor could help you understand more about the types of accidents you could make an MIB compensation claim for. Contact us today.
What Evidence Do I Need For An MIB Claim?
Evidence you may need for an MIB claim includes your medical records, dashcam footage and photographs. Essentially, the evidence you gather needs to demonstrate what injuries were suffered, how they were suffered, and how another road user was liable.
Evidence can include:
- A copy of a police report about the accident.
- CCTV or dashcam footage
- Photgraphs of the accident scene or visible injuries
- Details of the uninsured driver (if known).
- Witness contact details so a statement can be taken from them by a legal professional
- Medical records showing the injuries sustained. This may include records from an independent medical assessment organised by a solicitor.
Get help collecting evidence supporting road traffic accident claims from one of the specialist No Win No Fee solicitors on our panel. Contact our advisors today to learn more about how they could help you.
How Long Do I Have To Claim MIB Compensation?
You have 3 years to claim MIB compensation if you are an adult doing so on your own behalf. This time limit begins on the date of the accident and is set by the Limitation Act 1980. There are 2 notable exceptions to this, covering circumstances in which the claimant cannot make their own claim:
- The time limit for minors does not start till they turn 18, running till their 21st birthday.
- The time limit is indefinitely paused if the person lacks the mental capacity to claim themselves. If they recover this capacity, the time limit commences from this date.
In both instances where the time limit is paused, a loved one could be appointed by the courts as a litigation friend to make a claim on their behalf.
An advisor can provide information on acting as a litigation friend on behalf of a loved one. They can also inform you if you have enough time to begin your own road traffic accident claim.
What To Do After An Accident With An Uninsured Or Untraced Driver?
After an accident with an uninsured or untraced driver you should report the accident to the police, seek medical attention, and collect evidence. Any collision in which someone is injured must be reported to the police. This is also mandatory for MIB claims. It is also important that you seek medical care for your injuries. This not only prioritises your health, but creates medical records which may be used as evidence.
Steps to take,
- Report the incident to the police.
- Seek medical attention.
- Collect evidence (as discussed earlier).
The solicitors on our panel understand that accidents involving uninsured or untraced drivers can be distressing. They could help you take these, and other steps after an accident.
Can I Claim MIB Compensation Without A Solicitor?
Yes, you can claim MIB compensation without a solicitor. However, where cases are more complex, dealing with complicated and long-term injuries, consulting with a solicitor specialising in personal injury claims could help to ensure your claim is properly submitted, with the relevant evidence, and within the time limit.
The solicitors making up our panel understand that each case and claimant are unique, providing claimants with a supportive environment. Just some of the other benefits of working with one of the solicitors on our panel include,
- Decades of experience and expertise in helping people to make successful MIB compensation claims.
- Practical help collecting evidence and accessing specialist services, such as those for rehabilitation.
- Bespoke help throughout the claims process, ensuring you understand each step, terms used, and that your needs are prioritised.
- Expert representation and negotiation with other parties to the claim.
Please contact our team about your MIB compensation claim today.
No Win No Fee Agreements For MIB Claims
No Win No Fee agreements for MIB claims enable claimants to work with a solicitor, without paying any upfront service fees for their work. During an initial consultation with one of our advisors, your case will be assessed to help you understand whether you could make a claim and your options to do so. If your case is valid, a road traffic accident or personal injury lawyer from our panel could help you, using a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), enabling them to work on a No Win No Fee basis.
With a CFA you won’t pay any solicitors fees during the MIB claims process, or if it is unsuccessful. If you do win, your solicitor would deduct a success fee. This fee is calculated as a percentage of your compensation, is agreed in advance, and is capped by law.
Contact Our Advisors
Contact one of our advisors today to discuss MIB claims.
- Phone 0800 408 7825.
- Speak to an advisor live.
- Contact us to start a claim online.
More Information
Find more information on MIB claims here.
- Learn more about motorcycle accident claims.
- Find out more about car accident claims.
- View changes to the highway code in our guide.
References.
- View NHS whiplash information.
- View government statistics on road safety.
- Learn more about road safety laws here.
Contact us for further help with MIB compensation claims.