Road Traffic Accidents and Uninsured Drivers - Personal Injury Solicitors

Research by Confused.com has revealed than men are three times more likely than women to have a conviction for driving without being insured, a statistic it linked to the £616 increase in the cost of the average premium 17-20 year olds have experienced in the last 12 months.

Will Thomas, head of motor at the company, explained what this signifies for drivers who stick to the rules. "Uninsured drivers are costing the insurance coverage industry around £500 million a year which unfortunately means higher premiums for law-abiding motorists.

"Covering the cost of uninsured drivers adds around £30 to every honest motorist's policy."

Even though fact people have to pay higher premiums because of uninsured drivers is an annoyance, getting into a road traffic accident with somebody that doesn't have cover could be a nightmare.

However, it doesn't have to be. Although many people believe that they will face a hefty bill if they are shunted by a driver without cover, there are certain protections in place to make sure law-abiding drivers are not punished due to the illegal actions of others.
The initial steps to take after being involved with a crash with an uninsured driver aren't any different to those you'd take after a traffic accident involving a person with cover.

Firstly, you have to record as many details as you can. This includes the basics, such as the other person's car model and their registration number, as well as their name and address. You should also take notes concerning the damage caused and, if at all possible, photos of the damage and surrounding area. You should also write down the road conditions and in which the accident occurred (e.g. in a roundabout). It's also important to get the details of any witnesses to the road traffic accident.
Your insurance following a road traffic accident having a driver without cover

What happens next is likely to depend on what kind of car insurance you have. If you have fully comprehensive cover, your insurer will pay for your care to be repaired, although you could lose your no claims discount and you'll have to pay the excess. If you have third-party cover then the situation is less rosy.

Your insurer won't pay for the repairs and also the only way to get money from the uninsured driver would be to take action in the small claims court. Even though you win, it's not guaranteed you'll be with the cash as they may not have the funds to pay for you.

Fortunately though, there is another option. The Motor Insurers' Bureau exists to make sure people who are involved in a road traffic accident with someone who has cover are not unfairly penalised.

The MIB is funded through insurance companies (which explains the reason for the higher premiums) and helps those who have been the victim of negligent drivers without cover. As long as the other driver is at fault, has been formally identified and the MIB's criteria are met, the victim of the accident will have full legal redress.

What this means is they can claim for that cost of replacing their vehicle, as well as other things including hire charges, property damage and other things.