TRUST ONE OF THE UK’S LARGEST GENERAL INSURERS. Find out more about Allianz Insurance plc.

What to do if you are in a hit and run accident

As a Your Cover policy holder, you are able to put together insurance cover that suits your personal lifestyle and circumstances.

If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a hit and run accident, however, the trauma and distress that arise from involvement in an accident will be compounded by the possibility that Your Cover may have no third party against which to lodge a claim on your behalf.

The tips on this page will help you to do everything you can at the scene of such an accident to improve the chances of the police being able to trace the hit and run vehicle, and of you being able to make a claim against the insurance industry funded body which exists for this specific purpose.

Hit and run laws. What they say	Legally, hit and run is usually covered by the offence AC10 - Failure to Stop After an Accident. This is committed by a driver whose vehicle causes an accident in which another person is hurt, or another vehicle is damaged, and who then fails to stop, or fails to give their name and address. The offence, in itself, carries a penalty of up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000; between 5 and 10 penalty points on the driver’s licence; and possible disqualification. None of this, however, is of much consolation to you if you have been the victim of the offence.

Hit and run laws. What they say

/content/allianz_your_cover/en/products/car_insurance/hints_and_tips/avoiding_the_worst/what_to_do_in_a_hit_and_run/jcr:content/centre-parsys/contents_generic/file

Legally, hit and run is usually covered by the offence AC10 - Failure to Stop After an Accident. This is committed by a driver whose vehicle causes an accident in which another person is hurt, or another vehicle is damaged, and who then fails to stop, or fails to give their name and address.

The offence, in itself, carries a penalty of up to 6 months in prison and/or a fine of up to £5,000; between 5 and 10 penalty points on the driver’s licence; and possible disqualification.

None of this, however, is of much consolation to you if you have been the victim of the offence.

Hit and run laws. Making an insurance claim	If you are involved in a regular road traffic accident caused by another motorist Your Cover, as your insurer, makes a claim against the insurer of the offending vehicle. If you are involved in a hit and run accident, you might expect that there could be no one against whom to make such a claim. Fortunately, this is not necessarily the case. The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the whole UK insurance industry, and it exists to provide someone to claim against in hit and run accidents, or in cases in which the offending driver is known but was driving without insurance. In order to make a claim against the MIB, the law requires you to prove that: The driver of the vehicle which failed to stop was negligent; Injury to you or your passengers, or damage to your vehicle or caused by your vehicle as a result of the accident, actually did occur as a result of this negligence

Hit and run laws. Making an insurance claim

If you are involved in a regular road traffic accident caused by another motorist Your Cover, as your insurer, makes a claim against the insurer of the offending vehicle.

If you are involved in a hit and run accident, you might expect that there could be no one against whom to make such a claim. Fortunately, this is not necessarily the case.

The Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the whole UK insurance industry, and it exists to provide someone to claim against in hit and run accidents, or in cases in which the offending driver is known but was driving without insurance.

In order to make a claim against the MIB, the law requires you to prove that:

The driver of the vehicle which failed to stop was negligent;
Injury to you or your passengers, or damage to your vehicle or caused by your vehicle as a result of the accident, actually did occur as a result of this negligence

Hit and run. What to do after an accident	If you are involved in a hit and run accident, as in any other accident, your first concern should be for your own wellbeing as well as for that of your passengers and of any other motorists or pedestrians involved. If anybody has sustained injury, dial 999 and request an ambulance. If you have a mobile phone with a weak signal, dial 112, which will connect you directly to the emergency services, using any mobile phone network within range. Dealing with this, as well as ensuring that your car is in a safe condition and is not causing a hazard to other traffic, should be your first priority. Once you have done this: Telephone the Your Cover Claims Helpline on 0844 893 9606. Explain that you have been involved in a hit and run accident, and they will advise you on what to do If you are unable to call the Your Cover Claims Helpline from the accident scene, you should take the following steps: Establish what record there is, if any, of the vehicle which has fled. If you have been able to see and remember all or part of the vehicle registration number, or the make and model of the vehicle, write these down before you forget them Take names and addresses of anybody who witnessed the incident, and find out whether any of them captured a registration number or description. Witnesses will be very important to making an insurance claim, as the MIB will meet repair costs only if the offending vehicle is subsequently identified or traced Report the case to the police. The MIB will expect this have to been done when considering a claim If you or a passenger have a camera, or phone with a camera, take pictures of the scene that can be used to help substantiate your version of what happened.

Hit and run. What to do after an accident

If you are involved in a hit and run accident, as in any other accident, your first concern should be for your own wellbeing as well as for that of your passengers and of any other motorists or pedestrians involved.

If anybody has sustained injury, dial 999 and request an ambulance. If you have a mobile phone with a weak signal, dial 112, which will connect you directly to the emergency services, using any mobile phone network within range.

Dealing with this, as well as ensuring that your car is in a safe condition and is not causing a hazard to other traffic, should be your first priority. Once you have done this:

Telephone the Your Cover Claims Helpline on 0844 893 9606. Explain that you have been involved in a hit and run accident, and they will advise you on what to do

If you are unable to call the Your Cover Claims Helpline from the accident scene, you should take the following steps:

Establish what record there is, if any, of the vehicle which has fled. If you have been able to see and remember all or part of the vehicle registration number, or the make and model of the vehicle, write these down before you forget them
Take names and addresses of anybody who witnessed the incident, and find out whether any of them captured a registration number or description. Witnesses will be very important to making an insurance claim, as the MIB will meet repair costs only if the offending vehicle is subsequently identified or traced
Report the case to the police. The MIB will expect this have to been done when considering a claim

If you or a passenger have a camera, or phone with a camera, take pictures of the scene that can be used to help substantiate your version of what happened.

Hit and run. What to do after an accident outside of the UK	If you are driving your car abroad and are involved in a hit and run accident, you should take the following steps: Establish that you, your passengers and anyone else involved has not been injured. If they have, call for an ambulance using the local emergency dial number Contact the local police. Many countries in Europe have more stringent laws governing hit and run than we have in the UK, and the police will attend and take control Do whatever you can to obtain and accurately record any details that may help to identify the vehicle which has fled, as well as the names and address of any witnesses If you have included the Foreign travel insurance option in Your Cover, call our Helpline immediately on 0844 893 9606. Explain that you have been involved in a hit and run accident overseas, and they will advise you on what else you should do

Hit and run. What to do after an accident outside of the UK

If you are driving your car abroad and are involved in a hit and run accident, you should take the following steps:

Establish that you, your passengers and anyone else involved has not been injured. If they have, call for an ambulance using the local emergency dial number
Contact the local police. Many countries in Europe have more stringent laws governing hit and run than we have in the UK, and the police will attend and take control
Do whatever you can to obtain and accurately record any details that may help to identify the vehicle which has fled, as well as the names and address of any witnesses
If you have included the Foreign travel insurance option in Your Cover, call our Helpline immediately on 0844 893 9606. Explain that you have been involved in a hit and run accident overseas, and they will advise you on what else you should do

Your Cover insurance options	Your Cover gives you flexible insurance cover you tailor yourself to meet your own lifestyle and motoring needs. In most cases, hit and run is simply an additional factor compounding the trauma of being involved in an accident. While assignment of liability to a third party might prove difficult, the resulting damage to your vehicle and injuries to you or your passengers must still be dealt with. We suggest that you consider the following Your Cover insurance options, which could be of benefit to you should you be involved in a hit and run accident. Personal accident - covers you and your passengers for injuries suffered in an accident. Legal expenses - covers you for legal expenses which you incur in pursuing negligent third parties who caused the road accident, including the pursuit of a claim through the MIB following a hit and run. No claims discount protection - protects your No claims discount if you have to claim following a hit and run as no third party liability can be enforced (NCD is only protected for the first claim in a policy year).

Your Cover insurance options

Your Cover gives you flexible insurance cover you tailor yourself to meet your own lifestyle and motoring needs.

In most cases, hit and run is simply an additional factor compounding the trauma of being involved in an accident. While assignment of liability to a third party might prove difficult, the resulting damage to your vehicle and injuries to you or your passengers must still be dealt with.

We suggest that you consider the following Your Cover insurance options, which could be of benefit to you should you be involved in a hit and run accident.

Personal accident - covers you and your passengers for injuries suffered in an accident.
Legal expenses - covers you for legal expenses which you incur in pursuing negligent third parties who caused the road accident, including the pursuit of a claim through the MIB following a hit and run.
No claims discount protection - protects your No claims discount if you have to claim following a hit and run as no third party liability can be enforced (NCD is only protected for the first claim in a policy year).

Terms and conditions contained in the policy documentation apply. Download the policy documentation here.

Obtain an instant quote for a Your Cover Car insurance policy online now.

If you need help at any stage whilst you are building your Car insurance cover, our knowledgeable UK customer centre staff are available to assist you on 0800 975 3247.

Your Cover is a product from Allianz Insurance plc, registered in England no 84638 at 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1DB, United Kingdom. Allianz Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, registration number 121849 and this can be checked by visiting the FSA website at www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting the FSA on 0845 606 1234.

Contact us

0844 893 9606

Lines open:
Mon - Fri 8am - 9pm
Sat 9am - 5pm

Calls may be monitored and recorded for training purposes.

Your cover:

What to do if you are in a hit and run accident

As a Your Cover policy holder, you are able to put together insurance cover that suits your personal lifestyle and circumstances.

Contact us

Related topics

You are here:

Your cover:

What to do if you are in a hit and run accident

As a Your Cover policy holder, you are able to put together insurance cover that suits your personal lifestyle and circumstances.

To forward this page to a friend, please enter the following details.

Contact us

Related topics