Uninsured Driver Compensation Claims

Have you recently been involved in a road traffic accident that wasn’t your fault? If the other party was a driver without insurance — or without enough insurance to cover any compensation claims — you may be wondering how to approach a claim.

Our team of personal injury solicitors are on hand to ensure you get the financial compensation you deserve, regardless of another driver’s insurance level.

Read on for guidance on making a claim against an uninsured or underinsured driver, and contact the team at Tylers Solicitors for support every step of the way.

What’s the difference between an uninsured and an underinsured driver?

When you’ve been in an accident that involves a driver without the right level of insurance — whether you were also driving or you were a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist— it’s important to know if they were uninsured or underinsured.

What is an uninsured driver?

A driver is uninsured if they do not have a valid insurance policy. In the UK, every driver must have third-party insurance at a minimum. Third-party car insurance covers the costs of damage or injury that the insured driver causes to other people, their vehicles, or property. However, it does not cover the insured driver’s own vehicle or personal medical expenses.

What is underinsurance?

Being “underinsured” is slightly different. This refers to a situation where a driver carries an insurance policy of some form, but it does not provide sufficient coverage to fully compensate for damages or injuries caused in an accident.

This can leave the driver responsible for paying the remaining costs out of pocket. For example, if a driver is involved in a collision that causes £100,000 worth of damage but their insurance policy only covers up to £50,000, they are underinsured for the remaining £50,000.

Why are underinsured drivers allowed on the roads?

As mentioned, the minimum insurance a driver must have is third-party. However, legally, motorists don’t need comprehensive protection for all potential scenarios.

However, while underinsurance may not be illegal, it can result in severe financial and legal difficulties for both the insured driver and others affected by an accident.

Problems can arise when the negligent driver only has the minimum amount of insurance. Their coverage is unlikely high enough to cover all the compensation towards the victim — such as physical injuries, medical expenses and time taken off work.

How many uninsured drivers are there in the UK?

You might be surprised to learn that an average of 300,000 uninsured vehicles are on UK roads every day, according to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau.

Drivers may not have the right level of insurance for a number of reasons:

It could be an honest mistake, not realising their insurance has expired
They may not be able to afford insurance, so cancel it
They could be involved in criminal activity and avoid insurance to stay undetected
They may not see the benefit or realise car insurance is a legal requirement

Can I make a compensation claim against an uninsured or underinsured driver?

It can be worrying when you realise that the driver responsible for your accident is uninsured or underinsured.

But don’t panic — it’s still possible to make an insurance claim. The team at Tylers Solicitors can claim on your behalf to the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

It’s important to note that the MIB has its own regulations, so claims made against uninsured drivers can take longer to process and finalise.

What do you need to make a claim against an uninsured driver?

Usually, when you’re involved in any form of road traffic accident, the first thing to do is to get the contact and insurance details of the other driver. But what if they don’t have insurance? In this situation, we recommend gathering as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident.

If it’s safe and possible to do so:

Take photos or videos of the damage, location, and any relevant road signs or conditions.
Collect witness statements and their contact details.
Note down the uninsured driver’s details, including their name, address, and vehicle registration number (if they are willing to provide them). If you’ve been involved in a hit-and-run accident, try to collect any information about the vehicle that fled — for example, the make, model, colour, and registration number.
Report the accident to the police as soon as possible. Driving without insurance is illegal, and a police report can support your claim.
Contact your insurer as soon as possible to inform them of the situation.

What kinds of injuries might I suffer following a collision with an uninsured driver?

After a car accident involving an underinsured or uninsured driver, you may experience a range of injuries and sufferings that make you eligible for compensation. These could include:

Physical injuries of varying severity
Having to take time off work, leading to a loss of earnings
Emotional and psychological suffering
Damage to your car, motorcycle, or bicycle
Accrued medical bills

If you’ve been involved in an accident with an uninsured driver that wasn’t your fault, call the team at Tylers Solicitors. We’ll ensure you get the right level of compensation for the injuries and financial loss you’ve suffered.

What happens when I make a claim against an uninsured or underinsured driver?

In circumstances involving underinsured or uninsured drivers who cannot cover all the costs incurred, then we are likely to turn to your insurance to cover the expenses.

As long as you are insured correctly and your coverage with your insurance company allows you to receive compensation from situations like these, it is highly likely that you will get the compensation for all matters you are claiming against.

Why choose Tylers Solicitors for support with compensation claims against uninsured drivers?

Our team of experienced personal injury solicitors have supported drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists across the UK with claims against uninsured and underinsured drivers. We take a professional and sensitive approach and ensure every claimant is treated as an individual.

Our ‘No Win, No Fee’ arrangement means if you don’t win your case, you won’t pay our fee. This provides you with peace of mind and confidence in knowing we’ll do everything we can to get you the compensation you deserve.

The team is always available to answer any of your questions, so please get in touch online or call us on 0800 699 0079 to discuss your case.

Related Claims

NO WIN - NO FEE

For any Car Accident Claims, call Tylers Solicitors today, a leading UK provider of no-win, no-fee legal services. Our experienced team will work with you to get the maximum amount of compensation you’re entitled to, following any kind of injury that isn’t your fault!