Hit and Run UK Law: What You Need to Know

Hassanbro560
September 7, 2024
Accidents and Claims
hit and run accident, Hit and Run UK Law, Personal Injury Claim

Being involved in a hit and run case is always distressing. However, you must be familiar with hit and run UK law if you want to get out of this situation without any challenges. Don’t you know about hit and run reporting or laws while living in the UK? Don’t worry; Read out this guide for more information.

Before discussing the details, follow the UK traffic rules on a high-traffic road or a motorway. If you have been involved in a hit-and-run case, unfortunately, keep calm and seek personal safety first. This blog post will provide details of hit and run case processing and UK laws for this type of accident. So, start reading to explore all the details;

What is a Hit and Run Case?

A hit and run is also known as a criminal act. In this act, the involved person doesn’t stop on the scene after an accident and leaves without informing anyone. According to UK law, it is really offensive to leave the accident scene without providing the details to the affected party or telling the police.

If it is unsafe to stop at the accident scene, you can stop by a nearby place and inform the police about the accident. However, you don’t need for hit and run reporting if no offence occurs during an accident. If the offence has occurred, the police will investigate the scene from both parties and collect the witness statements for better procedure.

How Do You Report a Hit and Run?

According to the UK’s Traffic Act 1988, drivers must inform the police about any hit and run case. However, the UK’s police have a specific method to investigate the scene to find the real culprit of hit and run accident. The police will check for the following things to calculate the actual results of a hit and run case;

If the police find the driver guilty in a hit and run case, he will be charged according to UK laws, especially in the case of severe damages and personal injuries.

What is the Penalty for a Hit and Run Case’s Culprit?

If you have been involved in an accident case and failed to report it to the police, you might get a maximum sentence of six months in prison. Moreover, you may also need to pay a £5,000 fine as a penalty. If the casualties are more severe than usual, you may have to pay more for a fine.

If a hit and run case causes the death of another driver, you will get the maximum imprisonment of 14 years along with the fine. In addition to the criminal penalties, you may also face civil liabilities, such as offering compensation to the non-faulty driver or their family. So, drive carefully!

What Should I Do If Someone Hit My Car?

If you have been hit by a car in the UK, here are a few steps to follow:

Park your vehicle at a safe place
Call an emergency line if you get injured
Call the police and report the case
Contact an insurer or an accident claim management company
Ask the faulty driver for details and his personal information

While exchanging information with the faulty driver, ensure you get his complete details, including name, address, insurer, and vehicle registration number.

If possible, ensure that evidence of the accident is collected, including photos, witness statements, and nearest CCTV recordings.
If you still don’t know what to do after an accident or being involved in a hit and run case, call Continental Car Hire for legal advice.

What Happens If I Hit a Car But Have No Damage?

If you have been involved in a hit-a-car case in the UK, stay calm and observe the situation first. If there is no damage to the other’s vehicle or driver, there is no need to report the police about the scene.

Even if no damage occurs to the other’s car, record the driver’s statement. Moreover, click the pictures in the scene. So you can save yourself from any charges or penalties in future.

What to Do When Someone Hits Your Parked Car in the UK?

If someone hits your parked car in the UK, you don’t need to take any legal action if it doesn’t lead to any damage. If the hit case has caused damage to your car, inform your insurer or contact a claim management company.

By contacting a professional and experienced accident claim management company, you can get the maximum compensation from the faulty party’s insurer.
If you don’t know about the faulty driver, you should report the case to the police even before informing your insurer.

How Many Points Do You Get for Hitting a Parked Car?

If you hit a parked car, you will receive a fine between 5 and 10 points on your licence. However, these points will be increased or decreased based on the accident’s severity. If you don’t stop at the accident scene and don’t report it to the police, you’ll receive many points.

How to Make a Claim After a Hit and Run Case?

If you want to make a claim for a hit and run case with your insurance company, you have to consider a few steps. After a hit-and-run case, you can claim your comprehensive car insurance with your insurer. However, you must pay for the repairs if you do not report the incident to the police within 24 hours. To make a hit and run case claim with your insurer, you have to follow these steps;

To keep your no-claim bonus unaffected, the insurer will ask for other detailed information related to the hit and run case according to their policies.

Hire an Accident Claim Management Company for Maximum Compensation?

Contact a claim management company if you want to keep your no-claim bonus untouched and need maximum compensation. If you are in the UK and looking for a reliable and professional claim management company, what could be a better option than contacting Continental Car Hire? At CCH, we have a team of dedicated and highly experienced claim handlers.

Our experts will help you promptly get the maximum compensation for hit-and-run cases. Moreover, you can also keep your no-claim bonuses unaffected by our transparent accident management strategies. There is no need to pay for excess payments, as CCH will process your claim on a no-win, no-fee basis.