No Car Insurance. Can I claim?

[ronkaguy]

Hi, I was in a motorbike accident, where I was hit by a car. My bike was written off , luckily I wasn't. The police we called and they took all the details, and passed on the other drivers name and address to me. My insurance company have been trying to contact the other driver, but with no luck and as I have only 3rd party insurance I need to have him pay for a new bike etc. What's my next step? I have his licence plate number, will the police research this for me and chase him up? Will they tell me if he provided proof of insurance and what that was? If I can't get anything from him, is there a government fund for uninsured claims? Anyone have any ideas what I should do next?

[JB]

The police probably won't release details about the other driver to you as it breaches the Data Protection Act. Do you have legal expenses cover? If so, they should be able to apply for a police report once the investigation is over. If the driver is uninsured/untraced, you can submit a claim to the Motor Insurers Bureau (again your legal expenses insurer can arrange this if you have this cover) but the claim will be subject to �300 excess. Hope this helps.

[Hgrove]

I gather there is a government fund for uninsured loss recovery - I do not have details to hand; will post if I can get my hands on them.

[hectic]

Try the police to see if you can get the other drivers insurance policy number as you can make a claim to them direct without contacting the driver, the police should have these as the other person will have had to produce their documents. There is a fund that is available to people in your situation, you could try contacting the Insurance Ombudsman, they should be able to help you

[melody2002]

My husband had something similar happen about 9 years ago. A car wrote his car off and the driver fleed the scene (no insurance/mot/tax etc.) He claimed for injuries and got some money for his car through the MIB (motor insurance bureau) through a solicitor. It was only about �2000 but it is better than nothing.

[ronkaguy]

Thanks for all your answers. It looks like I'm going to have to claim through the MIB (Motor Insurance Bureau not the Men In Black). The police confirmed that the licence plate for the car is actually based in Scotland and I live in London and that the person that hit me did not produce documents as required :-(