Figures For Hit-And-Runs At Three Year High

Almost half of all hit-and-run drivers have claimed that they weren’t aware that they were breaking the law by failing to stop, according to a new study.

With hit and run cases at a three year high, leading serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell are ‘concerned’ by the findings and have called for more to be done to educate all road users over a subject where a matter of minutes can be the difference between life and death. 

The Motor Insurer’s Bureau (MIB) surveyed 695 drivers who had been convicted of hit-and-run offences. Of those questioned, nearly half of the respondents (45%) said that they didn’t think they had to report the accident.

Their figures are backed up by official data which shows that hit and run incidents are on the increase. According to the Department for Transport, the number of accidents involving a vehicle that fled the scene has soared to a three-year high of 16,667 in 2014.

These are the latest year that the figures are available and compares with 15,662 in 2012 and 15,390 in 2013.

Irwin Mitchell’s #SaferJourneys campaign aims to reduce avoidable accidents on the roads and is calling on car and lorry drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians to work together to keep everyone safe.

Neil Whiteley, a specialist serious injury lawyer, believes these new figures highlight the importance of understanding and concentration on the roads this summer.

Expert Opinion

“If a hit-and-run takes place and someone is left alone with a serious injury then the consequences of this can be very serious. Their chance of making a good recovery from the incident decreases the longer they go without medical attention.

“In the case of a person suffering an injury a driver has an obligation to report the matter to the police ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’.

“Sadly, we continue to see many people whose lives have been devastated as a consequence of road traffic collisions.

“With the lighter days and nights bringing more cyclists and pedestrians to our roads, it increases the importance of paying attention at all times, whether you’ve just passed your test or have been driving for years.

“Our #SaferJourneys campaign is asking all road users to take greater care and be more vigilant of others in order to improve road safety.

“Ignorance is not an excuse; drivers must be aware of the regulations and take responsibility for their actions on the road." Neil Whiteley - Partner & Director of Legal Services - Personal Injury