Protecting Yourself from Uninsured Drivers

UNINSURED drivers aren't just a danger to your life and vehicle - they can cause serious damage to your wallet, too.

That's according to recent findings from the Association of British Insurers, who claim that around a million drivers don't have insurance. What's more, as well as costing us lives, damage to vehicles and untold distress, these uninsured drivers are also costing us somewhere in the region of £40 per year on top of our insurance premiums.

While fully comprehensive insurance cover will get your vehicle repaired in the event of an accident caused by an uninsured driver, those repairs don't come without their costs. If you haven't paid to protect your no claims bonus, for example, you'll lose it (meaning a higher insurance premium next year), and you'll still be liable to the pay the excess on your policy.

Pursuing a compensation claim through the Motor Insurers' Bureau, meanwhile, may well be successful - but you'll still have to pay the first £300 of your claim. Honest drivers who dutifully pay out for insurance each year can't seem to win. Or can they?

Unfortunately there's little you can do to lower the chances of being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. You can, however, take steps which will reduce your chances of taking a financial blow as well as a physical one because of it.

1. Take a note of the vehicle registration Many drivers who know they are driving illegally will try to fob you off with false contact details if you're unlucky enough to be involved in a collision with them. A car registration number is harder to fake, however, so write it down, and also make a note of the make and model of the vehicle, along with any other identifying details.

2. Ask witnesses for help Anyone who witnessed your accident may be able to back up your claim against the driver, so take the contact details of any passers-by.

3. Take pictures of the damage If you happen to have a camera phone or digital camera with you at the time of the collision, so much the better: use it to take comprehensive pictures of the crash scene including both vehicles and registration numbers. If not, take pictures of the damage to your vehicle as soon as you have the opportunity to do so. If you have injuries such a bruising as a result of the collision, photograph this too, using the "date and time" function on your camera (if available) to help prove when the pictures were taken.

4. Protect yourself with a loss recovery policy By adding a loss-recovery plan to your insurance cover, you'll protect yourself against uninsured losses, and make sure that your excess is covered in the event of a non-fault claim. Computer Quote Insurance's policy costs just £12 and includes discounted legal assistance, non-emergency medical treatment and 24 hour message helpline to notify your friends and family of an emergency. Details are available from www.computerquoteinsurance.com/legal_protection