Any accident causing injury must by law be reported to the police straightaway, and the MIB expects to get a police report corroborating what you tell them. Whiplash takes up to a day to be felt, so report the accident as soon as you realise you have been injured, if it is the next day. If you are unconscious or immobilised in hospital, that is a good reason for delay, but check once you wake up that someone has already told the police - someone usually does.

The MIB has a vast database of insurance details and can often find an insurer when you or the police have been unsuccessful, although they expect you to make an effort. Some drivers threaten their victims and others give false names - not always Mickey Mouse, either. They might give a friend's name and address, sounding quite plausible, and the friend could then prove he was in Canada at the time. Get the registration number of the vehicle if you possibly can, and a description of it including the make and model, and a description of the driver.

The MIB is financed by the insurance industry, that is, by all of us who pay up every year. Not surprisingly, if you were driving when you were injured or suffered damage, they will want your own insurance details, and if you are not insured yourself, they will pay you nothing. I would not bother to appeal in that case.

If more than one vehicle was involved in the accident, if you have lost much time off work, if your claim is late, or if someone died, you will certainly want legal advice. In a simple claim, you can fill in the form yourself and see how you get on.

The MIB is at Linford Wood House, 6-12 Capital Drive, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes MK14 6XT. Tel: 01908-830001 www.mib.org.uk

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