Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017

The Nominal Defendant may join another person, or may be joined, for contribution or indemnity in respect of a claim or proceedings under this Act as if the Nominal Defendant were a tortfeasor.

Joinder of the Nominal Defendant is required to be effected in accordance with this section.

A person seeking to join the Nominal Defendant in respect of a claim or proceedings must give the Nominal Defendant notice of the person’s intention to do so. The notice must include a copy of the notice of claim under section 6.12 given to the person.

The notice must be given within 3 months after the claim is made against the person under section 6.12, or within 3 months after the person becomes a party to proceedings in respect of the claim, whichever occurs first.

The court may extend the period for giving notice to the Nominal Defendant if the person seeking to join the Nominal Defendant gives a full and satisfactory explanation for not having given notice within the 3-month period.

Within 2 months after notice is given, the person giving notice must provide the Nominal Defendant with full details of the allegations made against the Nominal Defendant (or against the person to whom the Nominal Defendant is taken to have issued a third-party policy).

An application may not be made to join the Nominal Defendant as a party to proceedings before the court after 3 years from the date on which the claim under section 6.12 in respect of which contribution or indemnity is sought must be made, except with the leave of the court.

If the Nominal Defendant is sought to be joined because the identity of another motor vehicle is not known, joinder may not be effected unless due inquiry or search to identify the vehicle has been made. The inquiry or search may be proved orally or by affidavit of the person who made the inquiry or search.

Except as provided by this section, nothing in this section affects any rules of court relating to the joinder of parties.