http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/159Road Traffic Act 1988An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to road traffic with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission and the Scottish Law Commission.1988-11-15texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-06-29Expert Participation2026-06-29 Part VI Third-Party Liabilities Payments for treatment of traffic casualties Supplementary provisions as to payments for treatment.1591A payment falling to be made under section 157 or 158 of this Act in respect of treatment in a hospital must be made to the hospital2A claim for a payment under section 158 of this Act may be made at the time when the emergency treatment is effected, by oral request to the person who was using the vehicle, and if not so made must be made by request in writing served on him within seven days from the day on which the emergency treatment was effected.3Any such request in writing—amust be signed by the claimant or, in the case of a hospital, by an executive officer of the hospital claiming the payment.bmust state the name and address of the claimant, the circumstances in which the emergency treatment was effected, and that it was first effected by the claimant or, in the case of a hospital, in the hospital, andcmay be served by delivering it to the person who was using the vehicle or by sending it in a prepaid registered letter, or the recorded delivery service, addressed to him at his usual or last known address.4A payment made under section 158 of this Act shall operate as a discharge, to the extent of the amount paid, of any liability of the person who was using the vehicle, or of any other person, to pay any sum in respect of the expenses or remuneration of the practitioner or hospital concerned of or for effecting the emergency treatment.5A chief officer of police must, if so requested by a person who alleges that he is entitled to claim a payment under section 158 of this Act, provide that person with any information at the disposal of the chief officer—aas to the identification marks of any motor vehicle which that person alleges to be a vehicle out of the use of which the bodily injury arose, andbas to the identity and address of the person who was using the vehicle at the time of the event out of which it arose.S. 159: transfer of functions (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1S. 159 excluded (23.6.1999) by S.I. 1999/1736, art. 8(1)(b)(2)(b)Words in s. 159(1) substituted (5.4.1999) for s. 159(1)(a)-(c) by 1999 c. 3, s. 18(2)(a); S.I. 1999/1075, art. 2It is provided that words in s. 159(3)(a) substituted (5.4.1999) by 1999 c. 3, s. 18(2)(b); S.I. 1999/1075, art. 2Pt. VI: power to modify conferred (E.W.) by National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49, SIF 113:2), ss. 23(4), 27(5) (as amended by Road Traffic (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 (c. 54, SIF 107:1), s. 4, Sch. 3 para. 18(1)(2))Pt. VI modified (16.8.2006) by The Dover Harbour Revision Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/2167), art. 27