What Is a Running Down Claim
You saw the phrase running down claim and are not sure what it means.
A running down claim is a claim arising from a motor vehicle accident. Malaysian courts still use this older name. It is the same road accident claim most injured road users pursue.
Where you will see the term
It appears on court documents, such as a running down (RDN) suit number, and in letters between lawyers and insurers. It does not mean anything is wrong with your case.
Why the older term is still used
Malaysian court procedure has used running down for motor accident claims for a long time, and the label carried forward. The Sessions Court hears most of these cases, since it has unlimited jurisdiction for this type of claim.[1]
Does this change how the claim works?
No. A running down claim follows the same claim process as any other motor accident claim, from the police report to a settlement or, occasionally, a trial. The name describes the type of case, not a different set of rules.
How most of these claims end
Most running down claims end in a settlement recorded as a consent judgment rather than a full trial.
What to keep when the term appears on your paperwork
Keep the letter or court paper itself, the envelope or email it came in, and the date you received it. Keep your police report and medical records in the same folder, because the insurer’s letter will refer to them. A short note of any reference number printed on the document helps whoever reads it next.
If you see the term on your own paperwork
It confirms that your claim is filed as a motor accident matter. If the rest of the document is unclear, an independent lawyer can take on the claim and deal with the court papers for you. Send the accident date, where it happened, whether anyone was injured (yes/no) and the police report status.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Is a running down claim different from a personal injury claim?
Not in substance. It describes the same type of claim, one arising from a motor vehicle accident, using an older term still found in Malaysian court practice.
Why does my lawyer's letter use this term instead of plain English?
Court documents and legal correspondence often keep established terms for consistency, even where a plainer phrase would describe the same thing. It is a naming convention, not a sign of anything unusual.
Does seeing RDN on a document mean my case is going to trial?
No. RDN simply marks the type of suit as a running down, or motor accident, case. Most cases with this label still settle before reaching a hearing.
Which court actually hears a running down claim?
In Malaysia, the Sessions Court hears these claims regardless of size, since it has unlimited jurisdiction specifically for motor accident matters. Most other civil claims are instead routed by value, with only the largest going to the High Court.
Sources
- Subordinate Courts Act 1948, s.65 (CommonLII) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.