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 simply a claim arising from a motor vehicle accident, the term Malaysian courts still use for this type of case. It is not a separate or unusual type of claim, just an older name for the same road accident claim most injured road users pursue.
Where you are likely to see the term
It commonly appears on court documents, such as a running down (RDN) suit number, or in correspondence between lawyers and insurers. Seeing it does not mean anything unusual is happening with your case.
Why the older term has stuck
Malaysian civil procedure has used running down for motor accident claims for a long time, and the label has simply carried forward into current practice. The Sessions Court is where most of these cases are actually filed, 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 through 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 still end in a settlement recorded as a consent judgment rather than a full trial. Seeing the term on your own paperwork is not, by itself, a sign of anything unusual ahead.
What to do if you see this term in your own paperwork
Treat it as confirmation that your claim has been correctly identified as a motor accident matter, nothing more. If anything else in the document is unclear, ask rather than assume.
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)