Over the years, it has become increasingly more common for people to rent cars or to drive abroad when they are going on holiday. With the increase in people driving vehicles abroad, there is also the inevitable increase in road traffic accidents.
If you are involved in a road traffic accident abroad that was not your fault and have suffered injury, you can still make a claim for compensation. Car accident claims involving drivers from other countries or in another country are on the rise and you should contact an experienced lawyer to help you with your claim.
What to do if you are involved in a road traffic accident abroad
If you are involved in such an accident, you should attempt to get as much information as possible from the other driver as you would do at home. In most countries, the Police will take a full report and you should ask for a copy, even if it is in another language. You should obtain the registration number of the vehicle involved and the details of the other driver and their insurance information.
Depending on the nature of your injuries, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible either in the country you are visiting or as soon as you get home. If you are able, take photographs of the scene.
How to claim
Make sure you contact a personal injury lawyer who has experience dealing with car accident claims. Depending on where your accident occurred, they will be able to advise you on your claim and the next steps. For example, if your accident occurred in an EU state and the insurer has a registered office in your country, a claim may be made directly to that registered office. If you rented your car as part of a package vacation, you may alternatively be able to make a claim under the Package Tour Regulations which are designed to protect vacationers and would allow a claim to be made against your tour operator.
What if the driver at fault is uninsured or leaves the scene without stopping
If the driver responsible for your accident fails to stop or has no insurance then you still may be able to make a claim through your insurance provider, or the rental car agency. In some cases, if you’ve paid with a credit card, the credit card company will provide you with insurance on rental cars. It’s always a good idea to find out what kind of insurance there is available to you through those avenues before leaving for a trip.
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I’ve never rent a car abroad, probably never will as these kind of things can really stress me out. Always safer to take a Taxi, they’re everywhere 🙂