Good preparation for a car accident abroad is crucial in order to react correctly. If you are not adequately insured, you will be left with the costs yourself
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Who thinks about an accident when they drive abroad on holiday? But drivers should be well prepared when travelling, as this can save a lot of stress later on. Experts such as the ADAC recommend printing it out and taking it with you. Also important: the international insurance card – formerly known as the “Green Card”. Insurance companies issue these to their customers free of charge. The card serves as proof of liability insurance and can be useful in many countries. In some countries, such as Turkey or North Macedonia, it is even compulsory. Almost everywhere, drivers must also have at least one warning triangle, safety vests and a first aid kit with them.
Car accident: What to do if there is a crash?
If an accident occurs, you need to act quickly and correctly. Anyone involved in an accident should immediately note down the names, addresses and insurance details of everyone involved, as well as their license plate numbers. It is also helpful to fill out the accident report carefully together with the other party. This makes it easier to settle the claim. The European Consumer Centre (ECC) also recommends taking photos or a video of the damage as evidence.
Anyone involved in an accident should always call the police. This is especially true if someone is injured, if there is significant property damage, if there is an argument with the other party, if there is no proof of insurance or if the driver has gone hit and run. In most countries such as France, Italy or Austria, the police do not record minor bodywork damage. However, anyone involved in an accident in a rental car should always call the police and inform the rental car company. If the police are on site, they should also issue an accident report and document any injuries. German certificates are often not accepted, so it is advisable to go to a doctor on site and have the injury certified. Photos are also useful as evidence here.
Claims settlement – how it works
The damage should be reported to the opposing insurance company as soon as possible. In every EU country there is a so-called claims representative who handles the processing for foreign insurance companies in Germany. You can find out who this contact person is free of charge by calling the .
To report the damage, you need the accident report, a cost estimate for the repairs, any expert reports and other documents, such as an invoice for a replacement car. The opposing insurance company must settle the damage or make an offer of compensation within three months.
If there are problems with the process, those affected can contact the European Consumer Centre (ECC). In principle, the law of the respective country applies to accidents abroad. The regulations on compensation also vary greatly within the EU. Some policies abroad reimburse significantly less money than in Germany. If a legal dispute arises between the parties involved in an accident, for example, legal costs are often not reimbursed in France and Spain. In Turkey, for example, all cars must have third-party liability insurance, but the coverage amounts are significantly lower than in Germany. The accident is only treated as a domestic German case if all those involved live in Germany and the vehicles are insured in Germany.
If the damage was your own fault, you should inform your own insurance company. They will then clarify everything else with the opposing insurance company.
Special cases
Should the compensation office for traffic victims. This national office steps in when it is not possible to settle the claim through normal channels, the type and amount of compensation is also determined by the law of the country where the accident occurred.
If you want to be on the safe side, you can also take out foreign damage protection insurance. This covers the damage as if the accident had occurred in Germany, thus protecting you from high additional costs abroad. This service is automatically included in some tariffs, otherwise it costs around 10 euros per year, in addition to the existing policy.
Source: Stern
