First of all, we will dispel the myth that in the event of a traffic accident in Thailand, the foreigner is always at fault. This is not true. No matter the nationality of the driver, the police and the insurance company will determine the culprit of the accident by considering all the details of the accident situation and make the right decision. This article will help you in the event of a traffic accident in Thailand.
The main danger on Thai roads is the numerous scooters. For a person coming from a country where two-wheeled vehicles are rare on the roads, local traffic may seem chaotic and hectic. And it is. Motorbike riders often drive as they please, disregard traffic rules, do not use turn signals, or conversely, forget to turn them off after completing a maneuver, misleading other road users and thus creating an accident situation. Most accidents occur involving scooters.
We would like to draw your attention to important points:
No matter how many years of driving experience you have, no matter how confident you are, you cannot be sure about other drivers. When driving on Thai roads, you need to be extremely attentive.
Be prepared for the fact that a truck or a full bus of people may suddenly appear in the oncoming lane at high speed. This situation is quite normal for Thai roads.
When turning at intersections, look in both directions, as a scooter may be coming from the opposite direction.
Be careful when crossing small lanes coming out of residential courtyards. A scooter may come out from there, and the rider often doesn't even check if there is anyone on the road or not.
What to do if an road traffic accident occurs in Thailand?
1. First of all, make sure that all the participants in the accident are safe and unharmed. Provide assistance if necessary. It may be necessary to call for an ambulance.
2. Take photos of the accident: how your car is positioned, where the third-party transport is located. It is desirable that the road markings are visible.
3. Take photos of the damage to your car. If possible, take a photo of the license plate of the other vehicle involved in the accident.
4. Call the owner of the car or rental company and inform them about the accident. Describe the situation, provide your exact location. The owner of the car or rental company will contact the insurance company, and you will need to wait for the insurance agent to arrive at the point of the accident. In Thailand, there is a penalty of 500 baht for causing a traffic jam, so after taking all the necessary photos, you can move the car to a place where you will not obstruct other traffic participants. In Thailand, it is not customary to call the police, but usually they arrive very quickly on their own. If the police arrive and instruct you to go to the police station, go there but inform the car owner or car rental company of the location to which you have been directed. The insurance company will come there.
When renting a car through car rental company Sabai Motors, all contact numbers of the call center will be provided when signing the lease agreement. You do not need to contact the car owner directly.5. After the insurance company arrives, you will need to explain what happened, draw on a diagram how the accident occurred (where you were driving, how the other participant of the accident was driving), show photos from the scene of the accident, sign the police and insurance company protocols. Keep the document that the insurance agent gives you until the end of the rental term and hand it over to the delivery staff on the day of returning the car. If your fault is proven, you will need to pay a fine of 500 baht to the police.
Most likely, you have paid a security deposit according to the rental conditions. Depending on the lessor's terms, the deposit is refunded either in full or partially. You will need to clarify this information with the car owner.
Nuances in the event of an accident in Thailand:
If the accident is your fault and the second participant of the accident is a Thai citizen and has been injured, according to unspoken rules, you must pay compensation for moral damage. If hospitalization is necessary, the insurance company will pay for the treatment of all accident participants, but while the injured person is in the hospital, they will be unable to work and support their family, and the compensation is like an apology for inconvenience caused. Usually, the amount ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 baht ($60-160) depending on their willingness to compromise. However, if the injuries are serious, require prolonged treatment, or pose a threat to life, much more may be demanded from the perpetrator of the accident. Additionally, the driver may be imprisoned until the amount is paid. In such cases, the assistance of a lawyer will be required.
Keep in mind that this is not an official payment. No one has the right to demand it, and you are not obligated to pay anything.When renting a car through Sabai Motors service in such a situation, contact the call center.