What to do after a road accident in Thailand

Emergency numbers

• 191: police.
• 1669: ambulance and medical emergencies.
• 1155: tourist police, 24 hours, with English-speaking staff.
• 1137: accident reporting line listed by the tourism authority.

When you call, give the exact location, how many vehicles and people are involved, and whether anyone is injured.

At the scene, step by step

1. Check for injuries and call for help

   Stop, switch off the engine and check everyone. Call 1669 and 191 if anyone is hurt.

2. Make the place safe

   Switch on the hazard lights and, if you have one, put a warning triangle about 20 metres behind the vehicle.

3. Do not move the vehicles unless you must

   After a serious accident, wait for the police or your insurer. Guides differ on minor accidents, so follow the police and your insurer's instructions, and move vehicles only if they block emergency access.

4. Take photos and notes

   Vehicles, plates, the road, damage and injuries, the other driver's licence and insurance details, and any witnesses.

5. Do not argue about fault

   Do not admit blame and do not sign anything you do not understand. Fault is decided later.

6. Call your insurer

   Use the claim hotline on your policy. They tell you what to do and send a surveyor or a tow service.

Never leave the scene

Leaving after an accident is a criminal offence in Thailand, and it is treated much more seriously than any traffic fine. This is true even if you think the other person is not hurt. News reports describe foreigners who handed over cash and left, such as 4,000 baht for an injured man in Phuket, and the injured person still made a complaint, because money on the road does not close a case.

If you are afraid, go to the nearest police station and tell them what happened. Do not take a vehicle away from the scene to avoid the other party.

The police report

Sources differ on whether you must call the police after a minor accident, but they agree on the practical point: insurers usually ask for a police report, and some will not pay without it. Get one even for a small accident. If officers do not come to the scene, go to the nearest police station with your documents. Ask for a copy of the report and keep it with your photos.

Insurance after an accident

Compulsory insurance (Por Ror Bor)

Every registered car and motorbike carries the compulsory policy. It pays for injuries and death of the people involved, and an injured person can claim quickly, up to about 30,000 THB for medical costs, without having to prove who was at fault. It does not pay for the vehicle. See insurance classes and costs.

Voluntary insurance

Voluntary cover pays for vehicle damage and the other party's property, depending on the class. Only Class 1 covers an accident with no other vehicle involved, such as sliding on a wet bend. Your insurer will ask where the vehicle is, send a surveyor and tell you which workshop to use.

When the insurer can refuse

A claim can be refused if the driver did not hold the licence the law requires for that vehicle, if the driver had been drinking, or if the driver left the scene. This is the reason to ride only with the right licence: the licence trap.

If you are injured, or someone else is

• Go to hospital even if you feel fine. Tell the staff it was a road accident and show your insurance details.
• Keep every medical bill and the discharge note.
• Tell your travel insurer within the time the policy gives, and check that it covers the vehicle you were using. Many policies exclude motorbikes.
• If you are on a rented vehicle, call the rental company and read the agreement, because the damage excess is written there.

If you are fined or charged

After an accident, police may issue traffic tickets, and for serious cases they may open a criminal case. At a roadside stop the rules are in your rights at a police stop. For anything that goes beyond a ticket, such as an injury or a death, contact your embassy for the list of English-speaking lawyers. An embassy gives consular help but cannot pay fines or represent you.

Frequently asked questions