If another driver caused the accident that injured you, their insurance should pay for your injuries. Under Thai law, you can claim directly from the at-fault driver's insurer (Civil and Commercial Code, section 887). In practice, insurers often do three things: they wait, they offer far less than your claim is worth, and they ask you to sign a settlement that ends your claim. Injured people, especially foreigners, are in pain, out of work, and unfamiliar with Thai procedure, and insurers know it. Law Studios Thailand takes over these claims and pushes for the full amount.
Signs the insurer is lowballing you
- The offer covers only the hospital bills you've already paid.
- There is nothing for future treatment, physical therapy, or follow-up surgery.
- Your lost income is ignored, or counted only for a few days.
- There is no amount for pain and suffering or permanent scarring.
- You are told the amount is "the maximum" without being shown the policy.
- You are pressed to sign a settlement or release quickly, often in Thai.
- Weeks pass with no answer, while your deadline to sue keeps running.
What you can claim under Thai law
| Loss | Examples | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses | Hospital bills, medication, physical therapy, and future treatment | CCC s. 444 |
| Lost income | Wages lost while you recover, and reduced ability to work in the future | CCC s. 444 |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain, emotional distress, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life | CCC s. 446 |
| Death of a family member | Funeral costs and loss of financial support for dependents | CCC s. 443 |
| Property | Damage to your vehicle, phone, and other belongings | CCC s. 438 |
What you recover depends on the facts, including fault, the evidence, and the policy limits. In a free consultation, we tell you honestly what your claim may be worth.
How we get you paid
Value the claim properly
We gather your medical records, doctors' opinions on future treatment, and proof of income, and calculate what you are really owed.
Secure the evidence on fault
We get the police report, CCTV, dashcam footage, and witness statements before they disappear.
Send a formal demand
We send the insurer a demand letter in Thai with the full calculation and a deadline to respond.
Negotiate and mediate
We negotiate with the insurer and represent you at police, Office of Insurance Commission (OIC), or court-annexed mediation.
Go to court if needed
We sue the driver, the insurer, and, where the law allows, the vehicle's owner or the driver's employer (CCC s. 425). If the driver is prosecuted, you can also claim compensation inside the criminal case without filing a separate civil lawsuit (Criminal Procedure Code, section 44/1).
Deadlines
A civil claim for injuries caused by a wrongful act generally must be filed within one year of the day you knew of the injury and who caused it (CCC s. 448). Insurers sometimes stall until that deadline is close. Don't wait for them.
Who we represent
Pedestrians, motorcycle riders, passengers, cyclists, and drivers injured by someone else's driving, and families of people killed in road accidents. We act for expats, tourists, and Thai clients, in English or Thai, for accidents anywhere in Thailand.
Related: what Por Ror Bor pays, what to do after an accident, and help for foreigners.