What you do in the first hours and days after a road accident in Thailand can decide whether you are fairly compensated. This checklist is written for anyone injured on Thai roads. Save it on your phone.
Step by step after an accident
Get safe and call for help
Move away from traffic if you can. Call 1669 for an ambulance if anyone is hurt. If you can't make yourself understood on 191, call the Tourist Police at 1155.
Photograph everything before vehicles are moved
Take photos and video of the vehicles' positions, the damage, license plates, road markings, traffic lights, and your injuries. Note any shops or buildings with CCTV cameras.
Exchange details
Get the other driver's name, phone number, driver's license, plate number, and insurance company. Get names and phone numbers of witnesses.
Note the insurance surveyors
In Thailand, insurers usually send a surveyor to the scene. Get the other driver's claim number and the surveyor's name. Read any claim form (ใบเคลม) before you sign it.
Get medical treatment and keep every paper
Go to the hospital even if you feel fine. Ask for a medical certificate, and keep every receipt. Hospitals can often bill Por Ror Bor directly for initial treatment.
Report to the police
The police station responsible for the area will record the accident. Ask for an interpreter, and don't sign a statement you can't read. Ask for a copy of the report.
Don't accept a quick settlement
You may be offered cash in exchange for signing a release. Don't sign until you know the full extent of your injuries and costs.
Ask for CCTV quickly
Shops, condos, and the city keep footage for a limited time. Ask in writing within days, or let us do it for you.
Mind the deadlines
Por Ror Bor claims generally must be made within 180 days of the accident. Civil claims against the person at fault generally must be filed within one year of knowing the injury and who caused it.
Talk to a lawyer before the insurer sets the terms
A short call can stop expensive mistakes. Book a free 15-minute consultation.
What not to do
- Don't argue about fault at the scene or admit fault in writing.
- Don't leave your passport with a rental shop or the other party.
- Don't sign any Thai document you don't understand.
- Don't post about the accident on social media while your claim is open.
If the insurer stalls or lowballs you
Weeks of silence, or an offer that covers only part of your bills, is common. See how we handle claims against the at-fault driver's insurer.
If someone has died
If a family member has been killed in a road accident in Thailand, contact your embassy, which can help with documents and repatriation. We can act for the family in dealing with the police, the insurer, and any criminal or civil case, and claim funeral costs and loss of support.