Road traffic accidents abroad
Large numbers of UK tourists are taking their own cars abroad each year on holiday, or hiring a car at their resort. In addition, more and more UK workers are being sent abroad each year by their employers and often need to drive or be driven as part of their job.
The rate of road accidents abroad is much higher in some parts of the world than in the UK, resulting in many UK visitors being injured or even killed in road traffic accidents abroad.
If you have been involved in a road traffic accident abroad, whether as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian then you may be entitled to bring a claim for compensation.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, it may be possible to bring a claim in the UK. The 4th and 5th European Motor Directives allow you to bring a claim in the UK if you are injured in another EU country by a vehicle insured in an EU country. The Directives require European insurers to appoint a UK agent to deal with the claim. The claim is brought directly against the driver’s insurers or their claims representatives in the UK.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident outside the EU, and the Directives do not apply, a claim may be made against either the driver or the insurer of the vehicle in the country where the accident happened.
Legal advice should be sought as soon as possible as some countries have very short time limits for bringing a claim. In the UK it is up to 3 years from the date of the accident by which court proceedings must be issued, however in some countries it can be as little as 1 year.
For free advice, contact Bolt Burdon Kemp’s expert personal injury solicitors and let us assess your claim online.
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