Regardless of how a lot you prep and plan in your Europe highway journey, typically, accidents do occur.
Should you’re unfortunate sufficient to be concerned in a automobile crash/ motorhome crash/ highway site visitors accident in Europe, right here’s what it is advisable to know and do.
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Automotive Accidents and Street Site visitors Accidents- which legislation?
It doesn’t matter what nationality you might be or the place the automobile is registered OR the place you reside, usually the foundations are the foundations within the nation the accident occurs in. So, if the automobile accident occurs in France, you’ll be underneath French legislation.
Nonetheless, very often and topic to a number of different circumstances, if two automobiles each registered within the UK crashed collectively in France, they could fall underneath UK legislation.
Planning to take your motorhome to Europe?
What to do on the scene of a automobile accident in Europe
In case you are concerned in a automobile accident in Europe or see one going down, right here’s what to do:
- Cease your automobile instantly however safely- out of the stream of site visitors if doable. Do NOT depart the scene.
- Keep calm- now is just not the time to panic.
- Test to verify everybody in your automobile is okay earlier than going to test on others.
- Earlier than leaving your automobile, put in your Hello-vis reflective jackets (obligatory in most European international locations, advisable in the remainder)
- If a automobile is obstructing the highway, use hazard lights and put the crimson warning triangle 30 metres from the scene to warn approaching site visitors. You must also do that if in case you have damaged down.
- For Spain – the alternative of the crimson warning triangle to the V16 beacon from 1 JAN 2026 BUT because the begin of 2023 using V-16 emergency warning beacons on automobiles in Spain has been authorised by Spain’s site visitors authority.
- If by a busy highway, occupants of the automobile is likely to be safer leaving the automobile and sitting effectively behind the crash barrier. Be sure that they’re all sporting a Hello-vis reflective jackets
- Alternate your particulars with the opposite concerned events and witnesses. That is typically in your inexperienced card. Make sure to get:
- Title and deal with of all of the folks concerned within the accident. Getting a enterprise card is likely to be a good suggestion.
- Car registration numbers of all events
- Insurance coverage firm particulars of all events
- Take images of harm utilizing a digicam, GoPro or cellphone
Then do one of many two choices under.
Minor Street Site visitors Accidents
If the accident is just not very critical and no-one is injured then comply with these steps:
- Full and signal the European Accident Assertion type (see under for extra particulars). Watch out- this kind is a authorized doc and could also be used as proof. If events disagree and the shape can’t be signed, the Police could also be concerned. Don’t signal if you’re uncertain or disagree with what the opposite events have written.
- The shape is standardised, so full it in your native language and the opposite events will do the identical.
- The names, addresses and get in touch with particulars of any witnesses must be recorded, in addition to the details of the accident
Then ship the entire declare type to your insurance coverage firm; Some international locations have a deadline for this; others don’t.
New to motorhome or camper journey in Europe? You may discover these posts useful:
See all our Europe motorhoming posts right here
NEED GEAR? Should you want any equipment or necessities for motorhoming in Europe, right here’s what we suggest and the place to seek out it
Extreme accidents or these involving damage or dying
Within the occasion of a automobile crash or highway site visitors accident the place somebody is injured or killed:
- Contact the police or ambulance: 112 for all of Europe
- The police will arrive and are then in command of reporting the details. They are going to ask for statements from all events, together with witnesses. They will even take contact and registration particulars, though you must nonetheless trade these should you can.
- If the police don’t or can not attend the scene, it’s essential to get names, particulars and addresses of all related events and witnesses. The European declare type could also be used and signed by all BUT provided that you perceive and agree. Bear in mind, the opposite events might be writing in a international language, which is completely nice.
- Taking pictures or drawing a sketch of the scene is advisable
If the celebration accountable for the injury is uninsured or unknown, contact the Police and likewise your insurer for additional steerage.
IMPORTANT: Leaving the scene of an accident with out offering your info is taken into account an offence and you’ll be prosecuted. This is applicable even if you’re a customer to the nation and don’t converse the language- keep on the scene till you might be instructed you possibly can go by the Police or till the opposite events depart.
Street Site visitors Accident- European Declare Kind/ Accident Assertion
Your insurance coverage firm ought to give you a European Declare type/ European Accident Assertion earlier than you go. If not, be sure you ask them to ship one (and likewise be sure you are insured for travelling in Europe!)
Within the occasion of an accident, all events ought to full and signal the shape on the scene after which ship a replica to your insurer for evaluation. You must be capable to get one which is bi-lingual, often English and French.
NOTE: You can’t pressure one other celebration to signal the shape if they’re unwilling. Additionally, you must by no means signal it your self should you disagree or don’t perceive what has been mentioned. You’ll not be in bother for not signing, however should you signal after which disagree, you might be incorrectly held accountable.
Should you do select to signal, make sure to precisely depend the variety of containers ticked, so that you could tally up on the finish (this prevents different events marking containers in your title after the occasion.)
Learn by means of the Accident Assertion rigorously earlier than finishing the center column. That is the place you choose the containers which exhibits accountability for the accident.
In case you are concerned in a automobile crash or incident involving a number of events or automobile, full an Accident assertion for every celebration (one per automobile or pedestrian.)
I hope you by no means want the data on this put up, however higher to have an concept of what to do then not!
