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Traffic Accidents & Injury


Thai law in regards to traffic accidents are different than most Western countries. It pays to prepare yourself before driving in Thailand by reading the information below:

Emergency Numbers:
  • Police: 191
  • Tourist Police: 1155 (for English speaking assistance)
It is a good idea to enter emergency numbers and local ambulance number in your mobile phone if using a vehicle in Thailand.

If you are a foreigner, contact a Thai native speaker that you can trust to come to the place of the accident. This will greatly reduce the stress of language barriers and trust.

Minor  Accident (no one is seriously injured):

  • Do not move vehicles involved; they should be left where they ended up after the accident unless they represent a major traffic hazard or a signed agreement is made as to whose fault the accident is. 
  • It is always better to wait for the police and/or insurance company to arrive before moving the car otherwise insurance claims may be a problem
  • Call emergency services (ambulance if necessary) The Police and the Tourist Police

An incident report will need to be completed at the local police station.

  • Ask the other drivers involved for all their details: ID card, driver's licence, vehicle registration book (Lem Tabian) and insurance papers, and take down the vehicle's registration number
  • Provide the same information to other drivers: ID card/passport, driver's licence, vehicle registration book (Lem Tabian), insurance papers and registration number of the vehicle
  • Telephone the insurance company and ask their assistance. They will usually want to attend the accident to collect all the relevant information to process the claim

Individual insurance companies have their own time limits for how soon after an accident the paperwork must be submitted so know your insurance requirements. Each insurer will have their own accident forms.

Note: Beware of people who ask for financial compensation when involved in an accident. This is not a legal requirement but may be a quick and easy way to finalise everything, however there is always a risk of their insurance company still processing a claim later.

Serious Car Accidents
  • Call emergency services, including ambulance, Police, Tourist Police
  • Do not move the vehicles involved, no matter how bad the traffic is
  • Ask other drivers for all their details: ID card, vehicle registration book (Lem Tabian), driver's licence and insurance papers as well as the vehicle's registration number
  • Provide the same information to other drivers: ID card/passport, driver's licence, vehicle registration book (Lem Tabian), insurance papers and registration number of the vehicle
  • Telephone the insurance company and ask for their assistance. They will send someone to the accident site to get all the relevant information to process the claim, although if it is in a remote area this may take some time

Note: It is very important to check and understand an insurance company's procedures in the case of an accident such as who to call and how to proceed. Find this out when taking out the insurance.


When you are in an accident and personal injury or another person is injured it is imperative that you seek a lawyer right away.

Do not run away from an accident. Once you are caught, and if you own or hired the vehicle or it belongs to a friend it is inevitable that you will sooner or later be caught. The Thai court system will be harsh on you through every step.

If someone is injured they can and usually will seek compensation. If you are insured discuss this with your insurance agency and inform your lawyer of their recommendations.

If you don't have a license or were over the drink-driving limits then you may be placed in jail immediately. Be calm and talk to a lawyer soonest.

It is always a good idea to have a local lawyers phone number in your mobile phone directory.

Injured parties are able to claim an initial payment of 50,000 THB for medical coverage and 200,000 for any instance of the following:
  • Blindness, deafness, dumbness or the loss of the ability to speak or loss of the tongue.
  • Loss of a reproductive organ
  • Loss or an arm leg or other organ
  • Physical or psychological deformity
  • Permanent incapacitation 
However through legal litigation further damages may be awarded. How you acted at the time of the accident and how much you tried to help the injured financially after the accident can have a significant bearing on whether a criminal complaint is lodged. If it seems that you are actively seeking a financial settlement with the injured party the court may not go forward with criminal proceedings. This however is at the discretion of the court.



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