Road Traffic Accidents in Thailand

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Road Traffic Accidents in Thailand

For foreigners, driving in Thailand can sometimes be very different to their home country. Motorbikes frequently drive on the wrong side of the road and cars do not always respect Thai road rules. Those new to the country will need to take great care to avoid accidents.

If an accident does occur, try to remain calm. Arguing with the other driver can make things worse and any pushing and shoving will result in police fines.

• Thailand emergency number - Tel: 191

Minor Vehicle Accidents

Use the following as a guide on what to do in the case of a minor accident (that is, where 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 or get someone to call for an ambulance (if necessary)
• Call or get someone to call the police
• Call 191 or contact the tourist police on 1155 for English-speaking assistance

Usually, 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

There is no standard accident report form, but insurance companies will generally provide a form when insurance is purchased. Individual insurance companies have their own time limits for how soon after an accident the paperwork must be submitted.

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

Ensuring people's safety is the most important aspect of a serious car accident. Call the emergency services: Call 191 or contact the tourist police on 1155 for English-speaking assistance.

When involved in a serious accident use the following as a guide:

• Check and care for any injured persons and apply basic first aid if necessary (if you are trained). Call or get someone to call for an ambulance
• Have all uninjured persons move off the road to a safe place
• Call or get someone to call the police by calling 191 and have police, tourist police 1155 and ambulance attend the accident
• Do not move the vehicles involved, no matter how bad the traffic is
• After emergency services arrive and any injured persons have been taken care of, 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
• If the vehicle is insured abroad, make sure all details of what to do in the event of an accident are included in the policy
• There is no standard Accident Report Form, but insurance companies generally provide a form when insurance is purchased. Individual insurance companies also have individual time limits for how soon after an accident it must be reported

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. 

Additional Help

Complaints against unfair treatment can be handled by The Ombudsman of Thailand

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Driving in Thailand
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Vehicle Insurance in Thailand