Summer holidays - what could be better? But the holiday season can be fast at the time of the accident. Whether a stupid mistake when parking or a rear-end collision, because you were distracted by sightseeing. But what if the car accident happened abroad? What do you have to pay attention to and how should you prepare yourself?
As idyllic as many wish the holiday: vacation time is also accident time. A recent analysis by the insurance company HUK-COBURG revealed that 43 percent of all foreign claims in the past year occurred in the summer months of July to September. The average amount of damage was in these cases at least 3,500 Euros - not cardboard stem. The most frequent crash of German motorists in Italy: 17 percent of foreign accidents occurred there. Close behind is Austria with 16 percent and France with 11 percent of all motor liability claims.
If it crashed: Important at the scene of the accident
The most important thing is to safeguard the scene of the accident - this applies both to foreign countries and to us. Specifically, this means: Turn on the hazard warning lights, set up the warning triangle at a sufficient distance - usually around 100 meters - in front of the scene of the accident. If the scene of the accident lies in a curve or in front of a dome, the triangle must always be set up in front of it.
Important before getting out of the car: wear safety vest. As for us, the wearing of a safety vest with reflective material is also mandatory for most of our neighboring European countries. Who is caught without, must pay: How high the fine fails, is different: The range varies from 14 Euros to 1,400 Euros. In many countries, not only car drivers but also motorcyclists must be equipped with a light vest. Equally variable is the states with the question of whether hi vis vests only for the driver or for all vehicle occupants must be present. A copy for each one is always on the safe side.
Log the accident
There are some states, such as Poland or Romania, which require reporting an accident to the police. In order to do nothing wrong, a call to the police is always correct. Even if - as is usual in some places - it only absorbs material damage or personal injury.
With or without police, an accident must be logged. Only those who can prove claims, are entitled to compensation. That's why the European accident report - which you get with your car insurance - belongs in the glove box. European Accident Report is bilingual in some countries. If the accident opponent also has one, you can rest assured that the questions are identical.
Those who carefully answer the questions of personal details, insurance and accident history have laid a sound basis for claims settlement. Names and addresses of any witnesses should be noted as well as photos taken at the scene of the accident.
Important: In France or the Benelux countries, the European accident report has a much more important role than in Germany. The undersigned irrevocably acknowledges the content. Comments or contradictions must be recorded under point 14. In case of contradictions or language difficulties, it is best to fill in and sign, your own report. Subsequently, the copies are exchanged.
