Accident Procedure

[The Vulcan]

Having just been involved in my first accident in LOS (10 years driving) it occured to me that I don't actually know what are the correct procedures.

Take my case:- I was astride my Harley motorbike at a level crossing awaiting for the traffic in front of me to proceed. I'd been stationary for about 1 minute. Suddenly I was propelled forward from some idiot Thai who had simply run into the back of me. The impact wasn't sufficient to remove me from the bike and so I alighted and inspected the damage. It transpires that I've a badly dented rear fender and broken rear light cluster.

I beckoned the Thai guy to get out of his pick-up (several times before he complied) and pointed out the damage.

OK, I thought, what do I do next - exchange Insurance details, names, addresses? Seems logical.

At this point the traffic was milling around us and the Thai (supposedly non-English speaking!) suggested we move to the side of the road and discuss the matter further.

That was my big mistake.

I moved to the side, he got in his pick-up and drove off.

What had clearly scared him was in-between a passing Thai pedestrian had indicated "Harley - very big money"

I'd only got as far as to note the numbers of his registration (I can't read Thai for the area) and noted vehicle type, colouring etc.

A policeman arrived and suggested I went along to the local station and reported the accident. Of course, no one was particularly interested but I went about completing the report.

I doubt very much that they'll find or even bother to look for the pick-up driver.

The resulting damage amounts to 15,000 baht which I'll pay myself due to the excess on my Comp policy.

I can see were I went wrong, but what actually is the procedure in an accident?

Would be interested to hear

[dave111223]

This what i've been told to do (others may be able to offer more opinions to):

1) Call your insurance company and they will send an agent out to the scene.

2) Don't move anything (no matter how many people are beeping/yelling at you to move)

3) Wait for agent to arrive, the other driver at this point should have also called their insurance so there should be 2 agents on the way.

4) When agent arrives (or police if they come to the accident first) they will mark the locations of the vehicles on the road, and then let you move your car/bike.

5) Agent handles the rest, just follow what they say.

[toptuan]

2) Don't move anything (no matter how many people are beeping/yelling at you to move)

... they will mark the locations of the vehicles on the road, and then let you move your car/bike.

Common sense would dictate "...unless you present a genuine hazard to traffic which might result in another accident." (e.g. blind curve, bodies strewn about, vehicles screaming by within centimeters at 100kph+, etc.)

[sweetchariot]

Dave is spot on. I believe it is a legal requirement not to move the vehicles until an insurance agent/ copper inspects them, regardless of the traffic conditions.

A tree branch in the road 100 m or so behind you seems to be the standard warning device.

[Tywais]

This what i've been told to do (others may be able to offer more opinions to):

1) Call your insurance company and they will send an agent out to the scene.

2) Don't move anything (no matter how many people are beeping/yelling at you to move)

3) Wait for agent to arrive, the other driver at this point should have also called their insurance so there should be 2 agents on the way.

4) When agent arrives (or police if they come to the accident first) they will mark the locations of the vehicles on the road, and then let you move your car/bike.

5) Agent handles the rest, just follow what they say.

Pretty good guideline there. And yes, don't move the vehicle. I had an incident many years ago on a motorbike where a car turned left into me knocking me and the gf down. I started to pick the bike up but several Thais stopped me and said it has stay as it is. Seems in the OPs case the driver knew this and bolted.

Cases like this is when it's good to have a camera on your mobile phone.

[Tywais]

Just a suggestion. It would be a good idea to have the phone numbers of the Tourist Police, the Emergency number and the insurance agent on your mobile phone.

[The Vulcan]

Thanks for the input - good, sound advice.

I completely forgot about the camera in my mobile!

How easy that would have been! - oh well, never too old to learn.

[samran]

Also, the police report is needed for the insurance claim. We had a guy side swipe us and then drive off. Police report was sent to the insurance guys and all was paid for. It happened in the middle of a busy BKK intersection (Petchaburi and Asoke) and we didn't move the car until we were told to.

[maprao]

Carry a can of spray paint in the car. If someone tries to make you move the vehicle then spray the ground around the tires to show the positions of the vehicles after the accident. Unless there is a danger do not move the vehicles as previously advised. However if one or more of parties does try this at least you can show the agent and the police where everyone "was" after the incident.

[ianh68h]

Dave is spot on. I believe it is a legal requirement not to move the vehicles until an insurance agent/ copper inspects them, regardless of the traffic conditions.

A tree branch in the road 100 m or so behind you seems to be the standard warning device.

What about one of those hazard warning triangles, would they do the trick?

[torrenova]

I was hit by an underage uninsured no license Thai boy on a motorbike. Smashed the rear light cluster and damaged the bumper and paintwork. I took his ID card and locked it in the truck. Of course lots of Thais arrived and wanted me to put it on my insurance but as these people don't have insurance they don't know about losing a no claims bonus so I wasn't about to present myself with another 5-10k bill. It was he pays (or his family) or I get plod.

[Bagwan]

I don't even talk to the police until the insurance man arrives. The cop gets to see my licence and a photo copy of my passport. The rest can wait. When a 14 year old on a bike collected me, and I didn't have my mobile with me, the cop looked at the insurance sticker on my windscreen and rang for the agent to come. I was so surprised I bought him a bottle of Black.

<deleted> the police don't charge people without insurance is beyond me. Thailand!

I wasn't aware that Thai insurance companies operated a no claims bonus scheme. I have been involved in 4 incidents, blameless in every one, and my premiums have reduced every year. This year the premium was just under half of what I paid when taking out insurance 7 years ago.

My tally so far is 3 dogs, 8 snakes, a chicken and a very large rat. I'm thinking of sticking decals indicating my score along the front doors, fighter pilot style.