Personal injury after a road collision: first steps

Personal injury after a road collision: first steps. General information.

After a road collision, safety and appropriate medical care come first. Tell your clinician what happened and when symptoms began. Keep appointments and a record of your recovery, including symptoms that later change.

If safe, record the people involved, registration plates and insurance details. Keep photographs, the accident form and witness contacts. Distinguish your own observations from what others told you: assumptions should not become recorded facts.

The legal route depends on the road users involved and what happened. Special rules protect cyclists, pedestrians and passengers. Vehicle damage or a similar online story alone cannot determine liability in your case.

Ask which party or insurer can handle your loss and check your own cover. The Dutch Waarborgfonds may sometimes assist where a motor vehicle is unknown or uninsured. Conditions apply; an unknown name does not guarantee compensation.

Keep receipts and evidence of lost income and necessary help. Establish which deadlines apply while the claim is handled. Admission of liability does not establish the entire compensation amount. Our guide helps prepare your next discussion.

Read the full explanation and sources on our website. Obtain an assessment of which rules apply to your situation.