What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Thanks all for the responses ! If i have an accident i will call the number of my insurance and wait, and if people start fighting i will call the police, even if i was wrong.
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Johan wrote:Thanks all for the responses ! If i have an accident i will call the number of my insurance and wait, and if people start fighting i will call the police, even if i was wrong.
Just take the baseball bat out from behind your seat and start swinging it
Jokes aside, you could always act as though you are deaf and unable to speak. I did it once a good few years ago when the BIB stopped me on my bike, and they simply ended up waving me on my way. How I managed to keep a straight face, I'll never know.
Don't try to impress me with your manner of dress cos a monkey himself is a monkey no less - cold fact
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
And when they do they generally drive better than the human drivers.I wouldn't worry too much about hitting a tree because they very rarely drive on the roads
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
And don't be put off at their attempt to pretend they are deaf and ignore youI wouldn't worry too much about hitting a tree because they very rarely drive on the roads
no more dePreston
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Some good advice on here Johan. Also remember that there is probably something like only a 50/50 % chance that the Thai driver has insurance himself, and may well be the bare minimum (not what you have), seems to be a thing many skip on which is probably due to the fact that the police only really check for tax and licenses at check points, it's rare that they check insurance, even if technically illegal. Problem is that the police may well side with the Thai and try to get you to admit blame as then both cars will be fixed on your insurance, wrong I know, but the police will often bat for the locals. This often happens at the police station where it's a more worrying/oppressive atmosphere.
To play them at their own game, if you're confident or experienced enough to do it, then a way around this is, if you find this happening, to say something like "Yeah, OK, but the Thai guy has to give me 6000 baht cash now to cover the cost of my insurance rising."
This approach is often one they use with each other so will not be not expecting it, you know, the unofficial approach. Many Thais will accept a lump of cash and then let their insurance creep up a bit, but not by that much.
It is unlikely that the Thai will have this to hand and will make them all back off while you're on your own, at least until your insurance guy gets there, then it's his ball game. However, you'll be surprised at how quick an insurance person can get to the scene here, you'll never ever see a Thai move so fast as them, money at stake and all.
Mat's suggestion of carrying a camera in the car and if anything happens then start taking pictures for yourself is an excellent idea. Doubt anyone will start suggesting sneaky stuff or try to do anything untoward if you start doing that.
In these situations, if you don't have any idea what to do, then foreigners are viewed as cannon fodder by the locals.
To play them at their own game, if you're confident or experienced enough to do it, then a way around this is, if you find this happening, to say something like "Yeah, OK, but the Thai guy has to give me 6000 baht cash now to cover the cost of my insurance rising."
This approach is often one they use with each other so will not be not expecting it, you know, the unofficial approach. Many Thais will accept a lump of cash and then let their insurance creep up a bit, but not by that much.
It is unlikely that the Thai will have this to hand and will make them all back off while you're on your own, at least until your insurance guy gets there, then it's his ball game. However, you'll be surprised at how quick an insurance person can get to the scene here, you'll never ever see a Thai move so fast as them, money at stake and all.
Mat's suggestion of carrying a camera in the car and if anything happens then start taking pictures for yourself is an excellent idea. Doubt anyone will start suggesting sneaky stuff or try to do anything untoward if you start doing that.
In these situations, if you don't have any idea what to do, then foreigners are viewed as cannon fodder by the locals.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
^good points. If I can add it is only possible to obtain road tax if you have the compulsory third party insurance.
no more dePreston
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barrys
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Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
I was unfortunate enough to be involved in a minor accident yesterday.
Was driving south out of Hua Hin in the rain and, as I approached the zebra crossing opposite Market Village, 2 tourists started walking over the crossing, so I stopped and was immediately rear ended by a Honda Wave, driven by a Thai woman without a helmet and with her 5 year-old granddaughter, also with no helmet.
I got out and the woman immediately started shouting at me that I was wrong for stopping.
I checked that nobody was injured, especially the child, and tried to find a policeman but none in sight (well, it was raining).
Some Thai people had seen the accident and asked me if I would like them to call the police and I agreed.
I then phoned AA Insurance and spoke to Matt, who gave me the insurance company's call-centre number.
There was about 10k of damage to my car.
Police soon arrived, were very polite, checked that I had insurance and a licence and asked me to go to the police station. It turned out the Thai woman didn't have a licence.
Got to the station and the insurance representative arrived and I explained the situation.
The police immediately found the woman at fault, fined her on the spot for careless driving and gave me a copy of their report saying I was not at fault.
The insurance agent gave me the name, address and phone number of a contract spray shop where I could get my car repaired.
He also gave me his report, saying I was not at fault.
He told me to get the car repaired at the insurance company's expense and they would then reclaim the money from the Thai woman.
The time from the actual accident to leaving the police station was 90 minutes.
The police and the insurance rep were every polite and objective and the whole thing was handled very professionally.
When I left the police station, Matt from AA was even there to ask me if everything had gone ok - now that's what I call customer care!
So if you do have an accident and you know you're in the right, don't worry or panic.
Stay calm, go through the procedure and hopefully, as in my case, fairness will prevail.
Was driving south out of Hua Hin in the rain and, as I approached the zebra crossing opposite Market Village, 2 tourists started walking over the crossing, so I stopped and was immediately rear ended by a Honda Wave, driven by a Thai woman without a helmet and with her 5 year-old granddaughter, also with no helmet.
I got out and the woman immediately started shouting at me that I was wrong for stopping.
I checked that nobody was injured, especially the child, and tried to find a policeman but none in sight (well, it was raining).
Some Thai people had seen the accident and asked me if I would like them to call the police and I agreed.
I then phoned AA Insurance and spoke to Matt, who gave me the insurance company's call-centre number.
There was about 10k of damage to my car.
Police soon arrived, were very polite, checked that I had insurance and a licence and asked me to go to the police station. It turned out the Thai woman didn't have a licence.
Got to the station and the insurance representative arrived and I explained the situation.
The police immediately found the woman at fault, fined her on the spot for careless driving and gave me a copy of their report saying I was not at fault.
The insurance agent gave me the name, address and phone number of a contract spray shop where I could get my car repaired.
He also gave me his report, saying I was not at fault.
He told me to get the car repaired at the insurance company's expense and they would then reclaim the money from the Thai woman.
The time from the actual accident to leaving the police station was 90 minutes.
The police and the insurance rep were every polite and objective and the whole thing was handled very professionally.
When I left the police station, Matt from AA was even there to ask me if everything had gone ok - now that's what I call customer care!
So if you do have an accident and you know you're in the right, don't worry or panic.
Stay calm, go through the procedure and hopefully, as in my case, fairness will prevail.
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Good to hear that things worked out for you and that the insurance and police did what they were supposed to do, perhaps things are improving in these areas.
Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
How nice to hear that despite the accident the 'authorities' did their job as one would hope.
Courage is grace under pressure and when circumstances change you change your mind.
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GLCQuantum
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Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Echo the above sentiments... glad everyone involved was unharmed. Especially the child on the bike that didn't have a choice.
One of your sentences made my blood boil TBH.
One of your sentences made my blood boil TBH.
...but fortunately....I got out and the woman immediately started shouting at me
Keep safe!The police immediately found the woman at fault, fined her on the spot for careless driving
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thaiexpattv
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Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
Always call the insurance company first! Never accept responsibility!
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GLCQuantum
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Re: What to do when we have an accident ? (just asking)
It does go both ways though...
I was in a nasty bike accident in Hua Hin. I (I thought) had caused the crash but the Thai guy took responsibilty and paid over half a million baht in hospital bills. My left kicking leg will never be as good as it was, I was shit with me left anyways, but all in all I was overwelmed with the caring nature of the pick up driver and his family.
Swings and roundabouts
I was in a nasty bike accident in Hua Hin. I (I thought) had caused the crash but the Thai guy took responsibilty and paid over half a million baht in hospital bills. My left kicking leg will never be as good as it was, I was shit with me left anyways, but all in all I was overwelmed with the caring nature of the pick up driver and his family.
Swings and roundabouts