Crash involving two schoolgirls aged 16

[Nereus]

It is correct that you can only pay the roadtax when showing a valid compulsory, but by experience (we pay road tax for many clients of us) we know that this is also accepted if the compulsory is only valid for at least the next 6 months.

Yes, only for 6 months, which then brings the compulsory insurance into line with the same renewal date as the road tax, as has been previously posted.

[nanyang]

TIT next time if someone’s coming at me I will just jump off the bike and let it hit them. As long as it stays on the right side of the road. I’m surely OK.

No, you won't be OK you'll still have to pay - TIT.

Every aspect of driving here is complete nonsense.

However, I adopt the view that, almost, every aspect of Thailand is complete nonsense to a Western mind!

Life is full of experiences but, not all of them are worthwhile.

[Pleng]

On the subject of insurance, does the insurace cover the vehicle for anybody who's driving it? Or is it like England where you're insured for the vehicle with named drivers?

[mat]

On the subject of insurance, does the insurace cover the vehicle for anybody who's driving it? Or is it like England where you're insured for the vehicle with named drivers?

Compulsory is valid for all drivers. First, second and third class insurances are normally for all drivers also, but with first class insurances it is possible to have maximum 2 named drivers on the policy to lower the premium.

[Pleng]

And how thorough are the compulsory insurance companies in the eventuality of the accident being "caused" by somebody without a valid license?

[Cing Jai]

My insurance company didn't fight for me when I was hit by a motorcy taxi driver who was too old to even walk properly. If I had it to do over I woud have forced the issue and gone to court. Doubt it would have ever come to that though. If you have a compelling case, which I agree the original poster does not, you can win. I had signaled my left turn for a good 20 seconds before making it as I was unfamiliar with the area and the motorcy taxi hit my rear quarter panel. Obviously, I had nearly completed the turn. I had a couple other minor dings on the car and I was actually on my way to a garage to have them fixed when it happend so I ended up just letting insurance pay for it all my repairs. Of course the mororcy taxi wanted Bangkok Insurance to pay for his motorbike too but they told him that wasn't going to happen. My premiums went up on the next renewal and I sold the car not too long after so it hardly cost me anything.

Guys, the compulsory isn't worth jack. If you want the insurance companies to fight for you in a real serious accident you have to have comprehensive because then it's their money on the line. Even then you have to force the issue with them because you are white. Stu-Pot puts it great in his post, if you are in the right and are willing to go the distance you can, sometimes, prevail here. Your mileage will vary of course.

[Takiap]

You admit you had seen the girls so I fail to see why you needed to swerve at all never mind all the way across to the other side of the road ? This is something which if you have ridden on a Thai road for even a short time is common and should be of no great danger. I must be missing something.
Your best option would be to pay and learn from it.

I must admit, I tend to agree with your view on this. I have people driving/riding straight at me every single day of my life. It's how the drive here in Thailand, and if you can't adapt, then you should seriously consider staying off the roads. Yes I know, it's not right, etc, etc, etc, but it is just the way it is.

Applying European road sense is simply going to result in disaster because it doesn't work here. Just because someone indicates that they are going to turn left, does not mean they aren't going to turn right.


Stay safe people

[OscarMike]

Probably been mentioned before but the way it is viewed here is as follows:

"You are falang - it is your fault, if you were not in our country to begin with the accident would not have happened."

[Pleng]

Guys, the compulsory isn't worth jack. If you want the insurance companies to fight for you in a real serious accident you have to have comprehensive because then it's their money on the line.

Well it's their money on the line when it comes to paying medical bills anyway?

[Roel]

Probably been mentioned before but the way it is viewed here is as follows:

"You are falang - it is your fault, if you were not in our country to begin with the accident would not have happened."

I would call that an urban legend that appears over and over on expat forums for obvious reasons.
Victimizing the farang (it is your fault and you can never win) combined with the 'stupidity' of Thai logic.
The line was probably made up by a farang and now it has become a mantra attributed to the Thais.

I was in a (minor) car accident once myself and I received 5,000 Baht in cash at the police station from the Thai who was at fault. Police did not want anything of it.
During my 18 years in Thailand I met several farangs who were at the winning side although I must admit that I met probably more who were at the losing side.
But it is not a simple black-and-white issue.

Nothing personal to you OscarMike but the above quote reflects in my eyes the simple mindedness of expat farangs rather than that of the Thais.

[LolaBeltran]

It did my heart good yesterday to observe the police in action on a traffic violation. Coming out of a soi near the Sheraton, I was preceded by a van which turned right heading the wrong way on Petchkasem. ( Is it me or do you see more and more car, truck and van drivers on the wrong side of the road these days?)

Anyway, after going a couple hundred yards with his idiot lights flashing ( that makes it Ok doesnt it?) a police vehicle pulled up right in front of the van and the officer jumped out. Nabbed in the act.

[GLCQuantum]

I would call that an urban legend that appears over and over on expat forums for obvious reasons.
Victimizing the farang (it is your fault and you can never win) combined with the 'stupidity' of Thai logic.
The line was probably made up by a farang and now it has become a mantra attributed to the Thais.

I was in a (minor) car accident once myself and I received 5,000 Baht in cash at the police station from the Thai who was at fault. Police did not want anything of it.
During my 18 years in Thailand I met several farangs who were at the winning side although I must admit that I met probably more who were at the losing side.
But it is not a simple black-and-white issue.

I agree with the above. In the little 'bump' that I had I recieved over half a million baht payout - 260,000 cash compensation and the rest paid medical bills, motorbike repair, new telephone etc etc

[dtaai-maai]

I would call that an urban legend that appears over and over on expat forums for obvious reasons.
Victimizing the farang (it is your fault and you can never win) combined with the 'stupidity' of Thai logic.
The line was probably made up by a farang and now it has become a mantra attributed to the Thais.

... the simple mindedness of expat farangs rather than that of the Thais.

And this applies to many other areas of life in Thailand.

[Cing Jai]

Probably been mentioned before but the way it is viewed here is as follows:

"You are falang - it is your fault, if you were not in our country to begin with the accident would not have happened."

I would call that an urban legend that appears over and over on expat forums for obvious reasons.
Victimizing the farang (it is your fault and you can never win) combined with the 'stupidity' of Thai logic.
The line was probably made up by a farang and now it has become a mantra attributed to the Thais.

the above quote reflects in my eyes the simple mindedness of expat farangs rather than that of the Thais.

Agreed, you can win if you have a case but it is harder than back home so I think many feel it's hopeless and give up. The apathy gets very tiring though. Roel said it well above. It's true that sometimes "you're farang you pay" happens but if you can't speak Thai and defend yourself enough to explain your position in the negotiations of course you will get walked on. That happens in any country where you don't speak the language and understand the ways things are done you are at a disadvantage!

I'm sure most here on the forum are licensed, insured and tax paid up drivers but the majority on the road here probably aren't. When you show you are an expat that understands the system and customs, is polite, is doing it all right and you have a good case, you can get a fair settlement.

[Cing Jai]

I would call that an urban legend that appears over and over on expat forums for obvious reasons.
Victimizing the farang (it is your fault and you can never win) combined with the 'stupidity' of Thai logic.
The line was probably made up by a farang and now it has become a mantra attributed to the Thais.

... the simple mindedness of expat farangs rather than that of the Thais.

And this applies to many other areas of life in Thailand.

So true, so true. Nobody ever comes on the forum to write their success stories or say how great everything is. It's a place to moan so you can't go by what you read here as being reality out there.