Hundreds of thousands of vehicles enter our country by road every year. These vehicles may become involved in property-damage road accidents for various reasons. When an accident occurs, the process which a person would normally regulate easily in their own country can become difficult due to the stress, shock and panic caused by the accident. To handle this process smoothly, we recommend contacting a lawyer immediately.
What may be claimed from those responsible?
- Repair costs of the vehicle
- Replacement value of the vehicle in the event of a total loss
- Diminished value of the vehicle
What should the owner of a foreign-registered vehicle pay particular attention to?
Accident report
The accident report is the most important document in a road accident in Türkiye. To establish how the accident happened and who was involved and at fault, it is essential that the accident report is completed correctly and without missing information. If no one was injured in the accident, neither the police nor the gendarmerie will assist with the report; it is drawn up as an accident protocol by the parties involved.
Photographs of the accident scene
It is extremely important to take direct photographs of the vehicles and of the accident scene. They serve as the most important evidence before the court and cannot be obtained retrospectively.
Information about the vehicles and drivers involved
This information should already appear in the accident report. It is nevertheless necessary to obtain copies of documents such as the identity card, driving licence, vehicle registration and insurance documents of the other parties involved.
These steps are the first to be taken. However, these documents are unfortunately not sufficient to claim damages.
Our firm will inform you in detail about the legal proceedings and the documents required.
Below are some of the questions most frequently raised by foreign-registered vehicle owners that we wish to share with you:
Is it mandatory to have the vehicle repaired in Türkiye?
If your vehicle is roadworthy and you can return to your home country, you are not obliged to have it repaired in Türkiye. After your return, on the basis of an expert report you submit, you may claim the repair costs in your home country or the value of the vehicle in the event of a total loss.
If the vehicle has suffered a total loss and is no longer roadworthy and must remain in Türkiye, what is to be done?
The vehicle must be handed over to customs. For an accident-damaged vehicle, the value of a used vehicle in Türkiye may be claimed, depending on the conditions in the owner’s home country.
Under which country’s conditions and in which currency may damages be claimed?
In road accidents in Türkiye involving foreign vehicles, the injured parties may claim damage to their vehicles from those responsible in a foreign currency (US Dollar, Euro, etc.) and in accordance with the conditions of the country in which they live.
Our firm, through our specialist lawyers, will advise you on the legal steps required following the incident, the type of compensation that may be claimed and the amount thereof.