This guide covers everything from the moment an accident happens to how you settle the costs afterward. Read it before you ride. If you are in an accident right now, call 1155 (Tourist Police) and 1669 (emergency medical).
The one rule
::: callout—critical Police report first. Document everything. Never pay on the road without paperwork.
Every other decision flows from that rule. :::
Step 1 — At the Scene
If anyone is injured
- Call 1669 — emergency medical. Even if injuries look minor, get checked. Adrenaline masks serious internal injuries.
- Call 1155 — Tourist Police. They send English-speaking officers and coordinate between medical and police response.
- Do not move the injured person unless they are in immediate danger (fire, oncoming traffic).
- Photograph everything before the bikes are moved: positions on the road, damage to both vehicles, road conditions, weather, number plates.
If no one is injured
- Call 1155 — police report is still mandatory for any insurance claim.
- Do not move the bikes until police assess — unless they are blocking traffic and creating a hazard.
- Photograph everything: both bikes, damage, road, position, number plates.
- Exchange details with the other party: full name, phone number, plate number, licence details.
What not to do
- Do not admit fault at the scene. Say “sawasdee krub, I need to call my insurance.” This is not dishonesty — fault is determined by the police investigation, not by what you say at the roadside.
- Do not pay on the road. No matter how much pressure you face. Paying cash without a police report voids your insurance claim and leaves you with no legal record.
- Do not negotiate a settlement at the scene. The other party may demand a number that bears no relationship to actual repair costs.
Step 2 — Police Report
A police report is mandatory for any insurance claim. Without it, your claim is denied.
How to file:
- Call 1155 (Tourist Police) — they can file the initial report with English translation
- The report will be in Thai — request 3–4 certified copies for: your insurer, the other party’s insurer, your embassy, your own records
- Most insurers require the report within 24–48 hours of the incident
- If you are hospitalised, police will come to take your statement at the hospital
What the report establishes:
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- Facts of what happened
- Preliminary assessment of fault (not final, but used by insurers)
- Witness details if applicable
- Injuries documented (important for medical claims)
Without a police report:
- Your insurance claim is void
- The other party can later claim different circumstances
- You have no legal record of the incident
Step 3 — Insurance
The three layers that apply
1. Por Ror Bor (Compulsory Motor Insurance) Every registered vehicle in Thailand has this by law. It covers the other party in an accident — not you:
| What it covers | Amount |
|---|---|
| Medical expenses per injured person | Up to ฿80,000 |
| Death or total permanent disability | ฿500,000 per person |
2. Basic rental shop insurance Usually third-party liability only. Covers the other person — not damage to the scooter you are riding, not your medical bills.
3. Comprehensive rental insurance (e.g., Bikago, USD $95 excess) Covers damage to the rental scooter. You pay the excess; the insurer covers the rest. This is the most predictable model — your maximum out-of-pocket per incident is the excess amount.
Contact your insurer
Call the emergency number on your policy within 24 hours. Tell them:
- Location and time of accident
- Whether anyone is injured
- Police report number (once you have it)
- Other party’s details
Step 4 — If You Are At Fault
This is the scenario most riders worry about. Here is what actually happens.
What you owe the other party
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Their medical costs up to ฿80,000 | Their Por Ror Bor insurer |
| Medical costs above ฿80,000 | You personally |
| Their bike repairs | You personally (or your liability coverage) |
| Their lost wages during recovery | You under Section 437 Civil Code |
Thailand uses shared fault — if the other party contributed to the accident (e.g., ran a red light), liability is split proportionally. The police report establishes this.
The pressure to pay on the road
Thai accident culture expects the “wealthier party” — you, as a foreigner — to pay immediately. You will face pressure from the other party, bystanders, and sometimes police to settle on the spot.
Do not do this.
The amount demanded at the scene is almost always inflated. Community reports from Chiang Mai and Phuket show demands of ฿10,000–25,000 for damage that local repair shops estimated at ฿800–1,300. Paying on the road without a police report means:
- No legal record of what happened
- No proof the damage was caused by you (it may have been pre-existing)
- No paper trail — the other party can later claim you never paid and sue again
The correct process:
- File the police report first
- Get an independent damage assessment (your rental company can provide this)
- Negotiate based on documented repair costs, not a verbal demand
- Get a written receipt for any payment made
Can you be detained? Can you go to jail?
Minor accident, property damage only: Jail is extremely unlikely. Police may hold you briefly for the report, then release you.
Serious injury accident: Detention for questioning is possible — several hours while police take statements.
Criminal charges are possible under Thailand’s Land Traffic Act:
| Situation | Charge | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Reckless driving causing injury | Criminal | Fine + up to 1 month imprisonment |
| Reckless driving causing serious injury | Criminal | Up to 3 years imprisonment |
| Reckless driving causing death | Criminal | Up to 10 years imprisonment |
The key protective factor: comprehensive insurance that pays the full claim removes the financial threat that drives most criminal complaints. Most foreigners facing criminal charges in Thailand were uninsured and the victim received no compensation.
Documented case (AngloSiam Law): Foreigner caused an accident, was uninsured, charged with reckless driving causing injury. Pleaded guilty. Result: 6-month suspended sentence + ฿10,000 fine. No jail time served.
If you cannot pay
If you have no insurance and cannot cover the costs:
- The other party can file a civil suit under Section 420 of the Thai Civil and Commercial Code
- A court judgment can be enforced against Thai bank accounts or assets
- The other party can report you to immigration if you leave Thailand with an unpaid judgment
- For small amounts (under ฿30,000–50,000), most foreigners negotiate and settle directly
Step 5 — If the Other Party Is Injured
This is where consequences escalate fastest.
At the scene
- Call 1669 immediately — even for minor-seeming injuries
- Call 1155 — Tourist Police coordinate the full response
- Photograph the other party’s injuries before and during medical treatment if possible
- Get the name and contact details of any hospital they are taken to
Medical costs — who pays
- Por Ror Bor (the at-fault party’s compulsory insurance): pays first, up to ฿80,000 per injured person
- Above ฿80,000: You pay personally — unless you have liability coverage or travel insurance
- Thailand’s public healthcare (gold card) is for Thai citizens only — you are not covered as a foreigner
Can you leave Thailand?
If criminal charges are filed: No — you cannot leave until the case is resolved or your lawyer arranges permission to travel.
If it is a civil matter only: You can leave, but:
- The other party can pursue you through international civil judgment enforcement
- Your passport details are on the police report — if a judgment goes unpaid, you could be flagged at immigration on a future return
The practical rule: Settle or agree a payment plan before you leave Chiang Mai. Do not leave Thailand with an unresolved injury claim.
When to get a lawyer
Get a lawyer immediately if:
- Anyone is seriously injured
- The other party is hospitalized
- The other party’s family is present and pressuring you to pay
- Police indicate criminal charges are being considered
- The other party is represented by a lawyer
A Thai lawyer for the initial consultation costs ฿5,000–15,000. This is not a large sum against the potential liability. Lawyers can often arrange your release from police custody, negotiate directly with the injured party’s family, and structure a documented settlement that protects you.
Step 6 — What to Photograph and Document
From the moment of the accident:
- Both bikes — full view, damage close-up, plate numbers visible
- The road — surface conditions, lane markings, any road damage or hazards
- Weather and visibility conditions
- Any injuries to yourself or the other party
- The other party’s licence and IDP (photograph both sides)
- The other party’s plate number and bike registration (green book)
- The rental bike’s condition before you left (pre-existing damage photos from the rental shop)
- Police report case number
- All medical records and receipts
- All repair quotes and receipts
- Written receipt for any payment made
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Number | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist Police | 1155 | Accident — report, translation, police coordination |
| Emergency medical | 1669 | Anyone injured, even minor-seeming injuries |
| Rental shop emergency line | Check your contract | Bike damage, tow requests |
| Your insurer emergency line | On your policy documents | Insurance claim notification |
| Tourist Assistance (大使馆) | Your country’s embassy | If detained, criminal charges, or civil suit |
Quick Checklist
Before you ride:
- Read your travel insurance exclusions — confirm motorcycle coverage
- Confirm rental shop insurance covers damage to the scooter (not just third party)
- Photograph pre-existing damage before leaving the rental shop
- Save rental shop emergency number in your phone
At the scene:
- Call 1155 + 1669 if anyone injured
- Do not move bikes unless dangerous
- Photograph everything
- Exchange details
- Do not admit fault
- Do not pay on the road
After the scene:
- File police report within 24 hours
- Get 3–4 certified copies
- Contact your insurer
- Get independent repair quote
- Negotiate with documentation, not verbal demands
Sources
- Siam Legal International, “Personal Injury Claims in Thailand” (siam-legal.com, accessed 2026-04-27)
- AngloSiam Law, “Case Study: Uninsured Foreigner in Motorcycle Accident” (anglosiamlaw.com, accessed 2026-04-27)
- WSR Law Group, “An Overview of Personal Injury Claims in Thailand” (wsrlawgroup.com, accessed 2026-04-27)
- Motorist Thailand, “What is Compulsory Motor Insurance (Por Ror Bor)?” (motorist.co.th, accessed 2026-04-27)
- Roojai, “Compulsory Motor Insurance Thailand” (roojai.com, accessed 2026-04-27)
- Thailand Civil and Commercial Code Sections 420, 437, 444
- Bikago Chiang Mai FAQ (bikago.com, accessed 2026-04-27)
- Reddit r/ThailandTourism, r/chiangmai accident and damage discussion threads (accessed 2026-04-27)
"If an accident happens: call 1669 (emergency medical) and 1155 (Tourist Police), document everything with photos, and never admit fault or pay on the road without a police report."
By Kai Mercer · Updated April 27, 2026