Injured in a Road Accident Abroad? You Could Be Owed Substantial Compensation.
Car hire accidents, coach crashes, motorbike collisions and pedestrian injuries on foreign roads are more common than many people realise. Unfamiliar roads, different driving rules, poor road surfaces and dangerous local driving all contribute. If you were injured in a road traffic accident abroad that was not your fault, you can claim compensation — often without leaving Scotland.
Scottish Claims Helpline handles road accident abroad claims for Scottish residents on a no win no fee basis. For EU road accidents, the claim is pursued through the at-fault driver’s insurer via their UK representative under the green card system and Motor Insurers’ Bureau arrangements.
How Much Could You Receive?
| Injury Type | Typical Award |
|---|
| Whiplash and minor soft tissue | £2,000 - £10,000 |
| Fractures — wrist, ankle, collarbone | £10,000 - £40,000 |
| Multiple fractures or serious injury | £40,000 - £100,000+ |
| Head or spinal injury | £100,000 - £500,000+ |
Compensation is typically assessed under the law of the country where the accident happened.
That’s not all. Additional payments cover overseas medical bills, air ambulance or repatriation costs, lost holiday costs, flight changes, lost earnings during recovery, ongoing physiotherapy and vehicle damage. These costs can be significant when treatment is needed abroad before returning to Scotland.
Who Can Claim?
Any Scottish resident injured as a driver, passenger, motorcyclist, cyclist or pedestrian in a road accident abroad that was someone else’s fault. This includes car hire accidents, coach or bus crashes, taxi collisions and hit-and-run incidents. For EU accidents, the green card system allows claims through the foreign insurer’s UK representative. For non-EU countries, the process varies but your solicitor can advise on the specific route.
Road Accident Abroad — Frequently Asked Questions
Whiplash: £2,000-£10,000. Fractures: £10,000-£40,000. Serious injuries: £40,000-£100,000+. Compensation assessed under the law of the country where the accident happened.
For EU accidents, your Scottish solicitor pursues the claim through the foreign insurer’s UK representative. You do not usually need to return to the country.
Time limits vary by country — typically 1-3 years in Spain and France. In Scotland the general limit is 3 years. Always act quickly as foreign limits may be shorter.
Most EU countries have a Motor Guarantee Fund equivalent to the UK’s MIB. Your solicitor can pursue the claim through the relevant foreign compensation body.
Not usually. EU road accident claims are handled through correspondence with the foreign insurer’s UK representative. Court proceedings abroad are rarely necessary.
Other driver’s details, insurance information, registration number, photographs, police report number, witness details. Seek medical attention locally and keep all receipts.
How Do I Start My Claim?
It takes 2 minutes. Fill in our short form and one of our specialist Scottish solicitors will call you back — all completely free and with no obligation. You pay nothing unless you win.
About this page: Written by David Gildea, Scottish Claims Helpline. Reviewed by a qualified Scottish solicitor. Last reviewed February 2026. Scottish Claims Helpline is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (
FRN 830381).