Road accident with foreign vehicle — payment of due compensation
I was approached by Bulgarian citizens injured in a road accident involving a motor vehicle with foreign registration, driven by a national of a country outside the European Union.
As a result of the accident, the injured persons had suffered pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage, for which they were seeking compensation.
The particular feature of the case was the involvement of a foreign motor vehicle and the need to determine the procedure for bringing the compensation claims.
Claim before the National Bureau of Bulgarian Motor Insurers
After reviewing the circumstances of the accident and the relevant documents, a claim was filed with the National Bureau of Bulgarian Motor Insurers (NBBMI).
The claim covered compensation for the pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage suffered.
What should people injured in an accident with a foreign vehicle know?
The involvement of a car with foreign registration may raise additional questions about the procedure for bringing a claim, the competent body or insurer, and the evidence required.
This does not, however, mean that the injured persons are deprived of the possibility to receive compensation.
Depending on the specific circumstances, the applicable insurance regime and the available cover, the claim may be brought under the relevant procedure provided by law, including through the NBBMI where the necessary conditions are met.
Compensation may cover both pecuniary damage and non-pecuniary damage related to the pain and suffering endured.
The documents on the accident, the evidence of the damage caused and correctly identifying the person or organisation before which the claim should be brought are of key importance.
Why does a timely legal consultation matter?
In accidents involving a foreign vehicle, injured persons often face additional difficulties in establishing the applicable compensation procedure.
A timely legal consultation can help clarify their rights, prepare the necessary documents and bring the claim under the proper procedure.
The foreign registration of the vehicle is not in itself an obstacle to the injured persons seeking compensation for the damage caused to them.