Personal injury due to a traffic accident

You are cycling to work when you are hit by a car as a cyclist. Or you are involved in a car accident that results in injuries. A traffic accident often happens without you being able to do anything about it. For example, because you are hit while cycling by a car that does not give way or a car that sees the traffic jam too late, resulting in a pile-up.

What to do after a collision?

If you have been hit by a car or other motor vehicle and you suffer damage as a result of the injuries sustained, this damage is called personal injury. You can then engage a personal injury lawyer (Dutch: letselschade advocaat) to recover your personal injury. But you can also do a lot yourself to increase the chance of successfully recovering personal injury claims:

– Always complete a damage collision form. Do this not only in the event of a car collision, but also if you are involved in a bicycle accident.

– Always have the damage form signed by the other party and also sign it yourself if you agree with the contents of the damage form. The content is then in principle agreed between the parties.

– Take as many photos as possible of the accident scene, but also of your injuries, for example.

– Always take your injuries to a doctor and have your wounds, injuries and complaints noted in your GP journal

– Hire a personal injury lawyer, for example a personal injury lawyer in Amsterdam (Dutch: letselschade advocaat Amsterdam) if you have been hit by a car in this capital of the Netherlands.

What personal injury damages are reimbursed after a collision?

Have you been hit by a car and has liability been acknowledged? Then you are entitled to personal injury compensation. But which damages are you entitled to after a collision?

Personal injury compensation consists of 2 components, material damage items and immaterial damage items, also known as damages.

Compensation for damages is compensation for the suffering you suffer because of a collision. You can think of pain complaints such as neck problems, headaches or back problems. But there can also be anxiety complaints due to an accident, such as fear of driving after a collision. In addition, compensation is compensation for psychological complaints that you have suffered because of the collision.

The material compensation consists of all damage items that can be valued in money. Perhaps the best known is the loss of income because you became incapacitated for work because of the traffic accident. Other damage items that fall under material compensation are:

– Pension damage

– Damage as a result of a study delay because you missed exams due to the accident or were unable to prepare for them sufficiently.

– Medical costs such as costs incurred for treatment by a physiotherapist or psychologist.

– Travel costs you incur to practitioners

– Costs for household help because you can no longer manage your household independently due to the accident.

– Maintenance costs of your house and garden because you can no longer do this maintenance yourself as a result of the traffic accident

A collision can therefore have quite a few consequences, both personally and financially. Important to get good advice on this.