A lorry braking suddenly on the A15 near Rozenburg can cause a chain-reaction collision within seconds, involving port crew members. Those first moments determine whether your personal injury file will hold up before the Rechtbank Rotterdam or fail. Personal injury lawyers apply their own checklist that you can implement immediately.
Six pitfalls that can undermine your claim
- Do not post about the accident on social media. Insurers monitor Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. A photograph of you at a party one week later may be used against your “severe back pain” claim — even if you were holding a glass purely through pain management
- Do not admit liability at the scene, not even out of courtesy. A remark such as “sorry, I did not see you” is a claim-killer
- Do not accept any offered sums immediately. Insurers typically offer 30–50 % of the amount that is realistically recoverable in the first instance
- Do not sign a settlement agreement (vaststellingsovereenkomst) without review by a lawyer. Doing so extinguishes all further claim rights — including for injuries that only become apparent later
- Do not communicate solely with your own insurer when the other party is at fault. Their interests do not always coincide with yours
- Avoid “second-opinion shopping” with physicians. Repeated changes of doctor undermine the consistency of your symptom pattern, which may be used against you
Immediate actions after the incident
At the scene
- Photographs and video footage — final positions of the vehicles before they are moved, damage from all angles, road surface, skid marks, weather conditions, traffic signs, registration plates
- Witness statements — name, telephone number, brief voice recording (10–30 seconds) of what they observed
- Notify the police in case of injury or significant damage. Request the police report number (proces-verbaalnummer)
- Complete the European accident statement form in full — both parties sign, or note “no agreement reached” in case of dispute
Within 24 hours
- Medical registration with your GP or the emergency department — even for apparently minor complaints. Whiplash and concussion often manifest only after 24–72 hours
- Start a damage log — what hurts, what you can no longer do, how much sleep you lose? A diary kept over 4–6 weeks constitutes crucial evidence for non-pecuniary damages (smartengeld)
- Notify your employer in the event of incapacity for work — in writing, stating the date
Within 72 hours
- Notice of liability (aansprakelijkstelling) — send a registered letter to the other party or their WAM insurer. This interrupts limitation (article 3:317 BW) and formalises your claim
- Photograph your injuries — bruises, wounds, casts, aids. They fade quickly; document them with the date
- First consultation with a personal injury lawyer — out-of-court costs are borne by the other party, so this is free of charge to you. Call 010 - 4400 400 immediately or visit Wilhelminaplein 100, 3072 AK Rotterdam
Restoring evidence when time is pressing
Collecting evidence weeks after the event is more difficult but not impossible. Request CCTV footage from nearby businesses along the A20 (28-day retention period), check Strava or cycling apps for timestamps, and ask your employer for attendance logs. An experienced personal injury lawyer can identify which traces remain reconstructible and refer you to the Juridisch Loket Rotterdam.