Compensation for a Single-Vehicle Accident in Rotterdam

Compensation for a Single-Vehicle Accident in Rotterdam

A single-vehicle accident involves a traffic accident with only your vehicle, without fault by others. In Rotterdam, with its wet docks and busy Erasmus Bridge, many drivers skid. Compensation covers injuries, material and non-material costs, often through your own insurance. This article explains how Rotterdam residents pursue this legally via local bodies such as the District Court of Rotterdam.

What is a single-vehicle accident and what types of compensation are available?

In a single-vehicle accident, your car, scooter or bicycle sustains damage from slippery roads on the A20, a collision with a lamppost or a fall over a manhole cover. No other party is liable, so claims against third parties are challenging. Personal injury includes whiplash, fractures or trauma. Material damage covers repairs, medical expenses and lost income; non-material damage compensates for pain and suffering.

Unlike collisions with others, you rely on your own policy. Police statistics show thousands of single-vehicle accidents annually in the Rotterdam-Rijnmond region, with injuries in about 20% of cases. See our article on Personal Injury in Single-Vehicle Accidents for more details.

Legal basis for compensation in Rotterdam

Compensation falls under the Dutch Civil Code (DCC), Article 6:162 DCC for unlawful acts, but without a perpetrator, it does not apply directly. Third-party liability insurance (Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Act, WAM) mandates basic coverage but excludes your own injuries without add-ons. For road defects such as potholes in Rotterdam streets, you can hold the Municipality of Rotterdam liable under Article 6:174 DCC (strict liability).

The Health Insurance Act (Zvw) covers basic care, but not your deductible (€385 in 2023) or additional therapy. Pain and suffering awards are based on the Pain and Suffering Guide and case law, ranging from €500 to €50,000. Without comprehensive coverage, there is no material damage protection; the Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund provides limited assistance for liability claims involving third parties.

Possible compensations and how they work

After a single-vehicle accident in Rotterdam, you can claim three types, depending on your policy and circumstances:

• Material damage: Repairs, rental car and medical costs. Via comprehensive or legal expenses insurance.
• Non-material damage: Pain and suffering award for distress. Via a personal injury lawyer, even without a liable party.
• Loss of income: Missed wages or benefits. First two years via Zvw, thereafter WIA.

Overview of insurance types:

Examples of claims in Rotterdam

Example: You skid on a rainy evening on the Willemsbrug and hit a guardrail. Whiplash keeps you home for two weeks. Without comprehensive insurance, third-party liability pays nothing for €2,500 car damage. Physiotherapy (€600) partly via health insurer; €1,800 pain and suffering via lawyer (Article 6:106 DCC for work-related accident).

Cyclist falls over loose paving slabs in Rotterdam city center. Municipality of Rotterdam liable (Article 6:174 DCC). Compensation: €3,500 hospital, €900 bicycle, €3,000 pain and suffering. Evidence is key (photos, witnesses). District Court of Rotterdam awarded €12,000 in 2023 including lost income.

Motorcyclists on the Van Brienenoordbrug: fall on gravel causes injury, compensation via own policy or ANWB.

Rights and obligations for Rotterdam residents

Rights:

1. Access to care via Zvw.
2. Compensation if road authority is liable (Municipality of Rotterdam).
3. Free advice from Rotterdam Legal Aid Office or insurer.
4. No profit from overcharging by lawyers (Settlement Modification Act).

Obligations:

• Report to Police Rotterdam-Rijnmond, obtain police report.
• Document damage with photos, invoices, witnesses and medical reports.