Motorbike accidents in Thailand: medical care, insurance and the police

Why this matters

Thailand has a high number of road traffic accidents, particularly involving motorcycles, as the UK government's travel advice notes. The World Health Organization's road safety fact sheet points out that riders of motorised two- and three-wheelers are among the most vulnerable road users worldwide, and that wearing a good-quality helmet substantially reduces the risk of death and serious head injury.

Many visitors hire a scooter for the first time on holiday. If something goes wrong, knowing what to do in the first hour, and what paperwork you will need later, makes a real difference to both your care and your insurance claim.

At the scene

Make the scene safe if you can do so without putting yourself at risk: switch on hazard lights, warn oncoming traffic and switch off engines. Then call 1669, Thailand's free medical emergency number, for anyone who is injured. Give the location as precisely as you can, using a landmark or a map pin.

Unless someone is in immediate danger, leave injured people where they are and do not remove a rider's helmet; a neck or spine injury may not be obvious. Keep them warm and talk to them. If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, follow the 1669 call handler's instructions, which may include CPR. If you cannot make yourself understood, the Tourist Police on 1155 can help with translation.

Even if you feel fine, get checked. Head injuries, internal bleeding and fractures can be masked by adrenaline. Go to a hospital emergency department that can manage trauma: the UK government warns that outside Bangkok and the provincial capitals, and particularly on the southern islands, many government facilities are not equipped for major trauma.

This guide summarises published public-health guidance. It is not a substitute for first-aid training or for the instructions of the 1669 call handler or a doctor; if in doubt, call 1669.

The police and the paperwork

Report the accident to the police, on 191 or through the Tourist Police on 1155, and ask for a daily report, sometimes called a police record, of the incident. Bangkok Hospital Phuket lists a police daily report, a copy of the compulsory motor insurance and an ID card or passport among the documents it needs to process a compulsory motor insurance claim, and travel insurers commonly ask for one too.

Take photographs of the scene, the vehicles, registration plates and any injuries, and note the names and contact details of the other people involved and of witnesses. Keep the rental agreement. Do not sign documents you do not understand; ask for a translation, or ask the Tourist Police for help.

The UK government advises not to hand over your passport as a guarantee, for example to motorcycle or jet-ski rental businesses, noting that companies may hold on to passports against claimed damage. If a dispute arises over damage, contact the Tourist Police and, if needed, your embassy.

Compulsory motor insurance

Every registered vehicle in Thailand must carry compulsory motor insurance, often known by its Thai abbreviation Por Ror Bor. It covers injury to people, not damage to vehicles. According to Bangkok Hospital Phuket's published summary, the initial cover pays for medical treatment up to 30,000 baht per injured person regardless of who was at fault, with further benefits of up to 80,000 baht for treatment once an investigation has found the other party at fault.

This helps with initial hospital bills, but it is a small sum for a serious injury and depends on the motorcycle being properly registered and insured. The UK government warns that motorcycles and scooters for hire in tourist areas are often unregistered and cannot legally be used on a public road. Ask to see the bike's registration and compulsory insurance before you hire it.

Travel insurance: check before you ride

The UK government says many travel insurance policies expect you to hold the correct licence for the type of motorbike or scooter you ride, and that riding without a valid licence could invalidate your cover, leaving you unable to claim. For UK riders, it says you need both the 1968 international driving permit and your UK licence. Policies also commonly exclude claims where the rider was not wearing a helmet or had been drinking. Check your own policy wording before you ride, not afterwards.

After an accident, call your insurer's 24-hour assistance line as soon as you can, ideally before or on admission to hospital, so it can arrange a guarantee of payment. Our guide to travel insurance claims in Thailand covers this process and the documents to collect.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. GOV.UK — Thailand travel advice: Safety and security
2. GOV.UK — Thailand travel advice: Getting help
3. GOV.UK — Healthcare and medical services in Thailand
4. World Health Organization — Road traffic injuries fact sheet
5. Bangkok Hospital Phuket — Compulsory motor insurance
6. WHO South-East Asia — National Institute for Emergency Medicine (institute details)