Car Accidents in Belgium

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Car Accidents in Belgium

All vehicles in Belgium must have at least third party insurance. The procedure in the event of a road traffic accident in Belgium depends on the severity of the accident, whether there are injuries and if it is necessary for the police to be involved.

What to do at the scene of an accident

• Stop immediately
• Put on the reflective jacket before leaving the car in dark conditions, bad weather or at night
• Switch on the hazard lights and place a red reflecting warning triangle. The triangle must be placed 30 metres behind the vehicle on ordinary roads and 100 metres on motorways to warn following traffic. It must be visible at a distance of 50 metres
• All drivers involved must exchange details: registration number, insurance details, name and address
• Never sign any paperwork unless certain it's understood and agreed with
• If damage is caused and the owner is not there to report it (a crash with a parked car or into someone's property), it must be reported to the nearest police station so that they can make contact

In the event of a minor accident

In the event of a minor accident with no injuries the parties involved must exchange details and fill in an Accident Report Form (constat amiable d'accident/Europees aanrijdingsformulier) at the scene of the accident. The form should be provided by the motor insurer. All parties must sign this form: if the accident has involved more than two drivers, forms should be completed between each of the involved. If the parties involved do not agree on a version of events, do not sign any documentation. The accident report form should be sent to the insurance company within one week.

Note: the details as written and signed to on the document can be binding in the event of a dispute.

In the event of a serious car accident

If there have been injuries or fatalities call for the police and ambulance:

• Police Tel: 101
• Ambulance or Fire Tel: 100

The vehicles must not be moved until the police have arrived.

In accordance with basic first aid rules keep the injured person warm and do not move a casualty unless they are in danger of further injury.

If the police attend the scene of an accident they will make an accident report. They may make charges of driving offences. If you suspect the other driver has been drinking or taking drugs inform the police.

Note: The legal limit for drink driving in Belgium is 0.5 milligrams of alcohol per millilitre of blood.

• Remain at the scene but move to a safe place and alert oncoming traffic with the warning triangle. This is compulsory in Belgium
• If you are forced to walk on the motorway, use the visibility vest (also obligatory in Belgium)
• Fill out the Accident Report Form. If this is not possible due to driver injury, passengers or witnesses may do it
• Take the name, address and insurance details of all parties involved and the registration numbers of the vehicles
• Take the name and address of any witnesses. Try to obtain as many as possible
• If the parties are hospitalised the authorities will deal with the paperwork on their behalf
• If the parties are not hospitalised, they must obtain a medical certificate stating their injuries
• If the parties are not injured but have suffered a shock, (loss of consciousness, nose bleed) they should seek medical advice after the accident and send the report to the insurance company, the social security and the medical insurers
• For comprehensive information on legal proceedings from the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims: Click here

The Accident Report Form

The accident report should contain the following details:

• Date and place of the accident (full address)
• Vehicle information: make, model numbers and vehicle registration numbers
• Drivers' information: full names, addresses, driving licence details (number, category, date and place of issue)
• Details of insurers and policies of all drivers
• Witnesses: names and addresses
• Any injuries
• An illustration and explanation of the accident including details of damage caused, with photographs or a sketch

The form should be sent to the insurers within one week.

Further Information

• Royal Automobile Club de Belgique/Koninklijke Automobiel Club van België (in French & Dutch)
• Touring Club de Belgique (in French & Dutch)
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Insurance in Belgium
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on the Green Card System
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Driving in Belgium  
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Roadworthiness in Belgium