Finland Car Accident Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For A Road Accident
Have you been injured in a car accident in Finland which was caused by another party, be that another driver, or poor state of the roads. If someone else caused or contributed towards your accident, you can find out in this guide how to make a personal injury claim for the harm caused to you.
Finland car accident claims
At Legal Expert we are able to handle and conduct claims for a road traffic accidents abroad by supplying personal injury solicitors to assist claimants. Our team are experienced at handling and conducting claims for car and road traffic accidents both in the UK and abroad. Your claim could be for an injury suffered by you (or one of your passengers), or it could be for damage to your personal property (the vehicle or other property). We can also help you to claim compensation for expenses which were caused (directly) by the accident.
We will start by looking at what happened to you, such as your injuries suffered, and the circumstances which caused them. If you have an admissible claim, one of our team of personal injury solicitors will be able to handle your claim.
Find out whether you qualify to make a no win no fee car accident claim in Finland. You can call our team on 0800 073 8804.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Compensation Claims For Car Accidents In Finland
- Emergency Help Services Numbers In Finland
- Medical Care For Tourists In Finland
- Steps People Should Take After Car Accidents In Finland
- What Should You Do After An Accident Abroad?
- How To Report A Car Accident In Finland
- Whiplash Caused By Car Accidents Abroad
- What Car Accident Abroad Claim Include?
- Finnish Car Accident Compensation Claim Calculator
- No Win No Fee Finnish Car Accident Claims
- Why Make Your Claim With Us?
- Speak To Us Today
- British Embassy Helsinki And Additional Guides
A Guide To Compensation Claims For Car Accidents In Finland
When you are visiting any country for a holiday, to visit family, or for a business trip, you may need to hire a car to get about the country. Whilst the prospect of your being in a crash is a remote thought, such accidents can and do happen. Finland releases data on a monthly basis on the number of road accidents. We can see that in December 12 people died in fatal car accidents in Finland (official statistics found here). If you have been hurt in a Finnish car accident, we are here to help.
One of the initial parts of the claims process is showing that another party is responsible for your accident, wholly or in part. We will take you through how to do this and complete other steps you need to carry out. We will also provide you with the information you need to know about reporting your Finnish car accident.
When driving in Finland, there are several pieces of documentation, as well as other items which you are required to have in your vehicle or on your person. These are;
- A copy of your driving license and passport
- Proof of ownership or rental,
- Proof of insurance,
Finnish law also requires that you carry the following items in your vehicle. Not doing do can result you being fined.
- Deflectors for your vehicles headlamp beams.
- Working headlights.
- Warning triangles for if you breakdown.
- A reflective jacket, pedestrians are required to wear these at certain times.
- Additional and adequate rear and side mirrors if you are towing another vehicle.
Personal Injury Claim Time limits In Finland
| Claim Type | General Limit | Personal Injury Claims | Collisions | Passenger Injury Claims | Passenger Luggage Claims |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Limit (years) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Emergency Help Services Numbers In Finland
In the event of a car accident in Finland, or any serious accident, you may require the help of the Finnish emergency services. You can can get assistance by calling the following services/ numbers:
- The general emergency number – 112,
- Maritime Search and Rescue – 0294 1000
- Telephone directory where you can find local medical services – 118
These numbers should allow you to access any emergency help you need after a car crash.
Medical Care For Tourists In Finland
If you are injured to a serious degree and do require emergency, life-saving, or critical care, and require an ambulance, you should call 112. This is a free call number from landlines and mobile networks.
You will be connected to the ambulance service. When connected, you may be asked for several pieces of information;
- Your name,
- What has happened to you, your injury and how serious it is,
- Your location,
- If anyone else is also in any danger,
If you have been injured in a car crash in Finland and need medical help, you will either need to use your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), travel insurance, or your own funds, to access the healthcare services. Using an EHIC card, British visitors can (at the time of writing) access Finnish public healthcare services at the same level of cost at residents. This is either free or charged at the same rate as local residents. You can find more information about accessing healthcare abroad using the EHIC card here.
Steps People Should Take After Car Accidents In Finland
If you have been injured in a car crash in Finland, there are several things which you should do immediately. These will ensure your safety, help you get the assistance you need, and help you in making a claim with a personal injury lawyer when you return to the UK.
- Where safe, pull off the road and secure your vehicle. Make sure you can safety exit your vehicle and that other road users can safely pass you.
- As soon as possible, call 112. Follow the steps recommended above. Do not end the call till the operator has all of the information they need to help you.
- Display the triangles your car should have. This will make it easier for the emergency services to find you and your party when you call them.
- Put on the reflective vests your vehicle should have if it is dark or if there is low visibility.
If another driver or vehicle is involved do not do anything which could be seen as an admission of guilt, such as offering an apology. We also recommend that you do not sign anything offered by the other driver at this point.
What Should You Do After An Accident Abroad?
If you have been injured or involved in a car crash in Finland, and that accident was caused by someone else, there are steps to take in order to give you a better chance of making a successful car crash claim when you get back to the UK. You should:
- Make sure that you get any healthcare or medical help you need.
- Notify the police, any rental company, and insurance providers.
- Try to photograph your accident, damage caused, and injury caused to you or anyone else.
- Exchange details (such as your name and contact details) with others involved in the accident.
We must reinforce this point. Do not sign your name on anything, and do not in give any impression of the admission of liability.
How To Report A Car Accident In Finland
In the event of a car accident in Finland which has caused damage to either vehicle, or has caused any injuries, you will need to report the accident to the police. This will produce a report which you can give to the rental company (if applicable), to insurance providers, and which can be used in the case.
You will need to include the following details of your accident in the police report,
- The time and location of the accident,
- Registration details for both vehicles.
- Information on the drivers (e.g. license details).
- If there any witnesses were present, their information as well.
- What injuries you (or anyone else) suffered.
This police report can be used as part of your compensation claim as it contains official records of what happened to you. When you report your accident, you may need to fill in a European Accident Statement. This is normal procedure and helps all parties involved to exchange any information necessary.
Whiplash Caused By Car Accidents Abroad
Whiplash is one of the most common types of injury which people sustain in car crashes and accidents on the road. They can happen to the driver or a passenger and range in severity from cases which can clear up in a few days or weeks, to instances which leave much longer lasting injuries.
This type of injury affects the neck and parts of the upper back or shoulders. It is caused (generally) by sudden and jerking movements, such as those caused by the impact of a vehicle, which throw the head beyond the necks normal range of motion. This violent action can stretch, strain, and damage the muscles of the neck, and extend through parts of the shoulder or back.
To find out more, you can read this guide to whiplash injuries by the NHS. To find out how long whiplash might last, and how much compensation you could claim, see our guide to how long whiplash injuries can last.
What Car Accident Abroad Claim Include?
If you are involved in a Finnish car crash, you are currently protected by EU law which allows you to claim compensation from the party liable for the crash. The EU’s 4th and 5th Motor Insurance directive means that the insurance company has to use a representative in the UK for claims abroad. This helps to make the process smoother, by removing things such as language barriers.
When you make your claim, it will often be made up of, or split into two parts. These cover different aspects of the way in which you need to be compensated. These are general and special damages. The first of these will often make up the bulk of any award. It is designed to compensate you for the specific injuries you suffered. These may be injuries to your body (physical) or those to your mental health. The amounts are set by the Judicial College, allowing us to provide an estimate of how much you could be owed.
The second type of damages are those which are much more individual to your claim. Special damages takes into account the wider impact that the accident has had on your financially. It can include the costs of things such as;
- Having to return to the UK,
- Medical treatment abroad or in the UK,
- Medication,
- Care in the home,
- Special equipment to adapt your home or vehicle,
- Lost income and workplace benefits.
- Any other expenses which were caused by your crash.
For many claimants, their final settlement will be made up of a combination of compensation for both types of damages.
Finnish Car Accident Compensation Claim Calculator
In this section we will look at how much the victim of a car accident can often claim for different forms of injury. The first thing which we have to say to people is that there is not an average amount which we can quickly quote to you for how much you may get. Your settlement is individual to your case and will be negotiated between the parties concerned. However, we can look at common types of injury, and see the upper and lower settlements which are usually awarded to claimants. These figures only deal with compensation for the injuries, not for other factors.
| Type of injury and seriousness | Settlement band | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Severe injury to the neck | £39,870 – £130,060 | Severe injuries can be have a longer recovery period, and may leave permanent damage to the claimant. There may always be reduced mobility. |
| Minor injury to the neck | Maximum – £2,150 | Such as whiplash, cuts and serious bruising. |
| Moderate injury to the neck | £6,920 – £33,750 | A painful injury which can take a long time to recover from. The length of this recovery can be reflected in the settlement. |
| Moderate injury to the back. | £10,970 – £34,000 | The injury may affect the connective tissue or the the ligaments. May also affect the muscles. |
| Minor injury to the back. | Maximum £10,970 | Minor injuries such as cuts and lacerations. May also include bruising, or sprains. There will be no permanent forms of injury and no permanent damage. |
| Minor foot injuries (one foot) | Maximum £12,050 | Minor foot injuries include damage to or injuries of the soft tissues in the foot. It might also be minor types levels of cuts and in some cases, fractures. The recovery period should not be long. |
| Moderate foot injuries (one foot) | £12,050 – £21,910 | Moderate levels of the same types of injury highlighted above, such as a fracture. During the recovery time, the foot might not be able to be used. |
| Serious foot injuries (one foot) | £21,910 – £34,370 | This type of injury is much more serious that the previous categories. The resulting injury might have led to some permanent loss of use in the affected foot. |
| Severe foot injuries (one foot) | £36,800 – £61,410 | The most serious or severe form of injury to the foot. This will leave your with a permanently disabled foot and impaired ability to walk. |
| Very severe foot injuries (one foot) | £73,620 – £96,150 | Victims will be left disabled in that foot. |
| Removal of a foot | £73,620 – £96,150 | Full amputation of one of your feet. |
| Removal of two feet | £148,540 – £176,660 | Surgical amputation of both of your feet, and the resulting type of disability. |
As we have said, there can be different things which go towards making up your unique settlement. To find out how much this may be in your case, contact our team today.
No Win No Fee Finnish Car Accident Claims
One of the biggest worries that many people will have, especially if there accident happened whilst on holiday abroad, is that taking legal action to get compensation through a personal injury lawyer will be expensive. For the victims of road accidents abroad, this potential cost can be more than enough to put people off making a claim all together. This should never be the case, and your current circumstances should not stop you from being able to make a claim. This is why we are proud to offer you a no win no fee service.
But, what is no win no fee? The simplest way to put this is that it does exactly what it says. With our service, you will not be asked to pay any fees, costs, or charges from the time you start working with us, through to the successful end of your claim. At that point, you will need to pay a success fee which you will have agreed with the solicitor. This can be deducted from the claim, meaning you never need to even think about the costs.
To learn more about no win no fee claims, please read our guide to using no win no fee solicitors.
Why Make Your Claim With Us?
After sustaining any type of injury, whether in a car crash abroad, or in the UK, you can sometimes be at a loss for what to do next. If you were injured in a road traffic accident abroad, finding out what to do next can feel even more daunting. That is where specialist personal injury lawyers and solicitors, such as the team and Legal Expert can help you. Our dedicated team can guide you through the steps you need to take to make a successful claim. We will always aim to do so without using too much legal jargon, putting things in a way which is stress-free and easy to understand.
Our team understands that it is important to make the claims process as quick, easy, and importantly, as stress free as we can. We will monitor your claim and make sure you are kept up to date on its progress at each and every step. That way, we hope to bring you the best possible service.
Ten Largest Towns And Cities In Finland
- Helsinki
- Tampere
- Turku
- Oulu
- Jyväskylä
- Lahti
- Pori
- Kuopio
- Vaasa
- Joensuu
Speak To Us Today
To start your compensation claim for injuries caused by a car accident in Finland, or to learn more about how we can help you, get in touch with our team.
Call us on the number above, or send an email to Office@LegalExpert.co.uk. You can also use the support feature, or click ‘Claim Online’ at the top of the page to fill in your details and start your claim.
British Embassy Helsinki And Additional Guides
The local British Embassy is based in Helsinki. It can provide emergency assistance to UK residents involved in accidents in the country. The embassy can be found as follows;
British Embassy Helsinki
Itäinen Puistotie 17
00140 Helsinki
Finland
Tel: +358 (0) 9 2286 5100
Web: www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-helsinki
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm
Holiday Accident Claims In Finland
This is our more general to accidents and injuries, as well as how to claim for those happening on a Finnish holiday.
Accident Abroad Claims
Our guide on how to get legal help on your return to the UK, as well as what you should do if you have been involved in any type of accident abroad.
