Claim to the at-fault driver's insurer (Greece)

Published byDocMuse

The claim in which someone who suffered loss in a road accident in Greece asks for compensation directly from the insurer of the vehicle at fault, without going through its driver: the injured party has a direct claim against the insurer (Presidential Decree 237/1986), and the insurer owes a reasoned offer, or a reasoned reply, within three months of the claim. It sets out the accident, the at-fault vehicle and its policy, what happened, the damage, the amount, availability for inspection and the IBAN. Remember, too, to notify your own insurer within eight days.

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Common questions

How long does the at-fault driver's insurer in Greece have to answer a claim?

Within three months of the claim, the insurer must make a reasoned offer of compensation or, if it disputes liability or the loss, give a reasoned reply. The time runs from the day the claim arrived, so keep proof: a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, an e-mail the insurer confirms, or a reference number from the branch. If it does not answer, the next step is an out-of-court notice served by a court bailiff, or a lawsuit — usually through a lawyer.

Must one's own insurer be told about a Greek road accident one did not cause?

Yes. The insured must report the accident to their own insurer within eight days (art. 7 of Law 2496/1997), even when claiming from the at-fault driver's insurer. If both vehicles' insurers take part in the direct settlement scheme, the damage to the vehicle can be settled through one's own insurer; the joint European Accident Statement is no longer a condition, but it speeds things up.

What documents go with a claim to the at-fault vehicle's insurer in Greece?

Whatever proves the accident and the loss: the European Accident Statement if one was completed, or the traffic police details, photographs, the registration certificate and driving licence, a repair quote or invoice and, for injuries, medical records. The insurer gives the exact list when it opens the file. If the at-fault vehicle was uninsured or never identified, there is no insurer to take the claim; ask Greece's motor guarantee fund (Epikouriko Kefalaio) about its own procedure.