Interesting that a farang driver was prosecuted for crossing a yellow median strip in Kamala recently.(Well the police 'fined' him) He had indicated and was crossing but a motorbike decided to overtake him and hit the car. Farang's fault as he was crossing the lines. No helmet AND making an illegal turn in this case - I bet his brake and indicator lights weren't checked either. One rule for some . . .

Posted by Mister Ree on April 11, 2014 09:59

Shame she'll be dealing with Chalong police.

Posted by phuket madness on April 11, 2014 11:16

In Thailand you are expected to get rewarded/compensated when having an accident whether you were right or wrong... I don't not imply that farangs do not receive compensations if accidents happen to them, but I am yet to see an example in the news indicating this...Any examples of regular compensations to farangs ?

Posted by Sailor on April 11, 2014 11:51

Far from a generalisation - feel free to contact the TPVs in Kamala who are well aware of the incident outside Big C mentioned above.

If it wasn't for the efforts of one particular TPV the driver of the car who hit the pedestrian outside Tesco Lotus in Kamala a few weeks back would not have been charged. Kamala police almost exclusively side with Thais in these instances- fact not fiction. Accidents and near misses can be witnessed almost every day in Kamala so 'little guesswork, faulty logic, guesswork or inexperience' is not applicable.

Maybe time to stop trying to score points and get out there in the real world.

Posted by Mister Ree on April 11, 2014 13:43

OK Ed,
Point taken re "farangs". Any evidence then of non-Thais involved in an accident with a Thai who is held to be at fault being involved in mediation in favour of the non-Thai? No sign of that when we were wiped off the road by a truck load of drunken Thais last year!

Posted by Alan on April 11, 2014 13:56

"The law doesn't favor Thais and it should be applied fairly to all." - should being the operative word! And if it isn't and you are a visitor in a foreign land, what should I have done? Argued with drunken Thais, complained to the Police who were supposed to apply the law fairly? Your support for principles is admirable. Pity they do not match the reality.

Posted by Alan on April 11, 2014 16:55

Ed, one thing is that you don't know the answer... a much worse thing is that you think that this kind of compensation payment is a part of the law, because it isn't...it is just a way of blackmailing people to avoid wasting their time in court or taking advantage of foreigners having to leave the country. Should these cases end up in Court then the compensations according to law are very small and only paid out if the blame can be placed. So I would like to give you guys the recommendation i got from my lawyer which should be applied in any contact with police...don't sign anything before your lawyer has read through the police report and made sure it is correct and shows the actual events and then let the lawyer handle the rest. The opponents expectations to a compensation drops very fast as soon as you have a lawyer at your side. And another very important thing...if you actually happen to run over somebody then please go and visit them in hospital if they end up there..not doing so is considered rude in Thailand.

Posted by Sailor on April 11, 2014 17:33