Easier to Claim Damages Abroad

As of July 1, 2013, the Visitor Protection System is in effect for resolving compensation claims from traffic accidents abroad caused by vehicles from member states of the European Economic Area.

With the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, Croatian citizens who have been injured in traffic accidents abroad by vehicles insured and registered in any of the member states of the European Economic Area (EU + Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) will find it easier to exercise their right to compensation, as they will also have the option to submit a compensation claim in Croatian to an authorized representative for resolving claims of the foreign insurer of the liable party in the Republic of Croatia.

In cases where the insurer of the liable party has not appointed an authorized representative in the Republic of Croatia or if the authorized representative has not fulfilled their obligations in accordance with the Law on Mandatory Traffic Insurance, the injured party will be able to submit their compensation claim to the Compensation Office established within the Croatian Insurance Bureau. If the insurer of the liable party or their authorized representative is unknown, assistance will be provided by the Information Center, also at the Croatian Insurance Bureau, which will request information about the insurer and their authorized representative in the Republic of Croatia through the relevant Information Center of the member state where the vehicle of the liable party is insured.

The Croatian Insurance Bureau has, as the Croatian Compensation Office, Information Center, and Guarantee Fund, signed the necessary agreements with the competent authorities in other member states as of July 1, 2013, within the framework of the so-called System of Bodies of the IV Directive on Mandatory Insurance of Motor Vehicles – the Visitor Protection System established in the European Union to facilitate the position of persons injured in traffic accidents outside their country of residence by vehicles that are insured and usually stationed in other member states.
Croatian citizens are not obliged to submit their compensation claim to an authorized representative, who resolves claims on behalf of and for the account of the responsible insurer in accordance with the applicable law of the state where the accident occurred, but may also continue to submit their compensation claim directly to the foreign insurer of the liable party.