FAQ – Reporting a claim

In certain cases, DFIM can handle claims where there is no ordinary motor third-party liability insurance company able to process the claim.

This applies when the damage was caused by a motor vehicle in Denmark and the vehicle is:

• unknown, for example because it left the scene of the accident

• uninsured, even though it was required to have third-party liability insurance

DFIM will always first assess whether the case falls within our remit. If it does, we will determine whether compensation can be paid.

The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that injured parties are not left without the possibility of compensation solely because the vehicle is unknown or does not have the required third-party liability insurance.

DFIM can cover damage that would normally be covered by the compulsory third-party liability insurance for a motor vehicle.

• Personal injury, if you were injured in the accident

• Property damage, if your property was damaged, for example your car, bicycle, clothing, building or other belongings

If the damage was caused by an unknown vehicle, DFIM will only cover property damage if compensation is also paid for personal injury arising from the same accident.

If the damage was caused by an uninsured vehicle, DFIM may cover both personal injury and property damage, provided that the conditions for cover are met.

A vehicle is considered unknown if it cannot be identified. For example, this may be the case if a vehicle hits you and leaves the scene before you or anyone else is able to obtain the registration number or other identifying information.

A vehicle is considered uninsured if the required third-party liability insurance has not been taken out. This also applies if the vehicle was previously insured, but the insurance has expired or is no longer in force.

If you have been involved in an accident with an unknown or uninsured motor vehicle, you should:

• Report the damage to your own insurance company, for example your accident insurer, comprehensive motor insurer or household contents insurer.

• Keep any relevant documentation, such as photographs, witness details, the police case number, medical records and receipts.

You can then report the claim to DFIM. We will assess whether the case falls within DFIM’s guarantee scheme.

If you are involved in an accident with a foreign motor vehicle in Denmark, DFIM can help identify the foreign insurance company and the company in Denmark that can handle your claim.

You can submit an insurance enquiry to DFIM. In order for us to assist you, we need at least the following information:

• The registration number of the foreign vehicle

• The country in which the vehicle is registered

• The date of the accident

• The type of vehicle involved, for example a passenger car, lorry, bus or motorcycle

If the vehicle is registered outside the EU or EEA, you must also provide a copy of the other party’s Green Card or the Green Card number, if available.

Once we have received the necessary information, we will forward the enquiry to our partners abroad and send the response to you.

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident abroad and believe that another party is responsible for the accident, DFIM can help identify the foreign insurance company.

You can submit an insurance enquiry to DFIM. Once we receive the enquiry, we will identify the foreign insurance company and the Danish claims representative who can assist with the further handling of your claim.

As a general rule, DFIM does not handle the compensation claim itself in these cases. The claim must normally be handled by the foreign insurance company’s claims representative in Denmark.

In order for us to assist you with an insurance enquiry relating to an accident abroad, we need at least the following information:

• The registration number of the foreign vehicle

• The country in which the vehicle is registered

• The date of the accident

• The type of vehicle involved, for example a passenger car, lorry, bus or motorcycle

The more information you can provide, the better our chances of identifying the correct insurance company. This may include information about the driver, owner, insurance company, policy number, police report or photographs from the accident scene.

Once you have submitted the information to DFIM, we will forward the enquiry to our partners abroad. When we receive a response, we will pass the information on to you. You can then pursue your claim through the Danish claims representative.

The Danish claims representative acts as the link between you and the foreign insurance company. As a general rule, the claims representative does not make an independent decision on compensation but communicates information and responses from the foreign insurance company.

When an accident occurs abroad, the claim must be assessed according to the laws of the country where the accident took place.

This means that liability rules, heads of damage, documentation requirements and compensation amounts may differ from those in Denmark. You should also be aware that some countries have relatively short time limits for reporting an accident or pursuing a claim. It is therefore important to act quickly and keep relevant documentation.