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The "Law Talks" series held by the Institute of Finance and Law at Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology
recently invited Hong-Song Chou, an expert in car accident as well as a graduate student of the Institute, to teach students
about law related to car accidents that students should pay attention to.
【Hong-Song Chou (fourth from right), lecturer of the "Law Talks" series, took a group photo with
students who participated in the lecture.】
In the daily life, such vehicles as locomotives and cars allow us to come and go quickly and easily, but we also have to take
the risk of encountering various accidents. Even if the driver is so careful, it is difficult to ensure that other passers-by
and drivers are also cautious. This is true especially for college students who are used to traveling by locomotive. When
encountering a car accident, one has to properly respond and deal with it immediately so as to avoid unnecessary trouble and
financial losses that may come afterwards.
【In the lecture of "Law Talks" series】
In the lecture, Hong-Song Chou first pointed out that there are a few points to keep in mind when a car accident occurs. Even
if the accident is a small one, the site must be disembarked and people must be immediately warned with double yellow lights
and a triangular card lest other cars might run after. If there is a person injured, "saving life is the first thing to do."
One must immediately call the 119 to send a doctor and report to the police by calling 110. In order to make clear the
responsibility that each party should take, it is necessary to keep the site intact, in order to facilitate the follow-up of
the police to collect the evidence, avoiding disputes and unnecessary conflicts with the other party. On the other hand, it
is recommended that there is no rush for reconciliation with the other party before the responsibility has been clarified.
【The "Law Talks" series held by the Institute of Finance and Law at Southern Taiwan University of
Science and Technology recently invited Hong-Song Chou, an expert in car accident as well as a graduate student of the
Institute, to teach students about law related to car accidents that students should pay attention to.】
After the initial treatment, the next step is to collect evidence and clarify responsibility. Since the occurrence of the car
accident and the change of traffic signs happen all in an instant, it is often impossible to confirm the statement of each
party’s testimony after the event, so it is a must to find witnesses on the spot for future litigation, in addition to
watching the intersection monitor and obtaining physical evidence. As for insurance claims, on the other hand, one should
contact the insurance service personnel and submit a written claim within 5 days after the accident. According to the current
auto insurance regulations, applications for compulsory insurance or other arbitrary insurance claims should be processed
within 5 days after the accident. Therefore, the driver or rider should bring his or her driver's license, ID card or
passport, seal, and accident registration to the insurance company to apply for a claim.
Chou said that most car accidents have been settled by way of civil settlement. However, special attention should be paid to
details. Students can use local mediation committees or police stations for settlement to ensure security. The settlement
should clearly indicate the contents of the settlement, especially the parties involved. In case of casualties, it is
important to clearly state whether the settlement contains a compulsory insurance claim and whether the criminal and civil
rights are abandoned at the same time. Finally, it should be noted that the person who has the right to claim for
compensation shall complete the settlement.
Chou reminded the students that the insurance most vehicles currently use is at best a minimum, even though the law requires
the vehicle owner to participate in compulsory liability insurance. Take the injury medical payment as an example. The
compulsory insurance is limited to only NT$ 200,000 for the total amount of each accident payment for one person. According
to existing cases of civil compensation, the compensation for death is about NT$ 4.5 million to NT$ 5 million; after
deducting NT$ 2 million from the compulsory insurance, there is still a gap of NT$ 2 to 3 million. For those who use the
vehicle frequently, it is necessary to consider buying insure for full third liability insurance for better risk management.
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