Accidents: your duties at the scene and what Por Ror Bor actually pays

After any accident causing damage to people or property, section 78 of the Road Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979) requires the driver — at fault or not — to stop, give appropriate assistance, report to the nearest competent official without delay, and give name, address and registration number to the injured party. Leaving the scene creates a legal presumption of guilt and lets police seize the vehicle; the basic penalty is up to three months or 2,000–10,000 baht, rising to six months and 5,000–20,000 baht where someone was seriously hurt or killed (s. 160).

Every registered vehicle, motorcycles included, must carry compulsory accident-victim insurance (Por Ror Bor) under the Protection for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims Act B.E. 2535 (1992), s. 7. The owner who fails to insure and anyone who uses an uninsured vehicle each face fines up to 10,000 baht (ss. 37, 39), and annual vehicle tax cannot be renewed without it.

What it pays: initial damages within seven days, no fault proof needed — actual medical costs up to 30,000 baht per person, and 35,000 baht for death or loss of organ (combined cap 65,000). Once the other driver's fault is established, cover rises to 80,000 baht medical, 200,000–500,000 for loss of organs or permanent disability, 500,000 for death, plus a 200-baht daily inpatient allowance for up to 20 days. Two catches the forums miss: the at-fault driver personally receives only the initial damages, and Por Ror Bor covers people only — never vehicle or property damage. Victims of uninsured or hit-and-run vehicles claim the same initial damages from the state Victims Compensation Fund; the claims hotline is 1791.