In 30 seconds
If you are injured in a road accident in Italy, you can claim compensation from home through an Italian lawyer. First: get medical care, report the accident and collect the other driver’s and insurer’s details. The claim is usually made against the insurer of the person responsible, there are time limits, and for road accidents a negotiation step is compulsory before going to court. No result can be promised in advance.
A rental-car collision in Puglia, a scooter accident in Capri, a taxi hit in Naples. Visitors often go home with injuries, unpaid bills and no idea whom to claim against. The rules are the same for foreigners and Italians, but practical steps differ. This guide gives a path to follow.
What to do at the scene and in the first days
- Call the emergency number (112) and get medical care. Keep all reports and discharge papers.
- Fill in the joint accident report if the other party agrees; otherwise note names, plates and insurers and, if possible, take photos and witness contacts.
- Ask whether the police attended and where the report will be available.
- Keep every medical bill, receipt and travel document. Translate key documents later.
- Do not sign settlements or waivers before you understand them.
Who pays
In most cases compensation is claimed from the insurer of the vehicle whose driver is responsible. Italian law allows the injured person to act directly against the insurer in many cases. If the vehicle was foreign or uninsured, a special procedure applies. Rental-car insurance and your own travel insurance are separate matters: read their terms.
Typical case
A problem that happens often. Typical case described in general terms: names, places and details do not refer to real people or cases.
A visitor from Georgia is hit while crossing the road in a southern Italian city and suffers a fracture. She returns home after a week. Months later she learns that the time to act is limited and that she needed the police report and the medical papers in Italian. If she had asked a lawyer earlier, collecting them would have been easier.
Facing a similar situation? You can send your documents to the firm for an assessment, from anywhere in the world.
Book a consultationTime limits and negotiation first
For compensation after a road accident the general limitation period is short. For road accidents, a compulsory assisted negotiation step usually precedes a lawsuit; see our guide (in Italian). A lawyer calculates the deadlines on your documents.
Claiming from the United States
- You do not have to travel to Italy for the claim. A lawyer can act with a power of attorney: see our guide.
- Medical examinations can be made in the United States and then used, if they meet the requirements.
- Your US health insurer’s rights of reimbursement are a US matter; the firm does not advise on them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim compensation if I already went home?
Yes, within the time limits. Act early and keep your documents.
Do I need to hire a lawyer in Italy?
Not by law, but for a serious injury it helps to have one who follows the procedure and the deadlines.
Can anyone guarantee the compensation?
No. The outcome depends on responsibility, evidence and the insurer. Be wary of promises.
Where do I find a lawyer?
See Do I need a lawyer in Italy? and the lists on the U.S. Embassy site.
Related guides
Questions about property or an inheritance in Italy?
Every situation must be assessed on the documents of the specific case. You can consult the firm from anywhere in the world: by video call, phone, WhatsApp or email. The first meeting is held in Italian. If you speak English, a video call on Google Meet from a computer may offer Italian–English translation as a support, without any guarantee; it does not replace an interpreter or a certified translation. Appointments in person in Naples (Piazza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14), Rome and Bari.
Official sources
- Legislative Decree 209/2005, Insurance Code (Normattiva)
- Italian Civil Code, art. 2947 (Normattiva)
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy: legal assistance
- Road accident claims, compulsory assisted negotiation (Italian guide)
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy: American Citizen Services
- U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy: contact
- U.S. Department of State: Italy country information
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: consular services and visas
Information updated on October 10, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. The firm does not advise on United States law or taxes.
Text prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools and reviewed under the responsibility of Avv. Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino on October 10, 2026.