In 30 seconds
- After an accident the first hours matter: emergency help, details, photos.
- If the drivers agree, they fill in the joint accident report (constatazione amichevole) together.
- Then notify your own insurer in writing.
At the scene: what to do right away
If anyone is hurt, call 112 (Italy’s emergency number). Note license plates, names, insurance companies, policy numbers and witnesses. Photograph the vehicles, the road, the signs and the damage. This evidence disappears quickly and you will need it later.
The joint accident report
If the drivers agree on how the accident happened, they fill in the joint accident report form together (constatazione amichevole). Read it carefully before you sign. The timing and rules for compensation depend on your case and on the insurer. If your car has foreign plates, the rules may change: check the website of IVASS, the authority that supervises insurance.
Scooters, pedestrians and fault
In Naples many accidents involve scooters and pedestrians. If both sides are at fault, compensation is usually reduced. Check right away the driver’s license, the helmet and the insurance coverage, including for a rented vehicle.
Personal injury
Have yourself examined even if the pain seems slight, and keep the medical reports and invoices. A forensic doctor can assess the lasting effects. The assessment depends on the facts and cannot be predicted in advance.
If the other party is not insured
If the responsible vehicle has no insurance or drives away, protections for road accident victims may exist. The conditions should be checked on the IVASS website. Before starting a lawsuit, ask a lawyer which steps are needed and which deadlines apply in your case: the deadlines to take action are limited. The firm does not handle the law or taxes of other countries.
Typical case
A problem that comes up often. Typical case described in general terms: names, places and details do not refer to real people or cases.
A tourist rents a scooter in Chiaia and is hit by a car at an intersection. He takes only a few photos and leaves his phone number. The next day his knee swells. Without an official report or witnesses, reconstructing the facts is harder: it is wise to gather the medical reports and ask whether the authorities made a report.
What to do in the first 7 days
- Call emergency services if needed and have yourself examined.
- Keep the form, photos, report, witness details and medical reports.
- Send the accident claim notice to your insurer in writing.
- Do not sign releases or waivers without reading and understanding them.
- Document the damage before repairing the vehicle.
- If the vehicle is rented, notify the rental company.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to go to court?
No. Many claims are settled with the insurer, but the offer may not be adequate.
Who pays if the car is rented?
It depends on the contract, the deductible and the policy. Read the contract.
Want to understand your case?
The firm sees clients in Naples (P.zza Giovanni Bovio 22 and Via Monte di Dio 14), in Rome and in Bari, by appointment, and remotely throughout Italy. The first meeting is held in Italian.
Original in Italian: Incidente a Napoli: assicurazione e risarcimento
Author: avv. Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino, Naples Bar. Informational text; it does not replace advice on your case. For updated details, see the official websites mentioned in the text. Text prepared with the help of artificial intelligence tools and reviewed by avv. Renato Giuseppe Fiorentino. It is not legal advice. The firm does not handle the law or taxes of other countries.