What should people involved in a road traffic accident abroad know?

If a road traffic accident (hereinafter referred to as “RTA”) occurs in a member state of the Green Card system that is not a member state of the European Economic Area, the persons involved in the RTA must report the accident to the Traffic Police and the Green Card office of that country. The addresses and telephone numbers of the Green Card offices of the member states of the Green Card system are indicated on the back of the Green Card policy form.

Losses are calculated and compensated according to the legislation and limits of the Green Card Member State in which the RTA occurred. In some Green Card Member States, the liability limit is unlimited.
If you have suffered a loss abroad as a result of a traffic accident, the compensation for which is provided for by legislation, you must apply to the insurance company that has insured the civil liability of the at-fault driver with a claim for compensation for your losses. If this is not possible, you must notify the Green Card office of the relevant country.

The Motor Insurers' Bureau provides assistance to Latvian policyholders in defending their rights and interests abroad in matters related to compulsory third party liability insurance for land vehicle owners.

It should be noted that with Latvia becoming a member state of the European Union, relations with the countries of the European Economic Area, including other Member States of the European Union, have also changed. A standard contract policy issued in Latvia is now valid throughout the territory of the European Economic Area, and a compulsory motor third party liability insurance policy issued in a country of the European Economic Area is also valid in the Republic of Latvia.
If the civil liability of the owner of the vehicle that caused the road traffic accident has been insured by a national insurance company of the European Economic Area, the loss shall be compensated by its authorized representative in the Republic of Latvia or, if there is none, by the Motor Insurers' Bureau. However, the person has the right to apply directly to the insurer that insured the civil liability of the owner of the vehicle that caused the loss.