Sources and method – Road accident victims

All information comes from statutes and from pages of associations and organisations. Uncertain points are named openly below.

List of sources

1. Bundesministerium der Justiz (Federal Ministry of Justice), Gesetze im Internet: StVG §§ 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17, 18, 26; BGB §§ 195, 199, 203, 204, 249, 253, 254, 828, 843, 844; VVG §§ 86, 104, 115; SGB X § 116; EFZG § 6; StGB §§ 77b, 142, 222, 229, 230, 315c; StPO §§ 403 ff.; StVO §§ 21a, 34; PflVG §§ 12, 12a, 26. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
2. Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice), press release no. 095/2014 on VI ZR 281/13 (bicycle helmet), 17 June 2014. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
3. Bundesgerichtshof, decisions VI ZR 259/15 (10 July 2018) and VI ZR 937/20 (15 February 2022) on the assessment of compensation for pain and suffering (search results only). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
4. ADAC: Was tun nach einem Unfall; Wann Sie die Polizei rufen müssen; Europäischer Unfallbericht; Diese Kosten muss die gegnerische Versicherung zahlen; Was kostet ein Anwalt und wer zahlt; Verkehrsrechtsschutzversicherung; Schmerzensgeld nach Verkehrsunfall; Schadenfreiheitsklasse; Rabattschutz. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
5. GDV, dieversicherer.de, Verkehrsrechtsschutz (search result). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
6. Verkehrsopferhilfe e.V., verkehrsopferhilfe.de. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
7. WEISSER RING e. V., Opfer-Telefon. Retrieved 20 September 2026.
8. Deutsche Anwaltauskunft, anwaltauskunft.de, and verkehrsanwaelte.de (search results). Retrieved 20 September 2026.
9. verkehrslexikon.de and commercial expert-report guide pages (search results only; household-help damages, loss of use, fictitious settlement). Retrieved 20 September 2026.

Uncertain and open points

• The minor-damage threshold (about 700 to 750 euros), the flat expense allowance (mostly 25 euros) and the daily loss-of-use rates (23 to 175 euros) are continually adjusted by case law and the tables; check current values.
• The decisions of the BGH on the assessment of compensation for pain and suffering were evaluated only as search results.
• Covered only briefly: fatal cases (claims of surviving dependants), transfer of claims to comprehensive insurance, social insurance and employers.
• Not covered: use of dashcam footage as evidence, liability quotas for standard cases, the amount of lawyers' fees, legal advice assistance and legal aid, accidents abroad, fines and consequences for the driving licence.
• The BGH helmet decision dates from 2014; the Kammergericht Berlin (Berlin Court of Appeal) confirmed the line in 2022.

What this platform does – and what it does not

The Wegweiser explains rights after a road accident in plain language and names legal bases, deadlines and figures from the sources listed. It does not replace legal advice or a review of your individual case. It names no local advice centres, addresses or phone numbers, except for services documented nationwide. No personal data is stored. Limitation periods are strict: get advice early.