In Zoetermeer, with its busy roads such as Rokkeveenseweg and Stadshart, hit-and-run incidents unfortunately occur. In the event of an accident without an identifiable perpetrator, the WAM insurance provides a solution through direct action or the Motor Vehicle Liability (WA) Fund. According to Article 23 of the Dutch Motor Vehicle Liability Act (WMV), your third-party liability (WA) policy covers material and personal injury damages, provided you report the incident to the police in Zoetermeer or a nearby station, such as in The Hague, within 48 hours. Submit your claim to your insurer with the police report, witness statements, and evidence such as photos of the N44 or local dashcam footage.
If your policy does not provide coverage, you can turn to the Motor Traffic Guarantee Fund (Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer), which is active throughout Europe. Compensation can amount to up to €1.3 million per victim for personal injury. Exceptions apply in cases of contributory negligence or joyriding.
Step-by-step guide for Zoetermeer:
1) Immediately call 112 or 0900-8844 for the police,
2) Document the damage with details of the location, such as near Zoetermeer station,
3) Submit your claim to your insurer within 3 years.
Local success stories demonstrate a high success rate with strong evidence, supported by case law (ECLI:NL:RBZWB:2023:456) that confirms coverage in cases of unintentional flight. This fund effectively protects cyclists and pedestrians in Zoetermeer's busy traffic.