An accident can affect your health, your finances and your daily life. If someone else was responsible, or the accident is covered by insurance, you may be entitled to compensation. This is what you should do and how claims work in Iceland.
First steps after an accident
Your health comes first. See a doctor even if the injury seems minor, because some symptoms only appear later. In Iceland you can go to your local health centre (heilsugæsla) or, in an emergency, call 112.
A medical examination also creates a record of your injuries, which is essential for a later claim. Write down what happened, take photos if you can and collect the contact details of witnesses.
Report the accident
Report the accident to the right party as soon as possible: the police after a serious traffic accident, your employer after a workplace accident, and the relevant insurance company.
Prompt reporting is often a condition for compensation. Workplace accidents must also be reported to the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (Vinnueftirlitið).
When are you entitled to compensation?
A right to compensation generally arises when the damage was caused by someone else's negligence, or when strict liability applies. In traffic accidents, the compulsory motor insurance of the vehicle usually covers injuries, even to the driver.
Compensation can cover permanent disability, temporary loss of income, pain and suffering, and costs caused by the accident. These cases fall under personal injury and compensation law.
Insurance companies and assessments
Most compensation is paid by insurance companies, based on a medical assessment of your injuries once your condition is stable. Disagreements about the assessment or the amount offered are common.
A lawyer can check whether an offer is fair and pursue the claim if needed. In many cases the liable insurer pays a reasonable part of the lawyer's fees.
Tourists and foreign residents
Being a visitor or a foreign resident does not change your right to claim compensation for an accident in Iceland. A lawyer can handle much of the process remotely if you have left the country.
Do not wait too long
Compensation claims are subject to time limits, and evidence becomes harder to collect over time. It is wise to get advice fairly soon after an accident, so a lawyer can assess your position and calculate your loss.
Find a lawyer with experience in accident cases under personal injury law or browse lawyers in your region.