Learn who pays passenger injury compensation after a car accident in Turkey in 2026, including compulsory traffic insurance, permanent disability, loss of earnings, seat belt issues, taxis, uninsured vehicles and foreign passengers.

Passengers injured in traffic accidents are often uncertain about who should pay their compensation. Unlike drivers, passengers generally do not control how the accident occurs, yet they may suffer some of the most serious consequences of a collision.

A passenger can suffer fractures, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal organ damage, nerve injuries, permanent disability or even death. The victim may also be unable to work for months or may never fully return to their previous profession.

This creates an important legal question:

Who is liable for an injured passenger’s compensation after a traffic accident in Turkey?

Depending on the circumstances, compensation may potentially be pursued against the compulsory traffic insurer of the vehicle in which the passenger was travelling, the insurer of another vehicle involved in the accident, the at-fault driver, vehicle operator, vehicle owner, employer or other legally responsible persons.

Where more than one driver contributed to the accident, the liability structure can become more complicated.

Foreign tourists, expatriates, international students and business travellers injured as passengers in Turkey may also potentially claim compensation. Foreign nationality does not itself eliminate rights arising from a traffic accident in Turkey.

Can a Passenger Claim Compensation After a Car Accident?

Potentially, yes.

A passenger who suffers bodily injury because of a traffic accident may have significant compensation rights.

Depending on the facts, potential losses can include:

• permanent disability;
• loss of earning capacity;
• certain loss-of-income claims;
• medical and treatment-related losses;
• future economic losses;
• damaged personal property;
• moral damages; and
• loss-of-support compensation where the passenger dies.

However, not every category of legally recoverable damage is necessarily payable by compulsory traffic insurance.

The first task is therefore to identify who caused the accident and which insurance policies and responsible persons are involved.

Which Insurance Company Pays an Injured Passenger?

The answer depends primarily on fault and the vehicles involved.

Consider three common situations.

Situation One: The Driver of the Passenger’s Own Vehicle Is at Fault

The passenger may potentially pursue covered bodily injury compensation against the compulsory traffic insurer of the vehicle in which they were travelling.

Situation Two: Another Vehicle Is at Fault

The compulsory traffic insurer of the other responsible vehicle may potentially be liable for covered losses.

Situation Three: Both Drivers Are at Fault

Where multiple vehicles contributed to the accident, compensation responsibility may need to be allocated according to the applicable liability rules, fault findings and insurance coverage.

The passenger should therefore avoid assuming that only the insurance company of the vehicle they were travelling in can ever be responsible.

Can a Passenger Claim Against the Insurance of the Car They Were Travelling In?

Potentially, yes.

This point is frequently misunderstood.

A passenger may be injured because the driver of the same vehicle drives negligently.

For example, the driver may:

Speed

Lose Control

Run a Red Light

Follow Another Vehicle Too Closely

Make an Unsafe Overtaking Maneuver

Use a Mobile Phone

Drive While Distracted

The passenger’s relationship with the driver does not automatically eliminate the potential insurance claim.

The applicable compulsory motor liability insurance framework must be examined according to the specific accident.

SEDDK maintains the current Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance General Conditions within its official insurance legislation.

What If the Passenger Is the Driver’s Friend?

Being a friend of the driver does not automatically eliminate compensation rights.

The same applies where the passenger is:

A Colleague

A Neighbor

A Boyfriend or Girlfriend

A Business Associate

A Guest

However, the precise legal circumstances should be examined carefully, particularly where issues concerning gratuitous transportation or contributory conduct are raised.

The passenger should not assume that travelling without paying the driver means that no compensation can ever be claimed.

What If the Passenger Is a Family Member of the Driver?

Family relationship alone does not necessarily eliminate all compensation rights.

A passenger may be:

Driver’s Spouse

Child

Parent

Sibling

Other Relative

and still suffer bodily injuries because of a traffic accident.

The particular insurance coverage, identity of the claimant and nature of the compensation sought must be evaluated.

What Are the 2026 Traffic Insurance Limits for Passenger Injuries?

The 2026 compulsory traffic insurance limits are particularly important for seriously injured passengers.

For the period from 1 January 2026 through 31 December 2026, SEDDK’s official limits for motor vehicles used to transport persons provide:

Health Expenses: TRY 3,600,000 per person

Permanent Disability and Death: TRY 3,600,000 per person

Health Expenses: TRY 18,000,000 per accident

Permanent Disability and Death: TRY 18,000,000 per accident.

These limits are particularly relevant where several passengers are injured in the same accident.

The TRY 3.6 million amount is a coverage ceiling per person, not an automatic compensation payment.

How Is Permanent Disability Compensation Calculated for a Passenger?

Permanent disability compensation can become one of the largest components of a serious passenger injury claim.

A passenger may suffer:

Spinal Cord Damage

Brain Injury

Loss of Limb

Nerve Damage

Permanent Joint Restriction

Loss of Vision

Neurological Impairment

Severe Orthopedic Injuries

The compensation calculation may take into account factors including:

Age

Permanent Medical Impairment

Income

Working Capacity

Fault and Causation

Applicable Actuarial Methodology

Insurance Limits

A medical disability percentage should therefore not be viewed in isolation.

Does a 25% Disability Mean the Passenger Receives 25% of TRY 3.6 Million?

No.

This is a common misconception.

The 2026 insurance limit should not simply be multiplied by the passenger’s disability percentage.

For example:

25% × TRY 3,600,000

is not automatically the passenger’s compensation.

The legally relevant loss must first be calculated. The applicable compulsory insurance limit then operates as a maximum ceiling on the insurer’s responsibility within the relevant coverage.

Can a Passenger Claim Loss of Earnings?

Potentially, depending on the nature of the loss and legal basis of the claim.

An injured passenger may be unable to work for weeks or months.

For example, the passenger may be:

Employee

Company Executive

Doctor

Engineer

Lawyer

Business Owner

Freelancer

Foreign Professional

Income evidence can therefore become extremely important.

Relevant documents may include:

• employment agreement;
• payslips;
• social security records;
• tax declarations;
• bank statements;
• employer confirmation;
• invoices; and
• company financial records.

The claimant should distinguish between losses covered by compulsory traffic insurance and additional civil damages that may need to be pursued against responsible persons.

What If the Passenger Can Never Return to Their Previous Job?

A permanent reduction in working capacity can have significant long-term consequences.

For example, a surgeon suffering permanent hand damage or a construction worker suffering serious spinal injury may technically retain some working capacity while losing the ability to continue their previous occupation.

The claim may therefore require analysis of:

Pre-Accident Profession

Income

Permanent Injury

Future Working Capacity

Age

Career Consequences

The economic consequences of a serious injury can extend for many years.

Who Pays Medical Expenses?

Traffic accident medical expenses are governed by the applicable insurance and social security framework.

For 2026, the compulsory traffic insurance coverage table provides TRY 3.6 million per person for health expenses.

However, the institutional payment mechanism for medical expenses should be distinguished from other bodily injury compensation claims.

The passenger should preserve all medical evidence, including hospital reports, surgery records, imaging results, prescriptions, rehabilitation records and specialist evaluations.

What If the Passenger Was Not Wearing a Seat Belt?

Failure to wear a seat belt does not automatically mean that the passenger loses every compensation right.

However, it may create a contributory fault or causation dispute.

The critical question may be whether failure to wear the seat belt caused or materially increased the particular injuries.

For example, the legal and medical analysis may examine whether the injuries would have occurred:

Even With a Seat Belt

or

Were Significantly Worsened Because No Seat Belt Was Used

A blanket reduction without examining causation may therefore require challenge.

What If the Passenger Knew the Driver Was Drunk?

This can create a more complicated contributory-fault dispute.

If a passenger knowingly enters a vehicle driven by a person who is obviously intoxicated, the opposing party may argue that the passenger voluntarily exposed themselves to a known danger.

However, this does not automatically mean that all compensation rights disappear.

The specific circumstances must be examined, including:

Driver’s Level of Intoxication

Passenger’s Knowledge

Accident Causation

Passenger’s Own Condition

Other Vehicles’ Fault

The insurer’s obligations toward an injured third party and any possible recourse rights should also be distinguished. Current General Conditions contain specific recourse provisions concerning accidents involving alcohol, lack of a valid licence and other circumstances; those recourse grounds do not automatically permit an insurer to delay the injured beneficiary’s compensation process.

What If the Driver Did Not Have a Driving Licence?

This does not automatically mean that an innocent injured passenger has no compensation rights.

The current General Conditions contain insurer recourse provisions concerning vehicles driven by persons without the required licence or whose licence has become invalid.

The important distinction is between:

The Injured Passenger’s Right to Compensation

and

The Insurer’s Possible Right of Recourse Against the Insured or Responsible Person

These should not be confused.

What If the Driver Leaves the Accident Scene?

Again, this does not automatically eliminate the injured passenger’s claim.

The current General Conditions contain recourse provisions concerning bodily injury accidents where the insured or persons for whom the insured is responsible leave the scene without a legally justified reason. Importantly, the General Conditions state that the insurer cannot delay the compensation process by relying on recourse grounds or demand related recourse documents from the beneficiary.

This distinction can be particularly important for seriously injured passengers.

What If Both Drivers Caused the Accident?

Multi-vehicle collisions can create complex liability questions.

Suppose:

Vehicle A Driver: 60% Fault

Vehicle B Driver: 40% Fault

A passenger in Vehicle A may have suffered no personal fault whatsoever.

The passenger’s compensation strategy may therefore require examination of both drivers, their vehicle operators and their insurers.

A claimant should not assume that the fault percentage assigned to the driver of the passenger’s vehicle automatically becomes the passenger’s own fault.

Can a Passenger Be Personally at Fault?

Potentially, but passenger fault is different from driver fault.

Examples might include situations involving:

Failure to Use a Seat Belt

Knowingly Accepting an Obvious Serious Risk

Interfering With the Driver

Dangerous Conduct Inside the Vehicle

Any reduction should be based on the passenger’s own conduct and its causal relationship with the damage.

The driver’s negligence should not simply be transferred to the passenger.

What If the Passenger Is Injured in a Taxi?

A passenger injured in a taxi may potentially have compensation rights against relevant insurers and legally responsible persons depending on the cause of the accident.

The fact that the passenger paid for transportation does not reduce the need to establish:

Fault

Insurance Coverage

Vehicle Operator

Driver

Nature of Injury

Economic Loss

Taxi passengers should preserve payment records and trip information where available because these can also help establish the circumstances of the journey.

What If the Passenger Is Injured on a Bus or Minibus?

Bus and minibus accidents can involve multiple injured passengers and potentially multiple insurance mechanisms.

The claimant should investigate:

Vehicle’s Compulsory Traffic Insurance

Nature of Passenger Transportation

Operator

Transport Company

Driver

Other Vehicles

Additional Applicable Insurance

Mass-casualty accidents also make aggregate insurance limits particularly important.

For 2026, vehicles used to transport persons have aggregate compulsory traffic insurance limits of TRY 18 million per accident for health expenses and TRY 18 million per accident for permanent disability and death.

What If the Passenger Is Injured in a Company Vehicle?

The employer or company relationship may create additional issues.

Suppose an employee is travelling in a company vehicle during business activities when the driver causes an accident.

The case may potentially involve:

Traffic Accident Compensation

Compulsory Insurance

Employer Liability

Work Accident Issues

Social Security Rights

The accident should therefore be examined beyond the traffic insurance policy alone.

Can an Employee Passenger Have Both Traffic Accident and Work Accident Rights?

Potentially, yes.

If the employee was travelling for work purposes when the accident occurred, the incident may also qualify for consideration under occupational accident rules.

This can create parallel issues involving social security benefits, employer responsibility and traffic accident compensation.

Double recovery for the same loss is not permitted, but different legal mechanisms may protect different rights.

What If the Vehicle Is Uninsured?

An uninsured vehicle does not automatically leave the injured passenger without a remedy.

Where the statutory requirements are satisfied, the Turkish Insurance Guarantee Account may potentially become relevant for qualifying bodily injury claims caused by an uninsured vehicle.

The passenger should also investigate potential direct claims against:

Driver

Vehicle Operator

Vehicle Owner

Employer

Other Responsible Persons

The absence of insurance is therefore the beginning of the legal analysis, not necessarily the end of the compensation claim.

What If the Other Vehicle Flees and Cannot Be Identified?

Hit-and-run accidents can create additional problems.

Evidence should be preserved immediately, including:

CCTV

Dashcam Footage

Witness Statements

Partial Registration Plate

Vehicle Description

Police Records

Where an unidentified vehicle caused qualifying bodily injury, the Turkish Insurance Guarantee Account may potentially provide statutory protection.

Can a Passenger Claim Moral Damages?

Potentially, where the applicable legal requirements are satisfied.

A serious traffic accident may cause pain, psychological suffering and substantial disruption to the victim’s life.

However, moral damages should be distinguished from compensation payable by compulsory traffic insurance.

A claim may exist against the driver or another legally responsible person even though that particular category is not covered by the compulsory insurer.

Can a Passenger Claim for Damaged Personal Belongings?

Potentially.

A passenger may lose or damage:

Mobile Phone

Laptop

Glasses

Watch

Luggage

Clothing

Professional Equipment

The claimant should photograph damaged property and preserve invoices or other evidence of ownership and value where available.

Property damage must be analyzed separately from bodily injury.

What Happens If a Passenger Dies?

A fatal passenger accident can give rise to significant compensation claims.

Persons deprived of the deceased passenger’s economic support may potentially claim loss-of-support compensation.

Potential beneficiaries can include:

Spouse

Children

Parents

and potentially other persons who can establish a legally recognized support relationship.

The compensation calculation may consider age, income, family circumstances, support relationship and applicable actuarial methodology.

For 2026, compulsory traffic insurance provides up to TRY 3.6 million per person for permanent disability and death, subject to the applicable aggregate limits.

Is Loss-of-Support Compensation the Same as Inheritance?

No.

Loss-of-support compensation is based on the economic support lost because of the victim’s death.

Inheritance concerns succession to the deceased person’s estate.

Therefore, being an heir and being entitled to loss-of-support compensation are legally distinct questions.

Can Family Members Also Claim Moral Damages After a Fatal Accident?

Potentially, subject to the applicable legal requirements.

These claims should be distinguished from compulsory traffic insurance death compensation.

A complete fatal accident analysis may therefore involve claims against the insurer as well as direct claims against legally responsible persons.

Can Foreign Passengers Claim Compensation in Turkey?

Potentially, yes.

Foreign nationality does not itself prevent a qualifying traffic accident compensation claim.

Foreign passengers may include:

Tourists

Expatriates

International Students

Foreign Employees

Business Travellers

Foreign Investors

Diplomatic or Consular Personnel

The applicable Turkish liability and insurance rules should be examined according to the accident.

Can a Foreign Tourist Claim After Returning Home?

Potentially, yes.

A foreign passenger does not necessarily need to remain in Turkey throughout the entire compensation process.

Before leaving Turkey, the claimant should preserve:

• police or gendarmerie records;
• accident report;
• vehicle and insurer information;
• hospital records;
• medical imaging;
• witness information;
• photographs;
• income evidence; and
• relevant travel documents.

A Turkish lawyer may potentially continue the process under an appropriately prepared power of attorney.

Can Treatment Continue in the Passenger’s Home Country?

Yes.

Foreign accident victims frequently receive emergency treatment in Turkey and continue rehabilitation or surgery abroad.

Foreign medical evidence should clearly demonstrate continuity between the Turkish accident and subsequent treatment.

Depending on the intended legal use, foreign documents may require certified Turkish translation, apostille or other authentication formalities.

Can Foreign Income Be Used to Calculate Compensation?

Potentially, where income is legally relevant.

Foreign passengers should preserve objective income documentation such as:

Employment Agreements

Payslips

Tax Returns

Bank Records

Employer Confirmation

Business Accounts

Professional Contracts

The actual evidentiary and calculation rules should be assessed case by case.

What If the Insurance Company Offers Too Little?

The passenger should not evaluate the offer only by looking at the final number.

The calculation should be examined for possible errors involving:

Permanent Disability

Income

Age

Medical Causation

Fault

Actuarial Method

Insurance Limits

Missing Documents

A low settlement can potentially be challenged if the underlying calculation is incorrect.

Should an Injured Passenger Sign an Early Settlement?

Not before understanding its consequences.

Serious injuries may take months to stabilize.

A passenger initially diagnosed with fractures may later develop permanent joint restriction, chronic neurological problems or reduced working capacity.

Before signing a final release, the passenger should understand:

What Claims Are Being Settled?

Is Permanent Disability Known?

Is the Payment Final?

Which Future Claims Are Waived?

Does the Settlement Cover Only the Insurer or Other Parties Too?

This is particularly important for foreign passengers who may not understand Turkish-language settlement documents.

Can a Passenger Apply to the Insurance Arbitration Commission?

Potentially, where the applicable procedural requirements are satisfied.

Insurance arbitration may be available for qualifying disputes involving:

Permanent Disability Compensation

Rejected Insurance Claims

Underpaid Compensation

Coverage Disputes

Calculation Errors

The claimant should preserve the original application to the insurance company, proof of delivery, insurer’s response and supporting documents.

Can the Passenger Sue the Driver or Vehicle Owner?

Potentially, yes.

The insurer is not necessarily the only party against whom compensation can be sought.

Depending on the accident, legally responsible parties may include:

Driver

Vehicle Operator

Vehicle Owner

Employer

Other Responsible Persons

This can become particularly important where legally recoverable damages exceed insurance coverage or include categories outside compulsory insurance protection.

What Changed for Passenger Traffic Insurance Claims in 2026?

Several regulatory developments are relevant to passenger injury claims in 2026.

SEDDK published amendments to the Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance General Conditions on 12 June 2026. On 17 June 2026, Circular No. 2026/13 concerning submission of beneficiaries’ contact numbers in compulsory motor liability compensation claims was issued.

A new Insurance Experts Appointment Regulation was also issued on 19 February 2026, and the Insurance Information and Monitoring Center Regulation was amended on 23 June 2026.

In July 2026, SEDDK introduced Circular No. 2026/21 establishing the Alo 193 Insurance Claim Notification and Complaint Line and Circular No. 2026/22 concerning motor vehicle insurance damage applications through the Common Claim Notification Center.

These developments form part of the current 2026 insurance claims environment. Passenger accident victims should therefore rely on current procedures rather than older online information.

What Documents Should an Injured Passenger Collect?

A strong passenger injury compensation file may include:

• traffic accident report;
• police or gendarmerie records;
• fault report;
• vehicle information;
• insurance policy information;
• emergency treatment records;
• hospital reports;
• surgery records;
• medical imaging;
• disability reports;
• rehabilitation records;
• employment documents;
• income evidence;
• photographs;
• CCTV or dashcam footage; and
• witness information.

The exact documents depend on the nature and seriousness of the injuries.

What Are the Most Common Passenger Compensation Mistakes?

Common mistakes include assuming that passengers cannot claim against the insurance of the vehicle they were travelling in, accepting an early settlement before permanent injuries are established, failing to preserve medical records and income evidence, assuming the driver’s fault becomes the passenger’s fault, and failing to investigate all responsible vehicles in a multi-vehicle collision.

Another major mistake is assuming that the compulsory insurer is responsible for every possible consequence of the accident.

Insurance coverage and broader civil liability must be analyzed separately.

Frequently Asked Questions About Passenger Injury Compensation in Turkey

1. Can a passenger claim compensation from the insurance company of the car they were travelling in?

Potentially, yes. If the driver of that vehicle caused the accident, the vehicle’s compulsory traffic insurance may potentially cover qualifying passenger bodily injury claims within the applicable legal framework.

2. Can a passenger claim if another vehicle caused the accident?

Potentially, yes. The responsible vehicle’s compulsory traffic insurer may be liable for covered losses.

3. What if both drivers were at fault?

The passenger’s claim may require examination of both vehicles, drivers, operators and insurance companies. Fault attributed to the passenger’s driver should not automatically be treated as fault of the passenger.

4. What is the 2026 permanent disability insurance limit?

The compulsory traffic insurance limit for permanent disability and death is TRY 3,600,000 per person in 2026. For vehicles used to transport persons, the aggregate limit is TRY 18,000,000 per accident.

5. Can I claim compensation if I was not wearing a seat belt?

Potentially, yes. Failure to use a seat belt may create a contributory-fault issue if it caused or increased the particular injury, but it does not automatically eliminate all compensation rights.

6. Can I claim if the driver was drunk or unlicensed?

Potentially, yes. The injured passenger’s rights and the insurer’s possible recourse rights against the insured should be distinguished. The current General Conditions contain specific insurer recourse rules for such circumstances.

7. Can a foreign tourist claim passenger injury compensation in Turkey?

Potentially, yes. Foreign nationality does not itself prevent a qualifying traffic accident compensation claim.

8. Can I continue my compensation claim after leaving Turkey?

Potentially, yes. A foreign claimant may authorize a Turkish lawyer to handle relevant proceedings subject to appropriate power-of-attorney and documentation requirements.

9. Can the family claim compensation if a passenger dies?

Potentially, yes. Persons deprived of the deceased passenger’s economic support may have loss-of-support compensation claims, subject to the applicable legal requirements.

10. Can I challenge a low insurance settlement?

Potentially, yes. The calculation can be reviewed for issues involving disability, income, medical causation, fault, actuarial methodology, policy limits and supporting documentation.

Legal Support for Passenger Injury Compensation in Turkey

Passengers injured in traffic accidents can face serious medical and financial consequences even though they had no control over how the vehicle was driven.

Determining compensation requires more than simply identifying the vehicle in which the passenger was sitting. The legal analysis should examine which driver caused the accident, whether multiple vehicles were at fault, which insurance policies apply, the passenger’s permanent injuries, income and working capacity, and whether additional responsible persons can be pursued.

For accidents occurring in 2026, compulsory traffic insurance provides up to TRY 3.6 million per person for permanent disability and death, subject to the applicable legal requirements and aggregate limits. The insurance ceiling should not, however, be confused with the passenger’s automatically payable compensation or the total potential civil liability of all responsible persons.

Our law office provides professional legal assistance concerning passenger injury compensation, permanent disability claims, serious traffic accident injuries, fatal passenger accidents, loss-of-support claims, uninsured vehicle accidents, multi-vehicle collisions, Insurance Arbitration Commission proceedings and foreign passenger accident claims in Turkey.

Fırat Fesih Kaya assists Turkish and foreign accident victims with identifying responsible insurers and parties, reviewing fault assessments, evaluating permanent disability, calculating compensation and challenging rejected or underpaid insurance claims.

Foreign tourists, expatriates, employees and international visitors injured as passengers in Turkey may also receive assistance with foreign medical documentation, overseas income evidence, powers of attorney and compensation proceedings continuing after they return home.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22
Mobile: +90 532 769 22 22
Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr
Address: Mevlana Boulevard No: 221, Yıldırım Tower No: 148, 06520 Balgat, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey

For professional legal support concerning passenger injury compensation after a car accident in Turkey in 2026, you may contact our law office for a case-specific assessment of liability, insurance coverage, permanent disability, compensation calculations and available arbitration or litigation remedies.