Families in Germany can claim compensation before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in India for death or injury in a road accident, mainly against the vehicle's insurer. Claimants sign the petition and affidavits through the German legalisation route or before an Indian consular officer. Where the deceased earned in Germany, properly proved income can substantially increase the award. File within six months.
- Document route
- German notary, pre-certification, then Indian mission attestation
- Time difference
- India is 3.5 hours (summer) to 4.5 hours (winter) ahead
- Law
- Motor Vehicles Act 1988, as amended in 2019
- Forum
- Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT)
Accident Compensation Claims from Germany: how it works
Our team collects the police records, site plan, post-mortem or hospital reports and the insurer's details in India. German income is proved with the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung, Einkommensteuerbescheid, payslips and an employer letter, legalised and translated into English where needed. The tribunal calculates loss of dependency from proved income, future prospects, personal expenses and an age-based multiplier, and courts have accepted foreign earnings when properly proved.
We usually file at the tribunal for the accident district, where the investigating officer and witnesses are based. Claimants in Germany may be examined by video where allowed, and a relative in India can depose about the accident. After the evidence is in, insurers commonly propose a settlement at Lok Adalat, and we tell you plainly whether the figure is fair. The amount is released into the claimants' NRO accounts and can be remitted to Germany.
What clients in Germany should know
- German tax documents such as the Lohnsteuerbescheinigung and Einkommensteuerbescheid are the clearest proof of income; obtain English translations.
- Compensation for death or injury is not taxed as income in India, though interest added by the tribunal is.
- German health or travel insurance may cover some costs but does not replace the claim against the Indian insurer.
Step by step from Germany
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Germany, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Germany
German notary, pre-certification, then Indian mission attestation
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Germany where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Germany. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Accident Compensation Claims, or see all services for clients in Germany and the Disputes & Enforcement practice area.
Questions from clients in Germany
We live in Munich. Can we claim for my brother's death in Kerala?
Yes. All legal heirs can claim, signing through the German legalisation route or at the Consulate.
Will German income be accepted?
Yes, if properly proved and translated; it is converted into rupees for the calculation.
What is the deadline?
The Motor Vehicles Act sets a six-month window from the accident date, so families in Germany should not wait.