Compensation
Which travel costs can form part of an injury claim?
Treatment journeys, parking and replacement transport may generate extra expense. Keep the purpose and necessity of each journey clear.
Keep a journey log from the beginning
For each trip, note the date, destination, reason and means of travel. Save parking receipts, public transport tickets and taxi invoices. If somebody drives you, record that too; the lack of a commercial taxi receipt does not automatically mean there is no relevant cost.
Separate treatment visits from normal travel you would have made anyway. If both purposes overlap, explain the difference rather than counting the same expense twice.
Explain why a more expensive option was needed
A taxi may be reasonable when an injury prevents cycling or using public transport, but that should not be assumed for every appointment. Keep the medical or practical explanation, especially where repeated costs are substantial. Ask about reimbursement before committing to major expenditure where possible.
Guidelines or agreed rates may be used for some travel expenses. Do not rely on an old online mileage figure without checking the applicable approach for the period and claim.
Visitor and cross-border journeys need individual assessment
Travel by relatives, changed flights or treatment after returning abroad can raise additional questions. The relationship to the injury, reasonable alternatives and cover under travel or health insurance may all matter.
Our guide to continuing a claim from abroad explains the wider record-keeping issues. Preserve refunds and insurance payments as well as invoices so the net loss is clear.
Connect the log to your loss schedule
Group costs by month and type. Mark which items have already been reimbursed and keep copies of the underlying records. A simple, consistent overview is easier to update than a collection of unexplained bank transactions.
If regular treatment travel creates cash-flow difficulties, discuss a documented request for an advance. Our personal injury service can consider travel alongside other losses rather than treating it as an isolated fixed allowance.
What to keep or ask for
- Dates, destinations and purposes of journeys.
- Tickets, parking receipts and taxi invoices.
- Reasons for additional or alternative transport.
- Details of refunds and insurer reimbursements.
Questions you may still have
Can I claim ordinary fuel costs I would have paid anyway?
Only the relevant additional injury-related loss should be included. Costs you would have incurred without the accident need to be distinguished.
Can a relative’s travel be included?
Possibly, depending on the purpose and legal basis. Record the actual journeys and ask for an assessment rather than assuming every visit is recoverable.
Sources and legal context
General information about Dutch personal injury claims. Some source material is in Dutch. Your circumstances may require a different assessment.
This guide explains general principles. It is not a decision on liability or the value of an individual claim.