Traffic Law Berlin

Traffic law in Berlin: attorney after an accident or hearing notice

After a rear-end collision, a hearing notice from the fine authority or a letter from the driving-licence office, several tracks often open at once: damages against the other party’s insurer, points on the register, measures against your licence. Without structure, documents and deadlines are lost — and hasty signatures or spontaneous statements can worsen the position.

As an attorney focusing on traffic law in Berlin, I sort what is civil (accident settlement), what is driving-licence law and what may be criminal. Advice and coordination are by phone or video; in-person appointments are not part of the offering.

Describe the sequence with date, place and known insurers, and send photos, the police file number, authority letters or insurance offers before the first call if possible. Brief facts with documents usually clarify more than long everyday narratives. The aim is to name options and risks clearly before you sign a final settlement or miss a deadline.

The notes on this page are for orientation. They do not replace individual advice in your case and do not create a mandate.

Road accident: liability and damages

Accident settlement turns on liability and quota plus the concrete heads of loss: repair or total loss, hire car or loss of use, diminution in value, towing, expert fees; for personal injury, pain and suffering and treatment costs. The other party’s motor liability insurer often negotiates out of court — “final settlement” offers should be checked item by item.

For personal injury, certificates, treatment course and periods of incapacity matter. For total loss, replacement value, salvage offers and whether you keep or replace the car matter. A hasty online valuation does not replace a transparent expert report if the insurer disputes the amount.

In accidents without your fault, the other party’s liability insurer often covers lawyer’s fees within the settlement. With your own fault or shared fault, legal-expenses or traffic legal-expenses cover may apply; we discuss coverage transparently.

Driving licence, points, MPU

Measures by the driving-licence authority — withdrawal, re-issuance, conditions, ordering a medical-psychological assessment (MPU) — follow their own procedure. Ignoring authority letters is risky: comment and appeal deadlines are often short.

• Letters from the driving-licence authority: hearing, withdrawal, re-issuance
• Points and measures on the fitness-to-drive register
• MPU order: requirements, deadlines, preparing documents
• Conditions and restrictions on the licence
• Parallel accident settlement and authority proceedings — coordinated statements

Deadline monitoring by the firm begins only after express acceptance of a mandate. Send authority letters before the deadline if possible (photo or scan) and note the day of receipt and any set dates.

Hit-and-run, drink-driving, traffic offences

Allegations such as leaving the scene of an accident (hit-and-run), drink-driving or other traffic crimes are criminal matters — investigation, summons and defence, not mere damage settlement. For criminal assessment and defence see Criminal Law Berlin.

Pure fine notices (speeding, red light, parking ban, etc.) do not belong in this section — use the Administrative offences page and the Self-check.

In mixed cases (accident plus fine, or accident plus a criminal allegation) we prioritise deadlines and statement strategy together. Spontaneous “clarifications” in chats or to the other side without coordination are often harmful.

1. 1. Documents

   Accident account, photos, insurer and authority letters, and if any a summons or fine notice — send before deadlines if possible.

2. 2. Classification

   I separate accident settlement, driving licence and, where relevant, fines/criminal law, and prioritise next steps.

3. 3. Mandate

   If instructed: correspondence with insurers and authorities, pursuing or defending claims, aligning the line.

4. 4. Closing

   Settlement, compromise or court/authority resolution — with a transparent cost-benefit discussion.

Frequently asked questions on traffic law

• I only have a fine notice — am I in the right place?

  For pure fine/OWi proceedings please use Administrative offences and the Self-check. For accident plus fine you can enquire here — I will classify.

• Must I accept the insurer’s offer immediately?

  No. Check quota, items and evidence. Many letters set short reply windows (often 2 to 4 weeks) — that does not justify an unconsidered signature. Exception: observe true appeal deadlines in the notice.

• How long do I have for claims from the accident?

  Civil claims generally become time-barred after 3 years (§ 195, § 199 BGB). Exception: knowledge-dependent or suspended periods can differ — record the date and correspondence.

• What do points mean for my licence?

  Depending on the score, caution, warning or withdrawal may follow (e.g. from about 6 to 7 points). Exception: deletion and multiple offences change the picture — have the current status reviewed.

• When does an MPU become an issue?

  Typically with orders of the driving-licence authority, not automatically with every fine. Review the letter and question set before booking appointments.

• What does the first consultation cost?

  For consumers 190 € incl. VAT. If a mandate follows in the same matter, the amount is generally credited.

• How do appointments take place?

  By phone or video. In-person advice is not part of the offering.

• What if I partly caused the accident?

  Then quotas and which items are still paid matter. Own contributions and comprehensive-cover questions may arise — without hasty admissions of fault.

Fees & next steps

The initial consultation for consumers costs 190 € incl. VAT; if a mandate follows in the same matter, this amount is generally credited. Details on RVG, legal expenses and the further process are on the Fees page.

About Dilara Ekici, Attorney