Road Accident Victims Compensation Law
Quick Payment for Road Accident Victims in Israel
A Right Most Don't Know About
Israeli law requires the insurer to pay seriously injured road accident victims an interim sum within 30 days — even before liability is established and without waiting for the case to settle. Adv. Liron Elmaliach explains how to exercise this right.
An Underused Statutory Right
Many accident victims are unaware of quick payment or assume they must wait years for compensation. In fact, the law gives you the right to demand interim payment within days of your injury. An attorney's letter to the insurer is often all it takes to trigger the 30-day obligation.
What Is Quick Payment and Who Is Entitled
The Road Accident Victims Compensation Law (1975) established a no-fault compensation scheme for road accident victims in Israel. Within that scheme, the legislature created a mechanism called quick payment — an obligation on the insurer to pay a seriously injured victim an interim sum on account of their future compensation, even before liability has been formally determined and without the need to wait for the conclusion of the main case.
The mechanism was designed to address a practical injustice: serious injuries cause immediate financial hardship — medical bills, inability to work, rehabilitation costs — yet compensation claims take months or years to resolve. Quick payment bridges that gap.
Anyone seriously injured in a road accident in Israel is entitled to submit a quick payment demand. This includes passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and drivers. The insurer against whom the claim is directed must respond within 30 days. If the insurer pays, the sum is later deducted from the final award. If it refuses without justification, the victim can sue for the payment separately and swiftly.
It is important to note that accepting quick payment does not constitute a waiver of any rights. The full compensation claim remains entirely intact — quick payment is simply an advance against the eventual award.
How to Claim Quick Payment — the Practical Steps
Step one — send a formal written demand: The quick payment process begins with a formal letter to the relevant insurer. The letter must identify the accident, the claimant, and the nature of the injuries. It should state that it constitutes a demand for quick payment under the Road Accident Victims Compensation Law.
Step two — attach supporting documents: The demand should be accompanied by medical records documenting the injuries and hospitalisation, the police accident report (or insurance notification), and any evidence of loss of earnings or out-of-pocket medical expenses. The stronger the documentation, the less room the insurer has to delay or dispute.
Step three — the insurer's 30-day obligation: Once the demand is received, the insurer has 30 days to pay or to formally contest the claim. Interest accrues if the insurer fails to meet this deadline without justification. An insurer that simply ignores the demand is exposed to additional court penalties.
If the insurer refuses: A refusal or failure to respond within 30 days entitles the victim to file an independent legal action specifically for the quick payment — separate from the main compensation claim. Courts treat these cases with urgency. In straightforward cases, a court order can be obtained within weeks. An attorney experienced in road accident claims will handle the entire process and ensure the insurer cannot use procedural delay to avoid its obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions — Quick Payment
Everything you need to know about interim compensation for road accident victims
Don't Wait Years for Compensation
You May Be Entitled to Quick Payment Right Now — Free Consultation
Adv. Liron Elmaliach — Road Accident Compensation Law