The Problem
You are driving your rental car and, despite your caution, you hit a pedestrian or a cyclist. The person is injured, a crowd is gathering, and you are terrified of the legal consequences, including the possibility of going to a Turkish prison.
How the Law Works in Turkey
In Turkey, hitting a person with a vehicle is categorized as "Injury by Negligence" (Taksirle Yaralama) under the Turkish Penal Code. Unlike property damage, personal injury triggers an automatic criminal investigation by the Public Prosecutor. The police will take you into custody (Gözaltı) for at least 24 hours to take your statement. If the injury is severe, the prosecutor may ask the judge to arrest you pending trial or issue a travel ban.
What the Tourist Should Do
Stop the car immediately. Do not try to move the vehicle. Call 112 for an ambulance and police. Provide first aid if you are trained, but do not move the injured person unless necessary. Take photos of the scene, the road conditions, and any traffic lights. Most importantly, do not give a detailed statement to the police at the scene while in shock; wait for your lawyer.
The Risks
The primary risk is a Travel Ban. Even if you are not at fault, the court may prevent you from leaving Turkey until the medical report of the injured person is finalized and the "Fault Rate" (Kusur Oranı) is determined by experts. This process can take months. If you were speeding or under the influence of alcohol, the charges escalate to a serious criminal offense with prison time.
LetFix Solution
Pedestrian accidents are high-stakes legal cases. Our criminal defense lawyers will intervene at the police station, fight against pre-trial detention, and work with traffic experts to prove your innocence or mitigate your fault rate to lift any travel bans.
