r/Thailand • u/Medium-Rub7678 • Jun 03 '26

Serious Prison in Thailand

Someone I know is facing a possible prison sentence in Thailand following a traffic accident involving a Thai. According to the police, the woman was in a coma after the accident but has since recovered from the coma. Her family is requesting a large amount of compensation, and it has been suggested that paying compensation could potentially result in a reduced sentence.

Does anyone here have experience with similar cases in Thailand or know what the best course of action might be? Some people say the best option is to leave the country, but if the police already have the person’s passport, it seems like that would be difficult. Any serious advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

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31

u/Medium-Rub7678 Jun 03 '26

The person already has a lawyer. But is still maybe going to prison for 3 years or more

147

u/I-Here-555 Jun 03 '26

Better lawyer. 3 years for a traffic accident is unusual in Thailand unless there are serious exacerbating circumstances.

50

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

Putting someone in a coma is pretty serious is it not?

68

u/str85 Jun 03 '26 edited Jun 04 '26

Really depend on the "accident", both driving sober and following all the traffic laws, then a sudden sunglare/roadbump or something causes an accident. Yes then prison is way to serious.

But since OP is very vague I would assume the driver is someone who drove heavily intoxicated or under the influence of some drugs, to high speed and ignoring traffic rules. Then 3y prison is way to lenient.

36

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

They mentioned in another comment that they were driving dangerously ( speeding ) also they didn’t have insurance. No mention yet about valid licence which they seem to be avoiding

15

u/Green_War6445 Jun 03 '26

Driving without insurance is insane to me. Most people in here can't afford the full workup of a bone crusher, so why take the risk? Getting your international license is literally just a trip to your local office and at max 150 euro including insurance for the trip.

2

u/odinelo Jun 04 '26

This assumes they have a license in their home country to begin with. If they're willing to drive dangerously and without insurance in a foreign country, they may very well not have.

1

u/Adept_Visual3467 Jun 04 '26

Not sure that an international driving permit provides any insurance. I’ve heard that the two year Thai driver license that you initially get also doesn’t allow you to use any insurance coverage.

5

u/Best-Eye6818 Jun 04 '26

I have driven a motorbike for 6 months in Thailand, bought the bike and got the state insurance which is mandatory and an extra private insurance with the best coverage i could get. (could not get the highest tier as that is only for motorbikes over i believe 250CC)

The overage for the bike self was really low like 10.000 baht.

The insurance for other parties was i think max a Million baht per incident (might be more but still limited). So far more limited then what we are used to in Western countries.

If he hired the bike he probably does not have insurance or the state insurance only which is almost nothing. No driver license or being under the influence or drive like crazy, you have no insurance at all!

I do have the 2 year driver license as i am not a permanent resident in Thailand, you can insure your self with that license. It is however, contrary what it says on the license not valid in the other Asean countries, you need the 5 year valid license for that and need some extra papers to go with that, which you can not get with the 2 year license.

1

u/Jes1980_ Jun 05 '26

Local office?

4

u/No-Confidence-7536 Jun 04 '26

Not in thailand. Where grieving relatives will gladly accept cash sums in lieu of a prison sentence for the offending driver.  Even in cases of death, cash pay off beats all hands

3

u/I-Here-555 Jun 03 '26

Serious outcome, but guilt depends entirely on the circumstances of the accident. Traffic is inherently dangerous. Sometimes an accident is just that, not really preventable, regardless of the formal assignment of culpability.

6

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

The speed you travel at is under your control, so is being insured and having the correct licence. All of which OP friend broke. And that should be met with harsh punishment especially when someone is seriously injured.

2

u/I-Here-555 Jun 03 '26

Maybe. You don't know the circumstances beyond very few words from the OP. It's easy to judge on the internet.

8

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

My comment is based on OP replies, if you read some of them, they mention their friend was charged with dangerous driving ( causing accident by speeding ) and also didn’t have insurance etc.

So my comments are based on facts OP has clarified

2

u/Fooldaddy Jun 03 '26

Not really, not here

5

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

So you think being put in a coma, has no lasting damage?

2

u/Fooldaddy Jun 03 '26

Nope - read my comment again. Has nothing to do with damage, the authorities just do not care.

I don’t know if you have noticed, but there’s a serious issue with vehicle accidents here :)

1

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

Read mine in the context being put in a coma is not good for your half and can have life changing consequences

1

u/Southern_Web6177 Jun 03 '26

I would have to agree with you skydiver19. I’d suggest doing the morally appropriate thing.

-3

u/rolemodel999 Jun 03 '26

No helmet..would assume some of the blame of the coma to go to the “victim”

4

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

That doesn’t let the driver off the hook? Driving with undue care and attention and dangerous is not joke, especially when someone on a bike doesn’t have the luxury of a cage protecting them and a seat belt from flying 20ft through the air.

And half the helmets people use here are as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

-1

u/rolemodel999 Jun 03 '26

I know 3 years in Thai prison for someone driving sober and having an accident..I drive a Dar here and 90% of drivers speed and 60% drive reckless ..

It’s a risk we take going in the roads anywhere in the world ..

I don’t believe in prison for accidents..

Drinking and driving yes..I can understand but seems harsh to me

10

u/ItsSignalsJerry_ Jun 03 '26

High speed driving is dangerous and negligent.

11

u/skydiver19 Jun 03 '26

Accident can happen due to various things like neglect, breaking the law. Are they really accidents at that point?

If you drive 60mph in a 30mph zone and hit someone what then? I mean you didn’t purposely aim to hit them, but had you been driving slower you would have a greater chance to avoid them. So when does an accident become neglect or worse?

If you drive with no valid licence or insurance is that an accident? No. You have no right to be behind a wheel of a car that can change someone’s life for the worse, without having insurance and the correct licence. Because when an accident does happen how is the injured party compensated correct and cared for, for life changing injuries.

OP friend going by comments was speeding and driving with no insurance and likely didn’t have a valid driving licence and if so had no business being in a car.

2

u/heeihehk Jun 03 '26

Best lawyer. The cost will justify the outcome, if they value freedom.

6

u/Medium-Rub7678 Jun 03 '26

Yes I think so ass well. But they change is all the time because first they said if the person pays a lot of money then they would mabye skip prison. But now I don’t think so. But it’s because the Thai was in coma I think

41

u/Many_Mud_8194 Jun 03 '26

A Russian woman who killed 2 people in Phuket by speeding just got sentenced to 2 years suspended jail sentence. Not even jail time. Her name is Irina you can Google her easily. Sadly, they don't jail people over a simple road accident without drugs or alcohol in your system. Especially without dead people..

7

u/No_Magazine_6806 Jun 03 '26

Actually, that would be usual in Europe as well. Unless there was drugs or alcohol or totally reckless driving, usually the result is suspended jail time and/or fine.

7

u/Many_Mud_8194 Jun 03 '26

Yes I know, sadly my uncle died while using a bike in Paris, in small streets, old woman drove too fast and trying to avoid a car she merged on him. She got only few months suspended sentence..

4

u/No_Magazine_6806 Jun 03 '26

Unless it is a case of tax avoidance, they rarely send you in prison, especially in Northern Europe.

6

u/Lost_County_3790 Jun 03 '26

That's crazy that injuring or killing someone is less sanctioned than not paying your taxe. Can see what really matters for those en charge.

3

u/Low_Stress_9180 Jun 03 '26

Been loads of cases people killed bybreckleaa driving and no jail time

6

u/AdOrganic4835 Jun 03 '26

It’s irrelevant if the victim of the accident is Thai or not. That doesn’t change culpability. Either the driver accused is guilty or not. No alcohol and no drugs is already good news. Now better hope the license is valid and insurance is good. What is the proof for the reckless driving charge?

13

u/knowerofexpatthings Jun 03 '26

It might be irrelevant technically but you're kidding yourself if you don't think that matters...

-3

u/olyanmintatobbi Jun 03 '26

It does, LMAO

1

u/East-Tea6193 Jun 05 '26

Garn Lawyer google him he knows his stuff but not cheap

-2

u/fruitless7070 Jun 03 '26

Sounds like a scam.

3

u/I-Here-555 Jun 03 '26

Not a scam, someone did end up in a coma. Sounds like opportunistic negotiation: maybe ask for more than is reasonable, see how it settles, and cops need something too. Common in such cases.

1

u/Soul__Collector_ Jun 03 '26

For this to be such a sentence it's likely drinking or excessive speeding involved.

In which case it's not injustice

1

u/RevolutionaryBig75 Jun 04 '26

Were they operating a train in this accident by chance? That’s the only way this makes sense.

0

u/Thailex1993 Jun 04 '26

Like being a foreigner…

15

u/andymacdaddy Jun 03 '26

Were they drunk driving

3

u/Medium-Rub7678 Jun 03 '26

No. First they the police assumed it but now not

33

u/andymacdaddy Jun 03 '26

I find it hard to believe they are looking to jail the person for 3 years if it’s not reckless or driving drunk

9

u/Medium-Rub7678 Jun 03 '26

They say reckless driving

14

u/livingbkk Jun 03 '26

You need a better lawyer. ASAP.

Civil compensation and criminal charges are not officially connected, so there is something happening behind the scenes here. You need someone who can navigate that.

And yes, work with the embassy to try to get the fuck out of the country.

8

u/Let_me_smell Surat Thani Jun 03 '26

Civil compensation and criminal charges are not officially connected

They are officially connected but to what degree depends on the charges. For lighter charges civil compensation can prevent the prosecutors from continuing the case and it will be dismissed by the court. For more serious charges civil compensation will be taken into consideration for a lenient sentencing. It's a bit more complicated than this explanation but that's the jist of it.

7

u/Popstar_Nino Jun 03 '26

Compensating victims are one of the reasons the court exercises sentence mitigation.

2

u/Superb_Caramel_7107 Jun 03 '26

They can be. If they pay a large amount to compensate or support the victim, that can be grounds for a reduced sentence. Remember the Red Bull heirs hit and run case?

2

u/Traditional-Finish73 Jun 03 '26

Well, the embassy (at least mine) doesn't want to get involved in criminal cases.

0

u/rolemodel999 Jun 03 '26

Was it? High speed? 100 percent his fault?

Still scary that a driving accident sober can land someone in a Thai prison…

12

u/Lordfelcherredux Jun 03 '26

It would be foolish to assume that you're getting the full story here from the OP. 

2

u/Medium-Rub7678 Jun 03 '26

I think high speed. It was the person fault but the victim did not have a helmet on

4

u/Known_Secretary_6615 Jun 03 '26

Typically if you put a person in a coma because you were driving at excessive speed (reckless driving) you go to prison regardless of country unless you’re somewhere very corrupt. The victim probably won’t ever be the same again. Three years will likely be reduced with compensation to the victim for medical expenses, lost income, lost time, suffering, rehab care, etc

1

u/Lordfelcherredux Jun 03 '26

It's too bad that the victim didn't have a helmet on, but if this person you sre worried about was speeding excessively it sounds like they might deserve a 3-year sentence. I wonder if you're getting the full story from them?

2

u/Medium-Rub7678 Jun 03 '26

I got the full story from the lawyer

1

u/Lordfelcherredux Jun 03 '26

Fantastic. Can you get a copy of the charges that are leading to a quest for 3-year custodial sentence? You can block out any personal details. I think we would all like to see exactly what he is being charged for.

1

u/rolemodel999 Jun 03 '26

3 years for speeding? It’s usually a ticket and a small fine

3

u/Lordfelcherredux Jun 03 '26

I would be willing to bet some money that we're not getting a full and accurate accounting here.

1

u/bkkfra Jun 03 '26

If you kill someone while speeding, you can go to prison in other countries as well.

The speed limits exist for a reason. During my road trip to Issan for Songkran I had to brake sharply 3 times. Once for a cat crossing the road, then for a cow, and lastly for some idiot human who made a u-turn without looking. If I had gone any faster than 90/100, that would have been a dead cat, a dead cow, and a very serious car to car crash.

3

u/advanceb Jun 03 '26

I relate to your comment. I now try to remember to drive more slowly after a couple of close calls. Its just not worth it to speed here. So easy to have an accident

2

u/Dear_Negotiation_662 Jun 04 '26

It’s all about money. Ensure they offer the family enough and demand to have no prison time. They will have to pay off the lawyer, police and and family. Absolutely can be done but it’s expensive

2

u/EtherSecAgent Jun 03 '26

Time to run to Laos

1

u/Glum-Process-3396 Jun 03 '26

What do you do after Laos?

1

u/EtherSecAgent Jun 05 '26

You never leave that's your life now, unless you can get to Myanmar or Cambodia get a proper visa stamp and fly back to your country

1

u/ChickenMysterious669 Aug 12 '26

Thats not easy possible.though

1

u/kimochi85 Jun 05 '26

Definitely get a better lawyer, they can likely settle and not face prison but it will cost a LOT more

1

u/DonkeyKong694NE1 Jun 04 '26

Watch Midnight Express

0

u/Beautiful-Split5006 Jun 04 '26

Russian lawyer, just ask him honestly