Frequently asked questions<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe two kinds of damage<\/h2>\n
Croatian law splits compensation into two categories, calculated\nseparately and then added together<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n- Material (pecuniary) damage<\/strong> \u2014 measurable financial\nloss: vehicle repair, medical costs, lost income, future losses.<\/li>\n
- Non-material (non-pecuniary) damage<\/strong> \u2014 compensation\nfor harm with no invoice: physical pain, fear, mental anguish, reduced\nquality of life, disfigurement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A single accident usually produces both. Under the Civil Obligations\nAct (Zakon o obveznim odnosima<\/em>), non-material damage is framed\nas a violation of personality rights<\/strong> \u2014 which the Act\ndefines to include the rights to life, physical and mental health,\nreputation, honour, dignity, name, privacy and freedom.<\/p>\nThe Orientation\nCriteria and the actual amounts<\/h2>\n
Non-material damage is valued using the Supreme Court\u2019s\nOrientation Criteria (Orijentacijski kriteriji VSRH<\/em>)<\/strong>.\nThe current framework comes from a 2002 decision that raised the earlier\namounts by 50%. Because it was set in the former currency (kuna), the\nfigures are now converted into euro<\/strong> \u2014 which is why they\nare rarely round numbers.<\/p>\nThe amounts below are reference points<\/strong>: a court can\nadjust them up or down for the severity of permanent consequences, the\ninjured person\u2019s age and occupation, and similar factors.<\/p>\nPhysical pain \u2014 per day<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n| Strong<\/td>\n | \u20ac73.66<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Medium<\/td>\n | \u20ac43.80<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\n| Mild<\/td>\n | \u20ac13.93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Worked example:<\/em> 5 days of strong pain + 5 days of medium + 5\ndays of mild \u2192 (5 \u00d7 73.66) + (5 \u00d7 43.80) + (5 \u00d7 13.93) =\n\u20ac656.95<\/strong>.<\/p>\nFear \u2014 per day (with a cap)<\/h3>\nThe per-day rates are the same as for pain (strong \u20ac73.66 \/ medium\n\u20ac43.80 \/ mild \u20ac13.93), but the total for fear is\ncapped<\/strong>: it cannot be less than \u20ac292<\/strong> or\nmore than \u20ac3,981.68<\/strong>.<\/p>\nMental\nanguish from reduced life activities \u2014 per each 10%<\/h3>\nThis is the largest head of damage in serious cases. It works like\ntax brackets<\/strong>: each slice of permanent reduction is paid\nat its own rate, per each 10%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n| up to 25%<\/td>\n | \u20ac1,493.31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| over 25% to 40%<\/td>\n | \u20ac2,189.93<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| over 40% to 60%<\/td>\n | \u20ac4,379.85<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| over 60% to 80%<\/td>\n | \u20ac8,958.79<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| over 80% to 100%<\/td>\n | \u20ac14,931.31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Worked example (63% reduction):<\/em> (2.5 \u00d7 \u20ac1,493.31) + (1.5 \u00d7\n\u20ac2,189.93) + (2 \u00d7 \u20ac4,379.85) + (0.3 \u00d7 \u20ac8,958.79) = \u2248\n\u20ac18,465.51<\/strong>. The percentage is set by the medical expert and may\nbe corrected by the court according to the extent and severity of the\npermanent consequences.<\/p>\nNo daily calculation here; each degree has a set amount.<\/p>\n \n\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n| Light<\/td>\n | \u20ac497.71<\/td>\n | \u20ac995.42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Medium<\/td>\n | \u20ac2,189.93<\/td>\n | \u20ac4,379.85<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \n| Strong<\/td>\n | \u20ac4,379.85 (occasionally, e.g. to household\/at the beach)<\/td>\n | \u20ac7,299.75<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The amount may be adjusted for age, occupation and the location of\nthe injury. The injured person\u2019s sex does not, by itself,\naffect<\/strong> the disfigurement award.<\/p>\nDeath\nor particularly severe disability of a close person<\/h3>\nSet amounts apply, for example: death of a spouse\/long-term partner\nor child \u2014 \u20ac43,798.53<\/strong>; loss of a fetus (to parents) \u2014\n\u20ac14,931.31<\/strong>; death of a parent \u2014\n\u20ac43,798.53<\/strong> to a child in their care\n(\u20ac29,862.63<\/strong> to another child); death of a sibling \u2014\n\u20ac14,931.31<\/strong>. Comparable amounts apply for a close\nperson\u2019s particularly severe disability.<\/p>\nThe medical\nexpert assessment \u2014 the engine of it all<\/h2>\nAlmost every figure above is decided by one document: the independent\nmedical expert assessment (sudski vje\u0161tak<\/em> \u2014\n\u201cLije\u010dni\u010dki nalaz i mi\u0161ljenje<\/em>\u201d)<\/strong>. The expert reviews\nyour medical records and determines the number of days<\/strong>\nand intensity<\/strong> of pain and fear, and the\npercentage of permanent reduction of life\nactivities<\/strong>.<\/p>\nTwo practical points: there is no exact do-it-yourself\nformula<\/strong> (especially for serious injuries), and an expert\u2019s\nfindings are not absolute<\/strong> \u2014 the court or the opposing\nside can request a second expert if they believe the report is wrong.\nThis is exactly why early, complete and consistent medical\ndocumentation<\/strong> is so important: it underpins both the causal\nlink and every number the expert assigns.<\/p>\nMaterial damage and\nhow the total is built<\/h2>\nOn top of non-material damage, you claim documented financial losses:\nmedical and rehabilitation costs<\/strong> (including necessary\ntreatment abroad), lost earnings<\/strong>, a future\nannuity (renta<\/em>)<\/strong> for lasting loss of earning capacity,\nand property damage<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe structure of almost every calculation is the same:<\/p>\n \n- Non-material damage<\/strong> \u2014 pain + fear + reduced life\nactivities (+ disfigurement, where relevant).<\/li>\n
- plus material damage<\/strong> \u2014 medical costs + lost\nearnings + annuity + property.<\/li>\n
- minus any contributory fault<\/strong> \u2014 if you contributed\nto the damage (e.g. not wearing a seatbelt), the total is reduced in\nproportion to your share.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Apply these components to a typical whiplash and you get the outcome\nranges in the whiplash\nguide<\/a>; change the medical findings and every line moves \u2014 which is\nwhy no honest lawyer quotes a fixed number before seeing the\ndocumentation.<\/p>\nA note for foreigners<\/h2>\nThe method is identical for foreigners, with three practical\nwrinkles:<\/p>\n \n- Currency<\/strong> \u2014 awards are made in\neuro<\/strong>; foreign-currency losses are converted, typically\nat the rate on the relevant date.<\/li>\n
- Proving foreign income and costs<\/strong> \u2014 keep\npayslips, employer confirmation, tax records and\ninvoices<\/strong>; well-organised foreign documentation is often what\ngets a loss recognised.<\/li>\n
- Treatment at home<\/strong> \u2014 necessary treatment received\nafter you return is recoverable, if justified and documented.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n Is there a fixed table of payouts?<\/summary>\n There are reference amounts (above), but the final figure depends on your medical findings \u2014 the days of pain\/fear and the percentage of permanent reduction set by the expert.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n \n What\u2019s the single biggest factor?<\/summary>\n For serious injuries, the percentage of permanent reduction of life activities<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n Are medical costs and lost earnings part of the \u201cpain and suffering\u201d figure?<\/summary>\n No \u2014 those are material damage<\/strong>, calculated separately and added on top.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n Can I calculate it myself?<\/summary>\n You can estimate the structure, but the decisive inputs come from the medical expert. For anything beyond a minor injury, have it assessed.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n \n Where do I find typical totals for my injury?<\/summary>\n | | |