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About Henning Haarhaus
Expertise
Practice in inheritance law and tax law. Legal services also rendered in the fields of business & commercial law; e.g. business organisations, contracts; debt collections, employment law and international law. Representing clients all over Germany. At times, I also handle family law cases and other civil law matters related with the region in and around Berlin.

Experience
I have been working as a German lawyer since 1999 in the forenamed fields. Before founding my own law office in 2003 I worked as an associate in the legal dep. of the biggest tax consultancy firm of German origin for two years. Bar Certified Tax Specialist since 2007.

Organizations
German-Korean Lawyers Association (secretary general)

Publications
Book in German on offshore tax havens; published by Haufe in 2008

Education/Credentials

- passed bar exam on expertise in the field of inheritance law in 2005
- passed bar exam on expertise in the field of tax law in 2004
- passed Final State Exam and admitted to the bar in 1998
- postgraduate judicial service traineeship in Berlin
- passed First State Exam (JD-equivalent) in 1994
- legal studies at the University of Passau (Bavaria) and at the Humboldt University in Berlin
- graduated as certified banker in 1989

 
   

You are here:  Experts > Business > International Law > German Law > Debt collection - Accident in South africa

German Law - Debt collection - Accident in South africa


Expert: Henning Haarhaus - 6/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: HI, A lady on holiday from Germany has rear-ended me with a car rental vehicle, in traffic (in SA). She has paid an excess to the car rental company and assumes that it covers 3rd party claims. I cannot claim from my insurance as i do not want to destroy my record costing me more with an increased premium as I am young.

The lady has returned to Germany since and I need to claim back the damages for over 1300 euros. How would i go about doing that since I am in South Africa.

Thanks,

ANSWER: When she was able to rent a car in South Africa she or the car renting company should have maintained a car insurance.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The rental company does cover their own vehicle, but not 3rd party vehicle. The driver is liable for third party insurance, which is the lady in question. She does not want to pay me and has left for Germany. I do not have her physical address in Germany. ANy next steps for me? would it be financially viable to pursue this as it is now an international matter??

Answer
I cannot believe this. It is worldwide standard and obligation for car renting companies to provide an insurance against damages to third parties.

If this does not work you would have to file a law suit against the lady in Africa and have an awarding judgement accepted by the authorities here afterwards or you file your law suit here. Anyway, you would have to find out at first where the person lives. Maybe by placing an announce to the German and South African police if she commited a criminal offense like hit-and-run driving, assault or even driving without being properly insured.

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