Late one evening in April when Daniel Bernmar was about to cross a street with his bicycle, he was hit by a car which then slipped from the scene. SVT News West has previously reported on the incident. But when the municipal politician sought compensation from the Traffic Insurance Association he got no. There, he was said to be unable to prove that the damage to his bicycle had been caused by the accident.

- It's probably four to five thousand kronor. Both wheels, all moving parts are broken. But the important thing here is that we have an insurance system that basically requires that you have to collect evidence, ie witnesses or physical evidence, after being hit. That's not the first thing you think of, he says.

"A boring system"

He further states that if there had been a single accident, the compensation would have come from his insurance company. But since it was a so-called unknown vehicle and an infectious accident, it is instead the Traffic Insurance Association that dictates the conditions.

- When I had a break-in, there was no problem getting compensation from the insurance company. Then I made a police report which they then took part in and it was clear. Now I also made a police report, but since I can't prove anything - except the bicycle is damaged - I get no compensation.

He thinks it's boring with a traffic insurance system that it's so tricky to get reimbursement from.

- It feels like I'm in a kind of kappa situation, he says.

Must be able to provide strength

Thomas Stenqvist is head of claims at the Swedish Road Insurance Association. He says that the evidence requirement must be "clearly more likely" to receive compensation.

- As a victim, you need some kind of supporting evidence. It is great if there are witnesses who have seen the actual collision, of course. Often it is missing. Then you can investigate whether there is technical evidence such as brake tracks or other that allows you to receive compensation despite the absence of witnesses.

Isn't it enough to have a picture of the quad bike?

- It is usually very difficult to determine in a picture how the damage has occurred. Most often, you do not come up with the evidence requirement with a picture, says Thomas Stenqvist.