When Language Isn’t a Barrier: Damage Assessment for a Client from Turkey

When Language Isn’t a Barrier: Damage Assessment for a Client from Turkey

A friend of mine, originally from Turkey, contacted me with a request to assess damage for a fellow countryman who lives in our city but doesn’t speak German. The situation took on a slightly humorous tone right from the start when I met the owner of the damaged vehicle. He started speaking in Turkish, while I, aside from a few basic words like “tamam,” “nasılsın,” and “merhaba,” couldn’t understand a thing.

Thankfully, my colleague stepped in to help—she speaks Turkish. She patiently explained the assessment process to the gentleman from Turkey, even though the damage to his vehicle was so extensive that repair was not economically viable. Still, it was important for him to understand his rights, including the right to keep the damaged car.

This unusual way of communication continued. The gentleman would occasionally call me and speak in Turkish, seemingly unaware that I didn’t understand him. In those moments, I would repeat the few words I knew, and the rest we handled using technology—Google Translate. I would type in German, translate it to Turkish, and he would translate his Turkish replies into German.

Even though this form of communication was slow and sometimes frustrating, it’s amazing how we still managed to achieve our goal. Despite the language barrier, we successfully carried out the assessment so the client could claim his insurance. This experience once again reminded me of a key truth: professional damage assessment knows no language, national, or other boundaries.

Our role as assessors is not only to determine material damage. In this post, read about when you might need a damage assessor by clicking HERE. We’re here to help people solve their problems—whether it’s assessing damage after an accident (read our full guide to insurance claims HERE: or advising on car repair (find our workshop selection tips HERE.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation and need a damage assessment for someone who doesn’t speak your language, don’t hesitate to contact an expert. There are always ways to communicate and find a solution.

Damage assessments don’t directly connect people, but the process can certainly help them solve their problems—whether it’s calculating damage costs or offering repair advice. If you know someone who needs an assessment, no matter what language they speak, feel free to contact us—we’ll find a way to understand each other.

Note: In line with our data protection policy, no names or personal client data were used in this text. All details are based on a real experience but have been adapted to ensure anonymity and comply with legal standards.