Accident insurance ("Unfallversicherung") is part of the statutory social security contributions. The legal basis is laid out in Book VII of the German Social Code ("Sozialgesetzbuch"). Accident insurance as part of taxes paid covers you in the event of accidents at work; it does not apply to private accidents.

Employees are therefore generally obliged to hold this type of insurance. 

Please see Section 2 of the German Social Security Code VII (SGB VII) for details of the persons covered by statutory accident insurance.

Pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph 2, Sentence 1 of he German Social Security Code VII (SGB VII) in conjunction with Paragraph 1, Number 1, persons in an employment relationship without being employees in the sense of the law are also covered by the statutory accident insurance.

This definition has been defined more precisely by the courts, meaning that statutory accident insurance also covers those who perform an activity that:

• is more or less temporary, serious and essential to the company and of economic value,
• corresponds with the actual and presumed aims of the company,
• given its nature, can be performed by persons in an employment relationship that can be attributed to the general work market,
• is performed under such circumstances that the activity is similar to an employment relationship ("employment-like" activity). 

The employer pays statutory accident insurance contributions directly. Employees therefore do not need to take any action for these contributions to be made. The employer registers his employees with the respective Employer's Liability Insurance Association.

Doctoral and habilitation candidates are covered by the statutory accident insurance as doctoral and habilitation students pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph 1, Number 8c of the German Social Security Code VII (SGB VII). As a rule, they must be enrolled at the institution concerned (cf. information sheet on accident insurance for students, doctoral and habilitation candidates on the extent of insurance coverage).

Fellowships are usually exempt from compulsory social security payments, meaning that they generally have no accident insurance protection. A private accident insurance policy can be acquired in this cases.

Statutory accident insurance does not cover private accidents. Depending on your country of origin and the type of research activity you are carrying out, statutory accident insurance you might hold in another country may not be valid for the duration of your stay in Germany.

In order to close any gaps, it is possible to apply for an private accident insurance (information in German) in Germany or your own country. As a matter of principle, obtaining private accident insurance is the researcher's own responsibility. A research institution or the organisation granting a fellowship may opt to provide accident insurance for the researcher.

When obtaining private accident insurance, please pay special attention to the following aspects:

• coverage of accidents in Germany
• coverage of accidents while travelling to your country of residence or to third countries
• coverage valid for the specific type and duration of your research stay
• coverage of work accidents if they are not covered by statutory accident insurance
• coverage of accidents that might occur under the specific circumstances or your research activity (e.g. lab accidents)
• exclusions of liability, e.g. for dangerous activities or sports