European accident statement: how to fill it in without losing your claim

Before you write anything

Safety first, paperwork second. Hazard lights, high-visibility jacket before stepping out, warning triangle placed behind the scene. If anyone is hurt, call emergency services and do not move the injured.

Then, before the cars are moved: take photos. Once the vehicles are pushed to the side, the positions that explain who was at fault are gone forever.

Worth photographing:

• a wide shot showing both vehicles in position,
• close-ups of the damage on each car,
• both number plates,
• the other driver's insurance certificate and licence,
• the road signs, lights and markings at the scene.

Filling it in

The form is signed by both drivers and, in principle, cannot be modified afterwards. That makes haste the real enemy.

• Tick only what matches. Empty boxes are better than approximate ones; the ticked boxes decide liability.
• Make the sketch consistent with the damage. A drawing that contradicts the photos weakens your account.
• Mention injuries, even minor ones. Some pain appears the next day, and compensation for bodily injury depends on that mention, as victim support associations repeatedly point out.
• Choose witnesses carefully. Passengers and relatives do not count.
• Never sign a version you dispute. Write your own account in the observations box.

The five working day deadline

You have five working days to declare the accident to your insurer, counted from midnight following the day of the accident. Miss it and the insurer may invoke forfeiture of cover if the delay caused them a real prejudice.

In practice, send it within 48 hours through your insurer's app or customer area, or by registered post. Keep proof of sending.

Why people still get this wrong

Not because the rules are obscure — because nobody reads them at 7 pm on a wet roundabout with a stranger waiting. The fix is to have the steps in front of you rather than in memory.

That is the guided flow Autofy provides: the safety steps in order, the list of photos to take, the other driver's details to collect, and a PDF summary to send to your insurer. It is a memory aid, not a legal document — the signed statement remains the official one.

Also useful before a claim: keeping your car documents somewhere you can reach in a hurry.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to report an accident to my insurer? Five working days, counted from midnight following the day of the accident. Late reporting can cost you cover if the insurer proves the delay caused them harm.

Can I refuse to sign the form? Yes. If the other driver's version is wrong, do not sign. Note your own account in the observations box and report it to your insurer yourself.

Can my passenger be listed as a witness? No. Passengers and close relatives are not accepted as witnesses; a witness must have seen the accident from outside the vehicles.