Key takeaways
- Fill in one form together, on the spot; each driver keeps a copy signed by both.
- The tick boxes and the sketch weigh more than the text: check them twice.
- Write the number of boxes ticked for each vehicle, so nobody can add one later.
- If you disagree, don’t sign under pressure: write your own version in the observations box, or refuse and call the police.
In many countries, drivers who have a crash without serious injury fill in a joint report at the scene: the European Accident Statement across Europe, called the constat amiable in France, Belgium, Morocco and other French-speaking countries. Insurers use it to decide who is responsible and who pays. A few minutes of care here can save weeks of arguments. Elsewhere, such as in the United States, there’s no joint form: you exchange details and each driver reports to their insurer, sometimes with a police report.
Before you start
- Keep a blank form in your glovebox: insurers give them out for free, and some offer an app version.
- Use one single form for both cars, with both copies (it’s usually carbon paper). Vehicle A on the left, vehicle B on the right; the letter doesn’t mean anything about fault.
- Take your photos first, then sit somewhere safe to fill it in calmly.
The general sections
The top of the form asks for the date, time and exact place of the accident, whether anyone was injured (even slightly), and whether other vehicles or objects were damaged. Then add the details of witnesses, with their phone number. Be precise about the place: street name and number, road and kilometre marker, or the nearest junction.
Your vehicle and your insurance
Copy from your documents: your name and address, the plate number, the make and model, your insurance company, policy number and the validity dates on your insurance certificate. Then mark the initial point of impact with an arrow on the small car drawing, and describe the visible damage.
The circumstances: the tick boxes
The middle column lists around seventeen situations: parked, leaving a parking space, entering a roundabout, changing lanes, reversing, failing to give way, and so on. Tick every box that applies to your vehicle, and only those.
At the bottom of the column, write the total number of boxes ticked for each vehicle. That simple number stops anyone from ticking an extra box after you’ve signed.
The sketch
Draw the road layout at the moment of impact: lanes, direction of traffic with arrows, road signs and traffic lights, the position of each car (A and B) and the point of impact. Add street names. A clear sketch often settles cases where the tick boxes are ambiguous.
Observations and signatures
The observations box is where you add what the form doesn’t cover, such as “vehicle B ran a red light” or “I disagree with the driver of B about the speed”. Each driver writes in their own box. Then both sign.
Once both drivers have signed, the form is generally considered final: you can’t change it afterwards. Never sign a form you don’t agree with or don’t understand, and never sign a blank one.
If the other driver won’t cooperate
If the other driver refuses to fill in the form, gets aggressive, or you suspect they’re drunk or uninsured, call the police. Note their plate number and take photos. You can still describe the accident alone to your insurer, with your evidence and any witnesses.
After the accident
Send your copy to your insurer within the delay in your contract (often a few working days) with your photos. Our /blog/how-to-file-a-car-insurance-claim/ guide explains how to follow up. Chameleon AI can turn your photos and videos into a factual timeline of what happened, which helps you describe the circumstances consistently with your evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fill in the accident report later?
It’s best done at the scene, together. If that isn’t possible, you can meet later and fill it in with the other driver, but memories differ more as time passes. Take photos and swap details on the spot in any case.
Does signing the report mean I accept fault?
No. The report records the facts; insurers decide fault from it. But what you tick and draw is used for that decision, so only sign what is accurate.
What if the other driver speaks another language?
The European Accident Statement has the same layout in every language, so two drivers can fill in matching versions in different languages box by box.
General information to help you get organised, not legal advice. Procedures and numbers can change: confirm them with the office concerned, and in danger call your local emergency number first.
