Accident Report Template

The accident report – German: Unfallbericht – records right at the scene what happened: who was involved, what damage occurred, and how it came about. Filled in completely, it speeds up settlement by the insurer and prevents a later word-against-word situation. With this free template you document every accident in a structured way – bilingually if you wish.

What belongs in an accident report?

Fill in the report at the scene while everyone involved is still present – the template has a dedicated field for everything:

• Place, date, and time of the accident
• Name, address, and phone number of everyone involved
• License plates of both vehicles
• The other party's insurer and policy number
• Witnesses with contact details
• Visible damage on both vehicles
• Accident sketch and a short description of the sequence of events
• Signatures of both drivers
• Additionally: photos of vehicle positions, damage, and surroundings – they complement the sketch and are hard to dispute later

Our template or the European Accident Statement?

Our template is our own design covering the same fields as the official European Accident Statement (Europäischer Unfallbericht). You get the official form free of charge from your insurer; its layout is standardized across Europe, so both parties fill in the same document even without a common language. Our recommendation: keep one copy in every vehicle – whether the official form or this template.

Important: the signature on the accident report is not an admission of guilt – it only confirms the jointly recorded facts. Still, never sign a document abroad that you do not understand; that is exactly what the bilingual version is for.

Paper or digital?

At the scene, paper genuinely is the best choice – a pen works without battery or signal. The work starts afterwards: reporting to the insurer, workshop appointments, damage history per vehicle. In fleets, accident documentation belongs in the vehicle file – in Maxmove TMS it lives digitally with the vehicle instead of disappearing into paper binders.

Frequently asked questions

When must the police be called? Always when someone is injured, with major property damage, suspected alcohol or drugs, hit-and-run, or when the other party refuses to provide details. For clear minor damage there is no obligation – but many fleet and leasing contracts require a police record anyway.

Is the signature an admission of guilt? No, it only confirms the documented facts. Also, do not make an explicit admission of guilt at the scene – many insurance terms prohibit it, and the question of fault is settled later based on the facts.

How quickly must the accident be reported to the insurer? Without undue delay – under standard German insurance terms usually within one week. Reporting late risks problems with the settlement.

What applies to an accident with a company vehicle? First document it like any accident, then inform your employer immediately – they report the damage to the fleet insurer. It helps if pre-existing damage was already recorded in the handover protocol.