After suffering an accident with damages, it is important to open a report to notify the insurer of the event and begin the relevant procedures. To do so, there are two ways, through paper format or via app. We tell you how to fill out a friendly accident report step by step.
What is a friendly accident report?
The friendly report, or the Friendly Automobile Accident Declaration (its more technical name), is a standard document used in most of Europe that serves insurance companies to systematically and orderly collect data on their insured’s accidents.
The objective of this document is to make the accident declaration procedures easier for the insured, as well as to make the different procedures they must carry out after the incident easier for insurers. Therefore, and for your own benefit, it is essential to properly complete the friendly car accident report.
Fill out the friendly report on paper
The ideal is to fill out the friendly report on paper at the time of the accident, so as not to forget any information. However, you must find a safe place to do it, away from traffic and without impeding the movement of other drivers. If you are in a hurry, or have doubts about how to do it, write down your name and surname, ID, driving license number, phone number and address of the other driver, as well as the license plate number and model of the vehicle.
Also take note of the street or kilometer point and highway where the incident occurred. It is not strictly necessary that you fill it out at that time, since you have seven days to deliver it to the insurance company.
- The vehicles involved (A and B)
- How the accident occurred: in the simplest way possible, but providing details that can help elucidate the cause and the damage caused.
- In the friendly report, detail with maximum accuracy the date, time and place of the accident. It also indicates data such as the street number or the exact kilometer if it is a road outside an urban center. Also the name of the parking lot or service station (if it occurred at a similar point). When in doubt, take photos with your cell phone, maybe they can help you later.
- If there are injuries, report it. The latter is very important, even if you have only suffered minor damage, such as slight neck or back pain. Write down all your information on the back of the friendly report (name, ID, address, telephone number, etc., before leaving the scene of the accident).
- If the blow has been witnessed by witnesses, ask them for their information. Perhaps in case of disagreement it will be necessary for them to corroborate your statement.
Do not sign until you verify that the opposing driver has completed the friendly report perfectly and you have verified his information with the corresponding documents.
How to fill in boxes 10, 11 and 12?
- In box 10 it is not necessary to indicate all the damages, only to indicate with an arrow the point of the initial impact.
- In box 11 you must describe the areas with damage, for example, “front and right side”. The final damage declaration will be made by the insurance adjuster in the workshop.
- Box 12: Mark with an X the boxes that you think best describe the incident. Finally, in box 14 the accident can be described.
- The information on the back does not require the signature of the two drivers and can be completed at another time.
- Each copy must be signed by both parties involved.
When in doubt, do not sign the friendly report if you are not completely satisfied. You can agree with the other driver to sign later, when you are both calmer.
How to give an online report step by step
A friendly report can also be given electronically. The process is very simple, for this you will only have to download the IDEA application from UNESPA (the insurers’ association) and register for free. The report is sent directly from the application to your insurer, in a simple way. We tell you how to do it.
Fill out your vehicle form
You must indicate the make, model and license plate. Next you must enter your insurance company information and your personal information: first name, last name, email and telephone number. You will only have to fill in this data once, since the application is responsible for storing it so that you can use it when you need it.
Fill out the part
When you have suffered an accident, the first thing you should do is open the application and select your vehicle file to fill out the report. Next, you must provide the information necessary to notify the accident and damages with the following information:
- Place and date of the incident
- Vehicle A and Vehicle B details (including damage and circumstances)
- Other data
- Scheme
- Injured
- Authority Intervention
- Photos
- Other vehicles
- Observations
Send the report
Once you have filled out all the reports, you can save it to review later or send it immediately to your insurer. Select the desired option and the application will send it to your insurer. In the event that you are not the person who filled out the report, but you are an involved party, you will be able to access it thanks to receiving a code. If you agree, you must fill out the data, validate it and send it.
After this step, the insurers of those involved will receive the report so that they can process it. This process has legal validity as it is developed through the official UNESPA application.
Send your parts online with the MAPFRE app
The MAPFRE application also allows you to file an online report when you have suffered an accident. Its operation is simple:
- Download the app to be able to carry out any management with your MAPFRE Car Insurance.
- Open a report when you need it by completing the questions about the incident.
- MAPFRE will contact you to be able to solve the problem in the best possible way.