How to fill in a European accident statement form
Learn how to fill in a European accident statement form step by step, and what truck drivers must do differently after a crash abroad.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
After any road accident in Europe, both drivers complete a European accident statement (constat amiable): record the date, time, and location, exchange insurance and vehicle details, tick only the boxes describing what actually happened, sketch the scene, sign, then notify your dispatcher and insurer immediately, without admitting fault.
What is a European accident statement and when do you need one?
The European accident statement is a standardized two-part form that insurers across the European Union and European Economic Area recognize under the Motor Insurance Directive (Directive 2009/103/EC), which underpins cross-border third-party liability when a driver from one EU country crashes in another ( EUR-Lex ). National insurers distribute the form, and Insurance Europe publishes consumer guidance on how insurers process it. Use it after any collision, however minor the damage looks. It only covers vehicle-to-vehicle liability, not damage to freight. A driver carrying goods for a customer needs a separate claim under the CMR Convention (the international treaty governing liability for goods carried by road across borders); see Logifie's guide on how to file a CMR claim for cargo damage for that process.
How do you fill in a European accident statement step by step?
Both drivers complete their own side of the same form and agree on the shared facts before signing. Start with the date, time, exact location, and road or weather conditions. Next, exchange full insurance policy numbers, vehicle registration details, and driver contact information for both parties, and photograph everything before either vehicle is moved. The circumstances section lists numbered statements describing common accident scenarios; tick only the boxes that match your own vehicle's actions, count how many boxes you ticked, and enter that number in the box provided, since insurers use this tally for fault ratios. Use the diagram field to sketch the position of both vehicles at the moment of impact, then add any further detail in the free-text comments box. Both drivers sign the same form: a single, jointly signed statement carries far more weight with insurers than two separate accounts written up later. Photograph the completed, signed form before separating, so a lost paper copy is not your only record.
What should a truck driver do differently after a collision abroad?
A private motorist's job largely ends once the statement is signed and the insurer is called. A professional driver has three additional obligations. First, notify the transport manager or dispatcher immediately, before continuing the journey, so the operator can start its own claims process rather than learning hours later. Second, protect the tachograph record (the onboard device logging driving time and rest periods) covering the incident window, since insurers or police may request it, and prompt downloading avoids an overwrite. Third, treat vehicle damage and cargo damage as two separate claims: the statement and the carrier's motor policy cover the vehicle, while damage to the freight falls under the CMR consignment note and typically needs a distinct claim against goods-in-transit cover, a cost fleets increasingly track as goods-in-transit insurance pricing across Europe shifts. If the load involves dangerous goods under ADR (the European agreement governing the transport of dangerous goods by road), note this on the statement and inform emergency responders on arrival, since it changes how the scene must be secured.
Frequently asked questions
Is a European accident statement legally binding?
The form is not itself a legal admission of fault; it is a factual record both drivers agree to and sign. Insurers use it to establish liability, and courts can treat it as evidence, but ticking a box is not a formal legal declaration of guilt.
What happens if the other driver refuses to sign the statement?
Fill in your own half of the form as completely as possible, note that the other driver declined to sign, and call the police so an official report exists. Without a police report, an unsigned statement makes it harder for your insurer to pursue the other party's insurer for compensation.
Does the European accident statement cover damage to the cargo?
No, the statement only covers third-party vehicle liability between the two drivers involved. Damage to the freight being carried falls under the CMR Convention and must be claimed separately against goods-in-transit or carrier liability cover.
Do you still need to call the police after a truck accident in Europe?
Yes, whenever there are injuries, a dispute over fault, dangerous goods involved, or significant vehicle damage. Many countries also require a police report for any accident involving a commercial vehicle, regardless of how minor it looks.
Logifie helps carriers build a clear accident and claims workflow before drivers need one. Contact Logifie's operations team to set up your fleet's process.
