Accident Report Template & Form

What is an accident report template?

An accident report template is a standardized form for documenting traffic accidents. The most widely recognized template is the European Accident Report, developed by the Comité Européen des Assurances (CEA) and recognized in over 40 European countries.

The form has a uniform structure so that insurance companies can understand the accident regardless of country or language. It goes by different names: European Accident Statement, Constat Amiable, Europäischer Unfallbericht – but they all refer to the same document.

Traditionally, the template is a two-page paper form with a carbon copy that both accident parties fill out and sign at the accident scene.

Structure of the European accident report

The European accident report is divided into clearly defined sections:

• Accident details: Date, time, exact location, injuries, third-party property damage, witnesses
• Vehicle data for both parties: License plate, make, model, owner, driver, license number
• Insurance details: Insurance company, policy number, validity period
• Accident description: Standardized checklist with 17 possible circumstances (e.g. was parked, was reversing, was changing lanes, was overtaking)
• Accident sketch: Graphic representation with road layout, driving directions and collision point
• Visible damage: Description and marking of damaged areas on both vehicles
• Signatures: Confirmation by both accident parties

Thanks to the standardized checklist, the report is understandable even with language barriers – the same numbers mean the same thing in every language.

Where to get an accident report template

There are several ways to get an accident report template:

• Insurance company: Most car insurers provide their customers with a paper form. It is often included with policy documents.
• Automobile clubs: ÖAMTC (Austria), ADAC (Germany), AA (UK) and other automobile clubs offer templates for download or as part of membership.
• Online: Various websites offer PDF templates for printing.
• Digital: On unfallbericht.at you can fill out the complete European accident report directly on your smartphone – no printing, no pen, no paper.

The problem with paper templates: very few drivers actually have a form ready when an accident occurs. And even if they do – a pen may be missing, insurance numbers aren't at hand, or the other driver speaks a different language.

Using the accident report template digitally

The digital version of the accident report on unfallbericht.at offers decisive advantages over the paper template:

• Always available: The template is on your smartphone – no form in the glove compartment needed
• Guided input: You are guided step by step through all fields and won't forget anything
• Multilingual: 13 languages available – the other driver sees the form in their language
• Live synchronization: Both parties fill out the report simultaneously on their smartphones
• Location-based sketch: The app loads a map of the nearby streets via GPS for accurate sketching
• OCR recognition: Photograph your driver's license and insurance card – data is extracted automatically
• PDF export: The finished PDF follows the European Accident Report structure and is used by insurers as structured claims documentation
• Free: All features available at no cost

Tips for filling out the template

Whether you fill out the template on paper or digitally – these tips help:

• Specify the accident location precisely: Street name, intersection, house number. The more accurate, the better for the insurance company.
• Enter insurance details completely: Insurance company, policy number and validity period. When in doubt, photograph the insurance card.
• Check circumstances correctly: Fill out the 17-point checklist honestly and completely. Each checked point counts for determining fault.
• Draw the sketch carefully: Include the road layout, driving directions of both vehicles and the collision point.
• Describe damage accurately: Document all visible damage on both vehicles.
• Take photos: In addition to the report, photograph all damage and the accident scene.
• Both parties must sign: Without signatures from both parties, the report has limited evidential value.

Is there an accident report as a PDF download?

Yes. You have two options:

1. Blank PDF template: Download the German Unfallbericht.at template using the button on this page without registering. Print it and fill it in by hand. It does not contain interactive PDF fields.
2. Digital accident report: Complete the guided steps in the web app. Your details are used to generate a PDF that you can download and submit to your insurer.

Which accident report template can support an insurance claim?

Insurance companies accept the standardized European accident report based on the CEA model. This form has a uniform structure across Europe, so insurance companies can understand the accident regardless of country.

The PDF generated by unfallbericht.at follows this structure. It contains all fields prescribed by the CEA, the digital signatures of both parties, and is reviewed by insurance companies as supporting claims documentation.

Important: Even informal accident reports or simple notes can be helpful when filing a claim. But the standardized accident report significantly speeds up processing because insurance companies receive all relevant information in a uniform format.