How to Create an Accident Sketch

An accident sketch is a graphic representation of the accident sequence, created as part of the European accident report. It shows the road layout, the positions and driving directions of the vehicles involved, and the collision point. The sketch serves the insurance company as a visual supplement to the written description of the accident. It helps to understand the sequence more quickly and to identify contradictions between the statements of both parties. In the standardized European accident report, a dedicated field is reserved for the accident sketch (Field 13). Both accident parties create the sketch together and must agree on the representation.

The accident sketch significantly influences the claims process: • Evidential value: The sketch visually documents the accident sequence and supplements the written description. In disputes, it serves as important evidence. • Clarity: A sketch makes the accident sequence understandable at a glance — much faster than a text description. • Liability distribution: Insurance companies use the sketch together with the checked circumstances to divide liability between the parties. • International comprehension: Since the sketch is graphic, it works even with language barriers — an advantage for accidents abroad. A missing or unclear sketch can delay claims processing. In some cases, insurance companies request corrections, extending the process by weeks.

A complete accident sketch contains the following elements: • Road layout: Streets, intersections, junctions, lanes, sidewalks and cycle paths • Driving directions: Arrows showing the direction of travel of both vehicles before the accident • Vehicle positions: Position of both vehicles at the time of collision • Collision point: The exact point where the vehicles collided (usually marked with an X) • Final positions: Where the vehicles came to rest after the accident • Traffic signs: Relevant traffic lights, stop signs, right-of-way signs, speed limits • Road markings: Center lines, pedestrian crossings, turning lanes • North arrow: Optional but helpful for orientation The sketch does not need to be to scale, but the proportions should be recognizable.

These mistakes frequently cause problems during claims processing: • Missing driving directions: Without arrows showing the direction of travel, the accident sequence cannot be understood. • Unclear collision point: The point of impact must be clearly marked. • No traffic signs: Missing traffic lights or right-of-way signs make it impossible for the insurer to evaluate the priority situation. • Only one vehicle drawn: Both vehicles must be shown in the sketch — before and at the time of the accident. • Too vague: A sketch showing just two rectangles on a line is not sufficient. The road layout and surroundings must be recognizable. • Contradicts the checkboxes: The sketch must match the checked accident circumstances. If you checked "was reversing," this must be visible in the sketch.

The biggest challenge with a paper accident sketch is the drawing itself. Creating a clear, understandable sketch under stress is difficult for most people. The digital accident report on unfallbericht.at solves this problem with an GPS-based sketch feature: 1. Photograph the intersection or road section with your smartphone 2. AI automatically recognizes the road layout, lanes and intersection shape 3. Place the vehicles using drag-and-drop on the recognized road 4. Add driving directions and the collision point 5. The finished sketch is automatically integrated into the accident report The result is a professional, clearly readable accident sketch — without drawing skills. The AI sketch is significantly more understandable than a hand-drawn version and is accepted by insurance companies without issue.

Yes. On unfallbericht.at you can create the accident sketch directly on your smartphone — with AI assistance. The app detects your GPS location and loads a map of the nearby streets. You place vehicles, trucks, bikes and traffic signs on the map with a tap. The digital accident sketch offers clear advantages over the hand-drawn version: it is more professional, less ambiguous and leaves less room for interpretation. The finished sketch is automatically integrated into the accident report PDF. The AI sketch feature is free and available in all 13 supported languages.

With these tips, you will create an accident sketch that insurance companies can evaluate quickly and clearly: • Choose your perspective: Draw the sketch from a bird's eye view (from above). • Label vehicles: Mark the vehicles with A and B — matching the assignment in the accident report. • Use arrows: Show the driving direction of both vehicles with clear arrows. • Draw relevant details: Traffic lights, stop signs, road markings and street names. • Mark the collision point: Mark the exact impact point with an X. • Keep it simple: The sketch should show the sequence, not the entire environment. Focus on what matters. • Supplement with photos: Take additional photos of the accident scene — they complement the sketch and provide further evidence.