Spanish Traffic Accident Report

This article is about the correct way to fill the Traffic accident Report form in the event of a road accident. You might find it useful to print and keep with you in the car.

Don’t get upset.
Be polite
Keep calm.

Good advice, which is printed on the cover of the standard Spanish Traffic Accident Report form.

We all hope it never happens, but when it does, in the heat of the moment, it can be difficult to know how to deal with the insurance accident report form, particularly if you have the other party loosing his cool in your left ear!

Before we start, remember that if anyone is hurt, or if you are in any doubt whatsoever, call the police on 112.
Get your car out of the way of other traffic.
Put up warning triangles.

Firstly, we need to know that the Spanish insurance accident report form is the standard form, folded in two, with a blue outer cover that says Parte Europea de Accidente, that your insurance company gave you to carry with you at all times in the car. When you open it, it says at the top Declaración Amistosa De Accidente, which means that it is a friendly agreement about the accident. This in turn means that you both fill in the form together, sign it and keep copies, because you all agree on the basic details. The paper is pressure sensitive copy paper, so when you write on it, you are making a copy on the sheet below.

If you are not in agreement, you can still use the same form, but you simply fill out your copy with the details as you see them. The other party will not be expected to sign it. You need to put the words Parte Con Contrario at the top and at the bottom in section 14.

Let’s assume this is a friendly accident (!!). First decide who is Vehículo A and who is Vehículo B, as the details of each car will go in one or the other column. It does not matter who is who. Being A or B does not imply any form of responsibility for the accident.

The Form is divided into sections.

1. The Top
2. Vehicle A and Vehicle B
3. Circumstances
4. Sketch
5. Reverse side

The Top

Here you fill some basic, but nevertheless important information.

• 1. Fecha The date of the accident.
• 2. LocalizaciónCountry and place
• 3. Víctimas Anyone hurt? Mark with a X No or Si
• 4. Daños materiales Material damage.
  Vehículos distintos de A y B Vehicles other than A and B Mark with a X No or Si.
  Objetos distintos al vehículo Any other objects such as walls, lamp posts etc. Mark with a X No or Si.
• 5. Testigos: nombre, dirección, etc. Witnesses. Names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Vehicle A and Vehicle B

You must fill in both columns, one for each car, even if the other driver is not in agreement with your version of events.

• 6. Asegurado Here you put the name, surname Apellidos, address, Post code, Country, and Telephone or email of the HOLDER OF THE INSURANCE POLICY. These details should correspond to the details on the Insurance policy itself. Each party should check that this is so. NOTE: The actual driver’s details are entered later in section 9.
• 7. Vehículo A Motor Car details. Put the details Make and Model of the vehicle, The number plate Matrícula, and the Country País. If there is a towed part, such as a caravan or trailer, that is the Remolque and you will need to fill the chassis plate and country of registration for this too.
• 8. Aseguradora The Insurer. Here you put the name of the insurance company and the details of the policy póliza. Normally you only need put the name and the policy number.
• 9. Conductor Here you put the full name of THE DRIVER, with details of date of birth Fecha de nacimiento, address, Country, Telephone, Licence number Permiso de conducir, category and expiry date Permiso válido hasta. You must check the other driver’s license, and give him yours to check.
• 10. Indicar el punto de choque inicial con una flecha In this picture you put an arrow pointing to where the initial impact was. You can also put an X or a line to mark areas of damage.
• 11. State where the damage is. You can write this in your own language. Keep it very simple, as the insurer will send someone to look at the car later anyway.
• 12. Circunstancias See next section : Circumstances
• 13. The sketch: Try to draw the position of the cars at the moment of impact. Mark directions of travel.
• 14. Observaciones Any comments, such as “Car was parked and locked” go in here. You can use your own language if your Spanish isn’t up to it.
• 15. You BOTH sign here.

The Circumstances

You put a X in any box which applies. One side is for car A and the other for car B

1. Stationary, or parked.
2. Pulling out of a parking zone, or opening a door.
3. Maneuvering to park.
4. Coming out of a parking garage, private drive or private road.
5. Entering into a parking garage, private drive or private road.
6. Entering a roundabout.
7. Going around a roundabout.
8. Hit the back of another car going the same direction in the same lane.
9. Travelling in the same direction, but in different lanes.
10. Changing lane.
11. Overtaking.
12. Turning right.
13. Turning left.
14. In reverse.
15. Entered an area reserved for traffic going the other way.
16. Came from the right (at a cross road or junction)
17. Did not respect a Stop or a red light.

At the end, you should put a number to indicate how many boxes have a cross in them for each column.

Now, if both have signed, one takes one copy, and the other takes the other. Make sure you have got all your documents back and have returned the other driver’s documents, and say goodbye.

The Reverse

At home, you can take your time to fill out the reverse side, if need be. If the police came, they should have already filled part of this side with their details. This side is mostly for the insurers to fill, so it is usually better to go into the insurers office. They will help you get it right.

Finally, make sure your insurer gets your copy as soon as possible.

If the other party is not willing to make a “friendly” declaration, then fill out all the details the same. The other must provide you with their documents, license, insurance policy details, as a matter of law. If you encounter any problems at all, call the police straight away. The longer you hesitate, the worse it can get. Normally though, most people just want to get on with it and carry on with their lives.

If there are more than 2 cars involved, then you will need to fill one Accident Report with each vehicle involved.

I hope this is useful, but on the other hand I also hope you never need it.

Last updated 18 06 2009

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