Every accident or road collision is a highly stressful situation. What should you do in such a case?
Do you always need to call the police to the scene? When should you call the police?

If there are no injuries or serious harm resulting from the accident, you do not need to call the police. In this case, you should safely move the vehicles off the road to avoid obstructing traffic or creating additional hazards, and then proceed to complete a damage statement. However, if the circumstances of the accident are unclear, or the parties involved cannot agree on who is at fault, it is safer to call the police.

If you decide to call the police, it is a good idea to request an official police report to save time and speed up the insurance process. This report will include all the essential information about the accident, such as the details of the at-fault driver, the license plate numbers of the vehicles involved, and the name and policy number of the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

If you do not call the police, you should:

• Take clear and detailed photos of the accident scene (without proper photos, it may be difficult to prove who was at fault).

• Write a damage statement in two copies. You can find a template here, but if you don’t have one, you can simply use a blank piece of paper.

The damage statement should include:

• Date, time, and location of the accident.

• A description of the accident circumstances (ideally with a situational sketch).

• Details of the vehicles involved, including license plate numbers, make, model, and VIN number.

• The at-fault driver’s insurance policy number, the name of their insurance company, and the policy’s validity period.

• The names and contact details of the vehicle owners and drivers.

• The driver’s license numbers of the involved parties.

• The names and contact details of any witnesses.

• A clear and unambiguous statement indicating who is at fault and why.

• A description of the damage to the vehicles or any other property.

You should also include a sketch of the accident scene. The statement must be signed by both parties involved. It is also a good idea to note the contact details of any witnesses, and as soon as possible, submit the completed statement to your insurance company.

How to Report a Claim to Your Insurance Company:
You can do this in three ways:

1. In person – at the nearest branch or claims center of the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

2. By phone – by calling the insurance company’s hotline and following the consultant’s instructions.

3. Online – via the insurance company’s website, if it offers online claim submission options.

For comprehensive (autocasco) insurance, the exact procedure for notifying your insurer about a claim is usually described in the General Terms and Conditions of Insurance. This document will also provide the deadlines for reporting a claim and a list of the documents you will need to submit.