A road traffic accident abroad is a situation in which a driver can easily lose their bearings. They are faced with unfamiliar rules, a different language and an unfamiliar procedure for reporting accidents. However, in these circumstances, the driver needs to correctly document the circumstances of the incident and gather the necessary documents.
Why is it important to accurately document the circumstances of an accident after a road traffic accident?
Some drivers believe that if they have decided to buy a «Green Card» (https://arsenal-ic.ua/product/avtostrahuvannya/greencard), they might think that after an accident they don’t need to do anything themselves, and that the insurance company’s representatives will take care of everything. This isn’t quite the case. It is true that the insurer assists its customers and is ready to answer any questions received via the contact centre. However, policyholders should also ensure they correctly document the circumstances of the accident.
The main rule is — do not attempt to reconstruct the scene of the road traffic accident retrospectively, if it can be secured straight away.
Photos and videos: what to capture at the scene of a road traffic accident
The driver does not need to turn the scene of the accident into a full-scale photo shoot. Photographs taken after the accident are necessary to help establish the context of the incident. Therefore, two types of photographs are required:
- A wide-angle photograph. Take a photo of the accident scene so that the position of the vehicles, the road and the directions of travel are clearly visible. Take separate photos of road signs, traffic lights, road markings, junctions or any other features that may have influenced the situation;
- Detailed photographs of the damage to each vehicle. It is advisable to take photographs from different angles. Do not forget to include the vehicle registration numbers.
If you have a dashcam, save the relevant file separately. The same applies to photos and videos from your smartphone. Do not edit the originals or delete the files.
Details of the other party and insurance documents
Another piece of evidence is information about the other party involved in the road traffic accident. You should carefully copy down the details or take photographs of the relevant documents, if the situation and local regulations allow.
You need to note down the driver’s full name, driving licence details, contact number, the name of the insurance company and the policy number. It is also worth noting down the contact details of any witnesses, if there are any.
If you consider yourself to be the injured party, it is important to obtain details of the other party’s insurance from them. You should also ensure that they have notified their insurer of the accident.
The Europrotocol and other documents
Depending on the situation and the regulations in other countries, those involved in a road traffic accident should obtain documentation from the police, including an accident report, a statement of the incident, a diagram of the accident, statements from those involved, a European accident report form or other relevant documents. If there are no injuries or fatalities and no significant damage to the vehicles, the Europrotocol may be used in many countries participating in the «Green Card» scheme. The format of this document is standardised across most participating countries.
If on site Road traffic accident If you are given any paper documents, take a photograph of them. If a document is in a foreign language, do not sign it straight away. If you do not understand the content, it is best to clarify its meaning before signing.
You should also report the road traffic accident to your insurer as soon as possible and clarify the next steps. Later on, to receive compensation, you will need to submit the following to the insurance company:
- «Green Card»;
- car documents;
- the details of the other party involved in the road traffic accident and their insurer;
- contact details of any witnesses, if there were any;
- photos and videos from the scene of the accident;
- a European accident report or documents issued by the police;
- other evidence confirming the circumstances of the road traffic accident.
All of this will help the company piece together a coherent account of the incident and reach a considered decision on compensation.
