Accident Statement vs. Police Report - When Do You Need Which?

When two drivers are involved in a traffic accident, there are two primary ways to officially document what happened: a joint accident statement filled in by both drivers, or a police report created by law enforcement officers called to the scene. Understanding when each document is appropriate - and when both are needed - is essential for any driver in Europe. This guide explains the key differences, outlines the rules across several EU countries, and helps you decide the right course of action for your situation. In many cases, a properly completed accident statement is all you need to file your insurance claim quickly and successfully.

The confusion between these two documents is understandable. Both serve as official records of an accident. Both are used by insurance companies. But they serve fundamentally different purposes, are created through different processes, and carry different legal weight. Getting this wrong - calling the police when you do not need to, or failing to call them when you do - can cost you time, money, and legal protection.

What Is the Difference?

The joint accident statement (European Accident Statement, Constat Amiable) is a document filled in by the two drivers involved in the accident. It records the facts as agreed upon by both parties: when and where the accident happened, the vehicles involved, the circumstances (what each driver was doing), a sketch of the collision, and both drivers’ signatures. It is designed for minor accidents where both parties can calmly document what happened.

A police report is an official document created by police officers who respond to the accident scene. It includes the officers’ observations, measurements, witness statements, breathalyser results (if applicable), and their preliminary assessment of the circumstances. A police report carries official legal weight and may be used as evidence in court proceedings or administrative penalty procedures.

Here is a side-by-side comparison:

Aspect	Accident Statement	Police Report
Created by	Both drivers together	Police officers
Legal status	Factual record for insurance	Official legal document
Determines fault?	No - insurers determine liability	May include preliminary fault assessment
Cost	Free	Free (but may involve fines if you are at fault)
Time required	10-20 minutes	30 minutes to several hours
Available digitally	Yes, via EASF at easf.eu	Depends on the country
Sufficient for insurance claim?	Yes, for minor accidents	Yes, for all accidents
Required for court?	No (but helpful)	Yes, if proceedings are initiated

The key takeaway: the accident statement is a faster, simpler process that works perfectly for the vast majority of minor accidents. The police report is a heavier instrument reserved for more serious situations.

When Is an Accident Statement Sufficient?

A joint accident statement is sufficient - and in fact preferred by many insurers for speed of processing - when all of the following conditions are met:

1. No injuries. All parties involved are physically unharmed. No one needs medical attention.
2. Property damage only. The damage is limited to the vehicles (and possibly minor roadside property like a fence or bollard).
3. Both drivers are present and cooperative. Both parties are willing to fill in the form and agree on the basic facts.
4. No suspicion of criminal behaviour. Neither driver appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and no traffic laws were blatantly violated (e.g., running a red light at high speed).
5. Clear circumstances. The cause of the accident is straightforward - a rear-end collision, a lane-change scrape, a parking lot bump.

In these situations, calling the police is unnecessary and may even be unwelcome. In some countries, police will decline to attend minor property-damage accidents, directing you to fill in an accident statement instead.

Examples of accident-statement-only situations:

• You reverse into another car in a supermarket car park
• Someone rear-ends you at a traffic light at low speed
• A vehicle scrapes yours while changing lanes on a dual carriageway
• Two cars collide at low speed in a narrow street

For all of these scenarios, both drivers can open EASF at easf.eu/start, fill in the joint statement on their phones, and be on their way within 15 minutes. For a detailed walkthrough of the form, see our guide on how to fill in the accident statement.

When You MUST Call the Police

There are situations where calling the police is not optional - it is either legally required or strongly advisable:

Mandatory police involvement:

• Injuries or fatalities. If anyone is hurt, call 112 immediately. In every EU country, accidents with injuries must be reported to the police.
• Hit-and-run. If the other driver flees the scene, you need a police report to file a claim against the guarantee fund (each EU country has one for uninsured/unidentified drivers).
• Suspected DUI or drug use. If you believe the other driver is intoxicated, call the police. Only law enforcement can administer a breathalyser test, and this evidence is critical for your claim and any criminal proceedings.
• Significant road blockage. If the accident blocks a major road or motorway, police are needed to manage traffic and clear the scene.
• Vehicle theft or stolen plates. If the other vehicle appears to be stolen or has mismatched plates, call the police.
• Damage to public infrastructure. If traffic lights, road signs, barriers, or other public property is damaged, police involvement is typically required.

Strongly advisable police involvement:

• Disagreement about facts. If the other driver refuses to fill in the accident statement, denies being at fault, or gives a contradictory account of what happened, a police report provides an objective third-party record.
• Multiple vehicles involved. Three-car pile-ups and chain collisions are complex, and a police report helps sort out the sequence of events.
• Foreign-registered vehicle. If the other vehicle has foreign plates and you are unsure about their insurance status, police can verify registration and insurance on the spot.
• Aggressive or threatening behaviour. If the other driver is hostile, do not engage. Return to your vehicle and call the police.

If in doubt, call the police. It is always better to have a police report and not need it than to need one and not have it.

Rules in Different EU Countries - Comparison Table

Regulations vary across EU member states. Here is a comparison for five major countries:

Requirement	Poland (PL)	Germany (DE)	France (FR)	Austria (AT)	Czech Republic (CZ)
Police required for injuries?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Police required for property damage only?	No (but recommended if dispute)	No	No	No	Yes, if damage exceeds CZK 100,000
Accident statement sufficient for minor claims?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (below threshold)
Deadline to report to insurer	7 days	1 week	5 business days	1 week	15 days
Standard form name	Oświadczenie	Europäischer Unfallbericht	Constat Amiable	Europäischer Unfallbericht	Záznam o dopravní nehodě
Police will attend minor accidents?	Sometimes (varies by region)	Generally not	Generally not	Generally not	Yes, if called
Penalty for not reporting injury accident?	Yes - criminal	Yes - criminal	Yes - criminal	Yes - criminal	Yes - criminal

Key observations:

• Czech Republic is notable for its damage threshold - if estimated damage exceeds CZK 100,000 (approximately EUR 4,000), police must be called even for property-damage-only accidents.
• France has a strong Constat Amiable culture - the form is widely used and understood, and police generally do not attend minor accidents.
• Poland does not legally require police for minor property damage, but many Polish drivers call the police out of habit. This is changing as digital accident statements become more common.
• Germany is pragmatic - police will typically not come out for minor fender-benders and will direct you to fill in the accident statement.

Regardless of the country, the European Accident Statement form is accepted everywhere. This is one of its greatest strengths - it is truly pan-European.

Can You Have Both?

Yes, absolutely. Having both an accident statement and a police report is not only possible but sometimes advisable. Here is how they complement each other:

• The police report provides an authoritative, third-party account of the scene, including officer observations and any measurements or tests performed.
• The accident statement provides the drivers’ own agreed account of the circumstances, which may include details the police did not observe (e.g., what happened in the seconds leading up to the collision).

When to have both:

1. The police were called (due to injuries or other reasons), but you still want to document the agreed circumstances with the other driver.
2. You filled in the accident statement, but later decided to file a police report as well (for example, if you suspect the other driver was dishonest on the form).
3. Your insurer requests both documents.

Having both documents strengthens your claim. The insurer can cross-reference the two accounts and build a more complete picture of the accident. There is no downside to having more documentation.

How to Fill in the Accident Statement Online

Whether you need a police report or not, the joint accident statement is almost always useful. And with EASF at easf.eu, filling it in has never been easier.

Here is the process:

1. Open easf.eu/start on your phone. No app download or registration needed.
2. Share the session link or QR code with the other driver.
3. Each driver fills in their own side - Side A and Side B - on their own phone.
4. Choose your language - EASF supports Polish, English, German, Ukrainian, and French. Each driver can use a different language.
5. Complete all sections - the form guides you through vehicle details, insurance information, circumstances checkboxes, the accident sketch, and photo uploads.
6. Sign digitally - each driver signs on their own phone screen.
7. Download the PDF - a professional, complete accident statement ready to send to your insurer.

The entire process takes 10 to 15 minutes. The form is timestamped, legible, and complete - everything your insurer needs to process your claim quickly.

Even if the police are involved, consider filling in the EASF form as well. It provides a complementary record that your insurer can process immediately, rather than waiting for the official police report (which can take days or weeks to be issued in some countries).

For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see our complete guide to filling in the accident statement. And for a broader overview of what to do after any accident, read our step-by-step accident guide. If you have been in an accident abroad and are dealing with a cross-border situation, our guide on car accidents abroad covers the additional complexities you may face.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an accident statement instead of a police report?

For minor accidents with no injuries, property damage only, and both parties agreeing on the facts, a joint accident statement is sufficient in most EU countries. It is the standard way to document minor collisions across Europe. However, you must call the police if there are injuries, suspected DUI, hit-and-run, or significant disagreement about fault. When in doubt, it is always safer to call the police.

Is an accident statement legally binding?

The accident statement is not a legally binding determination of fault. It is an agreed description of the accident facts that helps insurance companies process claims. The insurer - not the form - determines liability based on the information provided, applicable traffic laws, and any additional evidence. Signing the form means you agree that the facts as recorded are accurate; it does not mean you accept responsibility for the accident.

What happens if I don’t fill in an accident statement?

Without an accident statement or police report, it becomes much harder to prove what happened. Your insurance claim may be delayed or even denied due to insufficient documentation. The other driver’s account may differ from yours, and without a signed joint record, the insurer has no basis for determining what occurred. Always document the accident - either with a joint statement, through the police, or ideally both. Tools like EASF make filling in the statement quick and painless, so there is no reason to skip this step.