How do you properly fill out a traffic accident report?

Quick Overview

The parties involved fill out a traffic accident report when it is not necessary to report the accident to the police. Be sure to include the location and time of the accident, information about the parties involved and the vehicles, a description of how the accident occurred, and its consequences. The parties involved must sign the report and submit it to their insurer. You do not need to agree on who caused the accident—each party may provide their own account of the incident.

In 2026, you have two options: use a paper Euroform or fill out the report online via Bouračka.cz.

Does the other driver describe the accident differently than you do, or is the insurance company refusing to pay for the damage? You don’t have to resolve the dispute on your own. An attorney can help you assess liability for the traffic accident, communicate with the insurance company, and file a claim for damages.

A traffic accident is something none of us ever wants to experience. And yet, they happen every day—from minor fender-benders while parking to collisions at intersections and more serious crashes. While most of them do not result in serious health consequences, they do cause stress in the form of vehicle damage and the subsequent dealings with the insurance company. This is where the traffic accident report comes into play—sometimes also referred to as an accident report or simply a traffic accident form.

This document is extremely important, both legally and practically. It serves as official documentation for the insurance company and often determines whether the damage will be paid in full and how quickly. If you fill it out carefully, clearly, and legibly, the entire claims process will go smoothly. However, if the form is incomplete, unclear, or contains errors, it can become a source of problems—ranging from delays in processing to a denial of the insurance claim.

How to Fill Out a Traffic Accident Report

The accident report form is structured to include all the essential information needed by the insurance company. Although it may seem complicated at first glance, once you know where each piece of information goes, filling it out is simple.

1. Participants’ Identification Information

Write down the full name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number. This information is used to uniquely identify the driver. Remember that both parties involved in the accident must sign the form, so the information for both parties must be filled out.

2. Vehicle and insurance information

This is a very important section. In addition to the vehicle make and license plate number, you must also provide the liability insurance policy number. You can find this on the green card. Providing the exact insurance policy number will significantly speed up the claims process. If you are unsure of the correct insurance information for the other vehicle, ask the driver to show you the Green Card and copy the information directly from it.

3. Location and Time of the Accident

Specify the location as precisely as possible—include the street name, road number, and any nearby landmarks where the accident occurred. Include the date and exact time.

4. Description of the accident

Be brief but clear. Be specific; for example: “Vehicle A was pulling out from a side street on the right and failed to yield to Vehicle B traveling on the main road.” Avoid vague phrases such as “we collided at an intersection.”

5. Accident Diagram

This step is often the most challenging for drivers. The sketch should be simple and easy to understand. Draw the vehicles (A and B), their directions of travel, streets, traffic signs, traffic lights, and any other relevant elements (e.g., a crosswalk).

Starting July 1, 2025, a sketch will no longer be the only option. You can also document the situation with photographs. Therefore, take photos of the overall positions of the vehicles, their damage, license plates, traffic signs, and any marks on the road. Photographs may be more accurate than a hand-drawn diagram when presenting evidence later.

6. Extent of Damage

List all visible damage—not just major damage, but also minor scrapes, cracks, or dents. This will help you avoid future disputes. If anything other than the vehicle was damaged (e.g., a traffic sign, a fence), be sure to note it.

7. Accident Witnesses

If there were witnesses at the scene, provide their names and contact information. Their testimony may be crucial in disputed cases.

8. Signatures of the parties involved

If one of the parties refuses to sign, call the police immediately.

What Is the Purpose of the Euroform?

The Euroform is an internationally recognized traffic accident report form that has a standardized format throughout the EU. As a result, it is valid in all member states and facilitates the settlement of insurance claims if an accident occurs abroad.

Its main advantage is its standardized structure —the form is the same everywhere, whether you’re in the Czech Republic, Germany, or Italy. Another advantage is its linguistic clarity. Each version is available in two languages, so a completed Czech form can also be used abroad, where the insurance company can easily translate the information. Most importantly, the Euroform is valid throughout the EU, so insurance companies abroad will also recognize and accept it.

If you’re traveling abroad by car, we recommend always keeping a few copies of the Euroform on hand. In the event of an accident, this will help you avoid complications and speed up the claims process.

Where can I get a traffic accident report?

An accident report form is not part of the mandatory equipment (such as a first-aid kit), but every driver should carry one. When an accident occurs, there is often stress and chaos, so having the form right in the passenger-side glove compartment is a big advantage.

So where can you get a traffic accident report form?

• Online via Bouračka.cz – a paper form isn’t the only option these days. The Czech Insurers’ Bureau operates a free web application, Bouračka.cz, where you can fill out a traffic accident report electronically. You don’t need to install anything; all you need is a cell phone and an internet connection. Both parties confirm the information via text message and receive the completed report by email.
• Insurance company – most insurance companies provide accident reports to their clients free of charge.
• Insurance agent —your financial advisor or broker will gladly provide you with the form.
• Internet —the form is available for download as a PDF on insurance companies’ websites.
• Partner insurance companies abroad – when traveling abroad, you can also obtain the Euroform from foreign insurance institutions.

Our tip: Always carry at least two copies. If the other driver doesn’t have their own form, you’ll be prepared.

The Supreme Administrative Court has issued an interesting ruling in this area, addressing the obligation of parties involved to complete a joint accident report in accordance with the Road Traffic Act if the accident is not reported to the police. The court emphasized that this document is not an agreement between the parties —it is therefore not necessary for the at-fault party and the injured party to agree on the causes of the accident or on who is responsible for it. Each party has the right to state their own version of events on the form, which is intended to ensure that the report can be completed even if the drivers do not agree.

What are the most common mistakes we make when filling out an accident report form?

From legal practice, we know that the problem often does not arise from the accident itself, but rather from what drivers sign at the scene—or, conversely, what they fail to record. Complications can arise mainly from missing photographs, an overly general description of the accident, or signing a document whose content does not match what the driver actually saw.

Filling out a traffic accident report form may not seem complicated at first glance, but in a real-life situation, stress, haste, and uncertainty all play a role. It is precisely these circumstances that lead to frequent mistakes, which can later result in unnecessary complications when dealing with the insurance company. Drivers often make the mistake of failing to correctly provide the liability insurance number, which is essential for processing the claim. Equally problematic is incomplete information about the parties involved in the accident, such as missing phone numbers or driver’s license numbers.

An inaccurate or unclear diagram of the accident can also cause major problems. If it is not clear how the accident occurred, the insurance company may request additional clarification or even deny the claim. Another common oversight is the missing signature of one of the parties involved, without which the form is invalid. And a critical mistake is giving consent too hastily —never sign anything you don’t agree with, even if the other driver is pressuring you.

Have you signed a report that the other driver or their insurance company is now using to your disadvantage? Send us the documents for review. An attorney will examine the circumstances of the accident and recommend the next steps.

When should you call the police?

Effective July 1, 2025, the damage threshold is 200,000 CZK for any of the vehicles involved, including any items being transported. You must call the police especially if:

• a person has been injured or killed,
• the damage to any of the vehicles involved, including any items being transported, appears to exceed 200,000 Kč,
• property damage has been caused to a third party, such as a fence or a parked vehicle whose driver is not involved in the accident,
• you have damaged a part or accessory of the roadway, such as a guardrail or traffic sign,
• the parties involved cannot restore the flow of traffic on their own without unreasonable effort.

It is also advisable to call the police if the other party refuses to cooperate or is unwilling to provide you with the information needed to resolve the accident.

Summary

A traffic accident report is prepared when there is no obligation to report the accident to the police. When filling out the traffic accident report, include the location and time, information about the parties involved and the vehicles, the course of events and the consequences of the accident; attach photographs or a sketch; and sign the report. The drivers do not have to agree on who was at fault—each can record their own version of the event. In 2026, in addition to the paper Euroform, you can also use the electronic app Bouračka.cz. It is necessary to call the police especially in cases of injury, damage to any of the vehicles apparently exceeding 200,000 CZK, damage to a third party, damage to the roadway, or if it is not possible to restore traffic on your own.