Can you remember what you ate for dinner yesterday?
If you were shaky on that answer, don’t worry – so is the majority of humanity. Human beings just can’t recall specifics that well unless we really put our minds to it, which is why when something big and important happens – like a car accident – it makes sense to write down the details rather than try to hold them in our heads.
Accident Report Form
Sample post-accident report form to keep in your glove box - fill out at the scene or as soon as you can after a car accident
Download in PDF format
We at Enjuris have created a post-accident report for those of us who need a bit of help remembering things. This way, we can focus on the important stuff like healing from a car accident instead of trying to remember a driver’s license plate number and contact information.
There are also some great post-incident reports out there besides the official ones offered by government entities, and we wanted to highlight some of the better ones that we’ve found:
- Drexel University: This one actually has a script at the very top as well as instructions to keep the document in the glove compartment! The script deserves a shout-out because it says what not to say (“It’s all my fault!” “My insurance will pay for everything!” “It’s OK, I have full coverage.”)
- Tulane University: Tulane relies very heavily on illustrations and check boxes, which is great for the visually-minded among us. Sometimes you just need to draw it out. Plus, having the check boxes is a great way to make sure you really hit every marker. Weather conditions? Checked. Car conditions? Checked. Property damage? Checked. They really hit the nail on the head with this one.
- Westmont College: This one, like Drexel, has a script and instructions to keep the document in the glovebox. It leaves most of the information up to the victim to write down, providing lots of room for drawing and information. This one is good if you tend to write a lot and know you need extra space.
- Nonprofit Risk Management Center: This one is simple and straightforward, which is sometimes all you need. It reminds you to keep calm and check for injuries before getting down to business, and it provides space for everybody’s contact information, including the police officer, which people sometimes forget!
You can also see some recommended forms produced by the government in our longer explanation of accident forms.
Tell us – have you found a great post-accident resource that deserves to get the spotlight treatment? Let us know!