Police Report

If the police have filed a police report following a collision, they will send it to the Dutch Association of Automobile Insurers after some time. Only one month after the accident occurred may the parties involved submit a request to receive a copy of the report.

You will usually receive this copy two weeks after the request is sent. Unfortunately, it can sometimes take months. For example, it may happen that the report was not forwarded by the officers involved, but that they only made an internal note. This can significantly delay the processing of your claim, but unfortunately, there is little to nothing that can be done about it.

In some cases, the registration form is not sufficient, and the insurance company will want to review the full police report. This can delay the settlement process by months, as this request follows a special procedure. The information on the registration form has no evidentiary value and is intended solely to provide a more detailed understanding of the circumstances of the claim.

Witnesses

Witnesses often play a greater role in the settlement of a claim than the police who file the accident report. This is because the information on the accident report form has no evidentiary value. Therefore, to prove the other party’s liability, it is important that you have other forms of evidence. Witnesses are an excellent resource in this regard, since—unlike the police—they saw what happened.

Tip! First, look for any witnesses and write down their license plate numbers or contact information before you start inspecting the damage to your car. The damage will still be there, but the witnesses will leave. As you’ve read above, you may very well need those witnesses.

Even if the other party admits at the time that the damage was their fault, they may claim something different the next day. If you don’t have any witnesses, you won’t be able to prove your version of events. As a result, the settlement of the claim could be seriously delayed, or you may receive no compensation or only partial compensation. So make sure to protect your interests!

Expert

Alpina will hire an expert through the other party's insurance company. This expert is responsible for assessing the damage to your car.

The expert often mentions a specific amount that you should receive in your account within two weeks. However, in many cases, this is incorrect! First, it is not up to them to determine this, and second, it depends on many other factors.

Once an expert has assessed the extent of the damage, you can generally have the car repaired. Please note: You do this at your own risk, because at that point it is not certain whether the other party will actually pay compensation.

Claim Form

You received an accident report form along with your provisional coverage confirmation. Always keep this form in your car. The form consists of an original and a carbonless copy. Fill out the front of the accident report form at the scene of the accident, together with the other party.

Be careful what you write! Once you sign the form, it is often binding regarding liability. So fill it out carefully, and note in the comments section if you disagree with anything (such as something the other party has stated). You won’t be able to change this later. It doesn’t matter whether your information is entered on the left or right side. After everyone has received a copy, fill out the back completely at home.

Tip! Pay attention to the diagram on the accident report form. Make sure it accurately depicts what happened.

By handling a claim as carefully as possible, you can avoid a lot of trouble!
By the way, it’s absolutely not necessary to report property damage and/or personal injury to us within 24 hours. It’s early enough if you report weekend damage on Monday.

Opposing Party

In many cases, everything goes smoothly. The other party has also properly filled out the accident report form and sent it to their insurance agent or insurer. In that case, your claim can be settled within the usual timeframe. Of course, this still depends on whether the other party’s liability can be determined quickly.

Unfortunately, it often happens that the other party—whether out of ignorance or for other reasons—has not sent their accident report form to their insurance agent or insurer, or has not filled it out completely. In such cases, the settlement process can be delayed by weeks or even months. We therefore advise you to tell the other party that they must also fill out the form on the back and send it to their own insurance agent or insurer.

Legal expenses insurance

It’s best to purchase legal assistance insurance for traffic accidents. Especially for accidents that occur abroad and in cases of serious injuries, legal assistance is virtually indispensable. Legal assistance insurance provides legal support and access to experts who are familiar with the local area.

A counterparty is more likely to make a payment if it is dealing with a legal expenses insurer or that insurer’s attorney. For just 63 euros a year, you can get comprehensive family traffic legal coverage! All traffic-related cases are covered.