Claims rarely move slowly because the insurer is slow – far more often it's missing paperwork: every round of follow-up requests costs weeks. This list exists so that round never happens in your case: whatever's ticked here means your claim is complete the first time.
- The base package is the same in both roles: report form + photo set + vehicle and personal documents.
- As the injured party, add proof of your claim: invoices, quotes, receipts for justified costs.
- Submit it all at once, in order – a trickle of documents just creates a loop of follow-up requests.
The base package – for every claim
- ☐ Completed, signed European Accident Statement (or a photo of it)
- ☐ Full photo set per the photo guide
- ☐ Vehicle registration and driving licence (copy/photo)
- ☐ Policy number / contract ID
- ☐ A short, factual description of the event (when, where, what happened)
- ☐ If police attended: the report or the case number
As the injured party: proving your claim
- ☐ Repair quote or invoice (if you already have one)
- ☐ Data proving the vehicle's value if you suspect a total loss
- ☐ Receipts for incidental costs: towing, storage, hire car
- ☐ For personal injury: medical records, proof of lost earnings – per the personal injury article
- ☐ Bank account number for the payout
This is where the "proven loss" principle becomes concrete: what has no paperwork is hard to compensate. Gather everything – an unnecessary receipt does no harm, a missing one does.
As the at-fault driver: the factual record package
- ☐ A factual account of your own version (no judgement calls)
- ☐ The report form and photos – your copy of them
- ☐ The report submitted within the deadline, confirmation saved
- ☐ Replies to any claims-handling letters, sent on time
As the at-fault driver, the documents matter differently: they're not proving a claim, they're recording your version of events – and they're also the basis for the bonus decision (any repayment).
The art of submitting
Three rules for a fast claim. All at once: the complete package should arrive together – documents trickled in over several rounds add weeks to the case every time. Organised: files with clear names (date_topic.jpg), photos with captions – the loss adjuster's time is limited, and a well-organised file jumps the queue. Trackable: get confirmation of submission, note the case number, keep every letter on file. If the case still gets stuck despite all this: that's where I step in.
A digital folder template for your claim
A well-organised submission's best friend is a well-named digital folder. A proven template: one main folder named after the claim (2026-08_fender-bender_plate-number), with four subfolders inside: 01_report (photos of the form), 02_photos (the scene set, renamed: 01_wide_front.jpg, 05_damage_closeup.jpg…), 03_documents (registration, licence, policy), 04_correspondence (every submission and reply, filenames starting with the date). At submission, the whole folder's contents go across together; every later letter goes into 04. This structure isn't just fast for the insurer – it's fast for you too: six months on, when a question comes up, you won't be searching, you'll be opening. A claim is stressful enough – your folder doesn't need to be.
Common question: what if something's missing?
This list isn't an exam – if one item is missing, the claim can still go ahead. The priority order: the report form and photos are irreplaceable (they're created at the scene); copies of documents can be replaced (a lost registration, a policy number – both can be looked up); invoices and quotes can arrive later in the process. The right approach with an incomplete package: start the claim with what you have, and flag what's still coming and when – that way the case is in the queue and the deadlines are running. What to avoid: delaying the report until "everything's ready" – a prompt report is worth more than a complete one. And if you're not sure what can be replaced or how: send a message, and I'll tell you.
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