Traffic accident compensation in Spain: insurance claim steps

Quick answer

• File the accident report: police report or agreed accident statement.
• Insurance claim deadline: usually 7 days for vehicle damage, longer for injuries.
• Medical evidence is decisive: emergency report, sick leave, treatment records.
• Initial offer from insurer: you can reject and request independent assessment.

Evidence needed for the accident claim

• Police report or accident statement.
• Medical documents: emergency report, diagnosis, treatment records, sick leave.
• Vehicle repair estimate or invoice.
• Photos of the scene, vehicles and injuries.
• Insurer correspondence and claim référence number.

What to do first

• File the claim with the insurer as soon as possible and note the claim référence number.
• Get a médical report even for minor injuries. Injuries can develop over days.
• Respond to the insurer in writing and keep all correspondence.
• If you have legal expenses cover, notify your own insurer.

Documents and evidence

• Police report, accident statement or claim number.
• Medical reports, repair estimates, photos and invoices.
• Insurer emails, refusal letters and payment records.

Deadlines and risk

• Delay in médical assessment: insurer may argue injuries appeared after the accident.
• Accepting the first offer without independent assessment: often below entitlement.
• Verbal agreement at scene without signed documentation: hard to enforce later.
• Missing the damage notification deadline: used by some insurers to reduce coverage.
• No photos or evidence from the scene: fault disputes become much harder.

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