Police report

If the police - as a result of a collision - have made a police report, they send it to the Dutch Association of Automobile Insurers after some time. Only one month after the damage has occurred, those involved may place a request to receive a copy of the registration form.

You will usually receive this copy two weeks after the request is sent. Unfortunately, sometimes it can also take months. For example, the report may not have been forwarded by the agents in question, but they may have only made an internal note. This can greatly delay the settlement of your claim, but unfortunately there is little to nothing you can do about it.

In some cases, the registration form is not enough and the insurance company will want to see the full report. This can delay settlement for months, as this request goes through a special route. The contents of the registration form have no probative value and only serve to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the facts of the claim.

Witnesses

Witnesses often play a greater role in the settlement of a claim than the police making the damage report. This is because the contents of the registration form have no probative value. Therefore, in order to prove the liability of the other party, it is important that you have other means of proof. Witnesses are an excellent tool here, as they - unlike the police - saw what happened.

Tip! Pay attention to any witnesses first and make note of their license plates or details before you go to look at the damage to your car. That damage will remain on your car, but the witnesses will leave again. As you have read above, you may desperately need the witnesses.

Even if the other party admits at the time that the damage is his or her fault, the next day they may claim otherwise. If you have no witnesses, you cannot prove your reading. As a result, the settlement of the claim may be seriously hindered or you may receive no or only partial compensation. So watch out for your best interests!

Expert

Alpina engages an expert through the insurance company of the other party. This expert's job is to determine the damage to your car.

Often the surveyor will mention a certain amount that you should receive in your account within two weeks. However, this is incorrect in many cases! First, this cannot be assessed by them and second, it depends on many other factors.

After an expert determines the amount of damage, you can basically have the car repaired. Beware! 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 a claim form with the provisional coverage confirmation. Always keep it in your car. The form consists of an original and a self-printed copy. Complete the front of the claim form at the scene of the accident and with the other party.

Be careful what you fill out! If you sign the form, it is often binding on the question of fault. So fill it out carefully and include it in the comment if you disagree with something (what the other party states, for example). You cannot go back on this later. It does not matter whether your information is filled in on the left or right side. After each has received a copy, complete the back side completely at home.

Tip: Pay attention to the situation drawing on the claim form. Make sure this reflects the correct facts.

By acting as carefully as possible in the event of damage, you can avoid a lot of misery!
By the way, it is absolutely not necessary to report damage to us within 24 hours. It is early enough if you report weekend damage on Monday.

Counterparty

In many cases, things go well. Your counterparty has also neatly filled out the claim form and sent it to his intermediary or insurer. In that case, your claim can be settled within the normal timeframe. Of course, this still depends on being able to quickly establish the other party's liability.

Unfortunately, it regularly happens that the other party, out of ignorance or for other reasons, has not sent his claim form to his intermediary or insurer, or has not filled it out completely. In that case, the settlement can be delayed for weeks or even months. We therefore advise you to tell the other party to also complete the form at the back and send the form to his own intermediary or insurer.

Legal expenses insurance

It is best to take out traffic legal expenses insurance. Especially for damages occurring abroad and serious injuries, you can hardly do without legal assistance. Legal expenses insurance provides legal assistance and the use of experts known locally.

An opposing party is more likely to pay if it is dealing with a legal expenses insurer or its lawyer. For only 63 euros a year, there is already complete family traffic legal assistance! All traffic cases are covered.