Car Accident Information Worksheet (Free PDF)
Print this and keep it in your glove box. After a crash, once everyone is safe, fill it in at the scene. It covers what insurers and state crash reports usually ask for.
Fillable on screen or printable · no email or sign-up · last reviewed 2026-09-29 by David Bennett
When to use it
- Right after a crash, once everyone is safe and off the road.
- When police don't come to the scene and you need your own record of what happened.
- Before you call your insurer, so you have every detail in one place.
What the form asks for
- Date · Time · Weather / road conditions
- Exact location (street, cross street, city, state)
- Police called? (yes/no) · Police agency · Report / case number
- Officer name · Badge number · Towed? Where to?
- Full name · Phone
- Address
- Driver's license # and state · Plate # and state
- Vehicle year / make / model / color · Owner (if not the driver)
- Insurance company · Policy number
- Witness 1 name · Phone
- Witness 2 name · Phone
- Describe what happened, in order
- Damage to your vehicle
- Injuries (anyone, however minor)
- ☐ Photos of all vehicles, plates, damage, the scene, road signs and skid marks
- ☐ Photo of the other driver's license and insurance card (with permission)
- ☐ Checked your state's crash-reporting rule (fairclaimcalculator.com/guides/accident-reporting/)
- ☐ Did not admit fault or sign anything except a police form
How to fill it in
- Print two copies and keep them in your glove box with a pen. You can also fill the PDF on your phone.
- At the scene, fill in the crash details first: date, time, exact location, and whether police came and the report number.
- Copy the other driver's details from their license and insurance card — not from memory. A photo of both (with permission) avoids mistakes.
- Get witness names and phone numbers before they leave. They are hard to find later.
- Write down what happened in order while it's fresh. Stick to facts; don't guess about speed or fault.
- Work through the checklist at the end, including your state's crash-reporting rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information should you exchange after a car accident?
At minimum: the other driver's name, phone, address, driver's license number, plate number, vehicle description, insurance company and policy number. Most states require drivers to exchange name, address and registration information, and some also require license and insurance details. Also note the police report number if police came.
Should I admit fault at the scene?
No. Describe what happened factually to the police and your insurer, but don't apologize in a way that sounds like admitting fault or sign any statement other than a police form. Fault is decided later from the evidence.
Do I have to report the accident to the state as well as the police?
It depends on the state. Some states (such as California and New York) require your own written report to the DMV above a damage threshold, even if police came. Others only require you to notify police. Check your state on our accident-reporting page.