What to do straight after an accident

Nobody leaves home expecting to have an accident, which is why it’s easy to freeze when it happens. Whether it’s a small knock on a roundabout in Las Américas or a rear-end shunt on the TF-1, following a simple order avoids mistakes that later complicate the claim. Safety first, then information, and finally the insurance.

1. Protect yourself and others

1. Switch on your hazard lights.
2. Put on your reflective vest before getting out of the car.
3. Signal the vehicle. In Spain, since January 2026 the mandatory warning device is the connected V-16 beacon, which goes on the roof so you don’t have to walk along the carriageway.
4. If the car can be moved and nobody is hurt, move it somewhere safe. If not, get out on the side away from traffic and stand behind the barrier or off the road.

2. Check for injuries

If anyone is injured, even if it seems minor, call 112. Don’t move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger. It’s also worth calling if the accident blocks the road, if someone involved won’t cooperate, or if you suspect a driver is under the influence of alcohol or other substances. In those cases, the police attendance creates an official record of what happened.

3. Gather information

Once everyone is safe, it’s time to document. Take your time and use your phone:

• Photos of the vehicles, the damage, the number plates and where the cars ended up.
• Photos of the road: signs, skid marks, visibility.
• The other driver’s name, phone number, ID or passport and driving licence.
• The other vehicle’s insurer and policy number.
• Contact details of any witnesses.

If the other car is a hire car, which is very common in the south of the island, also note the rental company: its contract usually names the insurer.

4. Fill in the accident report form

If you agree on what happened, the accident report form (the European Accident Statement, known in Spain as the ‘parte amistoso’) is the quickest way for the insurers to handle the case. Fill it in together, check it before signing and each keep your copy. If you don’t agree, don’t sign: each driver reports their version to their own insurer and, if necessary, the police are called.

5. Avoid what makes things harder

• Don’t argue or admit fault verbally: what counts is what is written down.
• Don’t sign anything you don’t understand; if the other driver doesn’t speak your language, use a version of the form in each language, which has the same layout.
• Don’t leave the scene without exchanging details.

6. Tell your insurer

Report the claim as soon as possible. The law and policies set a deadline of just a few days. Send the form and the photos, and ask about the next steps: recovery truck if you need one, loss assessment and garage. Remember that, in general, you can choose where your car is repaired; check what your policy says.

At Green Car Service Tenerife we help you after an accident: we coordinate the assessment, handle the repair with your insurer and, where possible, offer a courtesy car. See our guide on what to do after an accident, the assistance phone numbers and our insurance handling service.