How to fill out and file a joint accident report

When a fender bender occurs the simplest of tasks can seem impossible. That's why it's good to learn the ins and outs of auto accident joint reports before you need to file one. Here's a primer to help you know what to do if ever you're involved in a car accident.

A joint report is a document published by the Groupement des assureurs automobiles (GAA) in Quebec. The document is simple to use and available in both English and French. By filling it out completely with the other driver involved in a wreck, you’ll have all the information necessary to ensure your auto insurance claim is processed quickly and efficiently.

After an accident, the first priority is to ensure you, your passengers and the other driver are safe. If there are injuries, call emergency personnel right away. If everyone’s uninjured following the accident, take a moment to cool down and then take a look at your GAA joint report worksheet. The GAA recommends storing a version of the document in your glove box.

The joint report is printed on carbon copy paper, meaning you and the other driver will have separate copies of the report after the accident. Write legibly using a ballpoint pen and be sure to carefully copy the pertinent information—even small mistakes at this stage may delay your claim.

If there are witnesses to the accident, be sure to include their contact information as well. Both you and the other driver will need to sign the report. If the other driver refuses to complete a joint report, you should fill one out anyway, offering as much information as possible.

Once the joint report is completed, do not alter it in any way. Send your copy of the joint report to your insurance company (either your broker or your agent) as soon as possible, ideally within five days.

In order to completely fill out the joint report form, you’ll need a few things.

• Driver’s licence information for you and the other driver
• Vehicle registration information for you and the other driver
• Insurance certificate information for you and the other driver

No. It will be up to your insurance company and that of other driver involved in an accident to determine who is at fault. Joint reports are just efficient ways of forwarding pertinent information to insurance companies.

If you and the other driver or drivers don’t speak the same language, don’t worry. The French and English versions of the GAA’s joint report forms are identical, helping to make communication as straightforward as possible.

Don’t panic after an accident. By keeping a copy of a joint report in your vehicle, you’ll be one step closer to getting your vehicle back on the road as soon as possible.