Car accidents, friendly report: what it is, how and when it is filled out

Anyone who drives a motor vehicle, whether it has two or four wheels, automatically takes the risk of being victim or perpetrator of an accident. Yet, not everyone is prepared to face and manage a possible accident, even just a minor collision without serious injuries where one only has to worry about compensation for damages. Among the procedures to follow in this case is the compilation of the friendly observationa paper form that allows you to independently manage compensation for material damage to your vehicle, without necessarily having to request the intervention of the competent authorities.

It is essential not only to know how to fill it out, but also in which cases it is convenient or not convenient, and above all learn to do it before an accident occurs and not during or after. Here is a complete guide on the friendly declaration: what it is, how to obtain it, how and when it is filled out and practical advice to avoid unpleasant surprises.

What is the friendly declaration

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The form of friendly observationalso called CID (Direct Compensation Agreement) or blue form, is a document that is issued by the insurance company with which the Auto TPL was stipulated, the compulsory insurance for all vehicles in circulation. This is a paper form that drivers involved in a road accident can fill in together to clearly describe the dynamics of the accident. It is used to collect vehicle, driver and insurance data and a description of the damage suffered: once signed by all drivers, the form is sent to each individual’s insurance company within a maximum of 3 days. The form delivered by your insurance is made up of 4 copies with two sections to fill in and made of carbon paper, so that what is written in the first copy is transferred to the other 3 copies below. If the one delivered by your insurer has already been used, can be recovered by calling your insurer to have another sent to you or, more simply, print the PDF which can be found on various insurance company sites. Don’t forget: if you decide to print it, you need to make 4 copies of the two sheets provided by the PDF file which will then have to be filled in individually: two copies are for the other driver, two copies for yourselfof which one goes to your insurer and one remains personal. If a third vehicle is involved in the accident, a additional modulecreating a “chain” of relationships between the cars involved, so that all insurance companies have complete data to assess liability.

What is the friendly declaration for?

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The process of compiling the amicable statement by two or more drivers involved in an accident allows for reduce compensation times by insurance companies: this is because, if signed by both drivers, the CID provides the insurance companies with a shared and clear version of the dynamics of the accident. In this way, there is no need to launch long investigations or compare conflicting versions. If the statement is clear and well filled out and there is no doubt about responsibility, drivers will be able to take advantage of the direct compensationa procedure that allows you to request compensation from your own insurance and not from that of the other party, thus halving the time compared to the standard procedure.

When completing the friendly declaration

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The Cid form is certainly a quick and easy method to deal with the consequences of an accident, but the conditions of the accident must be very specific. Filling out the friendly declaration is the optimal choice if:

• the accident did not cause serious injuries to drivers and passengers and material damage was minor;
• the accident occurred in Italy, Vatican City or the Republic of San Marino, even if with a foreign car;
• the accident involved two or more vehicles;
• the dynamics and responsibility of the accident are clear and agreed upon by all drivers involved;
• there is no need to call the competent authorities.

After all these conditions have occurred, only one driver will proceed to fill out the form, while the other or others will have to be very careful that the dynamics and data requested by the CID have been written correctly and without errors or misunderstandings. Once the compilation has been rechecked and responsibility confirmed, the drivers will sign the form as proof of a shared version of the events that occurred. The form can also be signed in the event of contributory negligence, as long as the drivers agree on their percentage of responsibility.

When the friendly declaration is not filled out

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Once the accident has occurred, even if it respects all the characteristics described previously, It doesn’t mean that filling out the CID is the best choice. It is better to give up the friendly declaration and therefore call the competent authorities if:

• the other driver is uncooperative, hasty and nervous;
• the other driver persuades you to write something that is untrue or misleading with the excuse that “it is convenient for both of us”;
• the other driver is suspected of being impaired or intoxicated.

If you proceed to call the authorities without giving them a valid reason as to why they should show up at the scene of an accident with minor consequences, they will most likely not come. For this reason, if an anomalous situation such as those listed above arises, it is important specify it during the call to the Police or Carabinieri who will in that case confirm the conditions and draw up a report.

When it can be contested

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Since the CID is not a contract, this can be contested for numerous reasons even if it has already been signed by all interested parties. Whether the complaint is truthful or a “smart one”, it is always better to thoroughly recheck the compilation and strengthen your version of the facts as much as possible. The finding can be contested if:

• the personal data of the drivers, vehicles and insurance companies are incorrect;
• the versions of the accident provided by the drivers are not consistent or there are evident contradictions between the descriptions of the facts;
• the finding does not correctly comply with the rules of the Highway Code, for example by failing to indicate the infringements committed by the drivers;
• one of the parties signed the amicable finding under pressure, intimidation or threats.

The importance of signatures and witnesses, practical advice

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In the best case scenario, the drivers sign the amicable statement and the compensation occurs without any problems. In reality, we often disagree on the dynamics, some try to play smart with the other driver who had an accident who doesn’t know how to handle the situation or the amicable finding is contested after it has been signed. To avoid falling into further vicissitudes after the accident (already frustrating in itself), we must take into account some precautions while compiling the Cid:

• you need to know how to fill it in before any accident happens! Being caught unprepared means leaving the other driver the opportunity to take advantage and write in the CID what is most convenient for him, as well as finding himself in a situation of discomfort and confusion.
• if possible, it is better to fill in your part yourself without leaving the information in the hands of the other driver; otherwise always remain close and approve everything that is written.
• if you are not convinced by the version described in the Cid, don’t sign! The CID can also be sent with a single signature, but it loses its veracity. If you disagree with the dynamics, it is better to proceed with a classic accident report which will be compared with the CID description sent by the other party.
• If you find yourself in the opposite situation in which the other driver does not want to sign, you should still try to fill out the CID as best as possible and send it only with your signature to the insurer.
• One’s version of events can be strengthened with the presence of witnesses, who will be used if the other party decides to contest the contents of the CID, which can happen even after it has been signed by both parties. To prevent this, it is better to take the data of all the witnesses present and their statements and write them in the appropriate section of the CID.
• Dispute is always around the corner, so it is important to strengthen your version of events also with photos and videos at the site of the accident.

How to fill out the friendly declaration

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Before proceeding with the compilation guide, the advice is to: get a form to be able to read it and become familiar with it. Here are the points and what they correspond to.

• Points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: date, time and place of the accident, declaration of injuries and material damage as well as the vehicles involved and any witness data (which can also be noted on the second page);
• Points 6, 7, 8, 9 divided between vehicle A and B, the choice is indifferent: personal data of the insured, data of the vehicle, data of the insurance company (the insurance certificate is usually found together with the booklet in the vehicle card holder), personal data of the driver, whether the insured himself or a different person;
• Points 10 and 11: indication of the initial point of impact of your vehicle and a description of the visible damage;
• Point 12description of the dynamics of the accident: place a cross only on the boxes in which the circumstances of the accident are indicated and report it on the side of the vehicle that carried out that manoeuvre; at the end, indicate the total number of boxes marked. It is necessary to carefully select what you decide to tick, to avoid indicating multiple boxes that are incompatible with each other and giving rise to a contradictory reconstruction;
• Point 13 and 14further observations and drawing: make a stylized drawing of the position of the cars at the moment of impact, specifying the direction of travel with an arrow and drawing the roadway, especially if it is an intersection. The drawing must be made as if seen from above: the cars can be depicted as simple squares and defined as vehicle A or B. It is advisable to test first on another sheet.
• Point 15: drivers’ signatures;
• Second sheet “Other information”: data of any witnesses and injured people, possible intervention by the authorities.