1. Safety first
Hazard lights on immediately, whether the accident is minor or not.
Hi-vis vest on before getting out of the vehicle, especially on a fast road, a busy route or the ring road.
Get yourself and any passengers clear of traffic, behind a barrier if possible.
2. Call emergency services if needed
If there are injuries, call 15 (SAMU) or 112 (the European emergency number, valid anywhere in France) before anything else. If there's disagreement between drivers, a hit-and-run, or damage blocking traffic, call the police on 17 or the gendarmerie on 18 depending on the area. For a minor collision, with no injuries and no dispute, the police generally don't need to attend.
3. Accident report, photos, details
Once things are safe, exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver, and fill in an agreed accident report (constat amiable) if you have one. Take photos of the vehicles, the damage, the number plates and, if useful, the position of the vehicles before you move them. If there's no dispute or injury preventing it, move the vehicles to the side to clear the traffic lane: this helps avoid a second collision, particularly on the ring road or a motorway.
4. Notify your insurer
The usual deadline for reporting a claim is 5 working days after the accident: check the exact deadline in your policy, as it varies between insurers. Keep a copy of the accident report and any photos taken at the scene.
5. Vehicle recovery
If the vehicle can no longer be driven safely, it needs to be towed rather than moved under its own power. This is where we come in: once the area is safe and, if needed, emergency services have been, we recover your vehicle to a garage, an assessor, or another address of your choice. See our accident recovery page for the full service.
Accident on the ring road or a motorway? The same safety rules apply, with higher risk given the traffic speed. See our ring road breakdown guide for the detailed steps on that kind of road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should vehicles be moved after an accident in Paris?
If no one is injured and the vehicles can still be driven, it's generally recommended to move them to the side to clear the traffic lane, after taking photos of the scene and the damage. If there's disagreement, a hit-and-run, or injuries, don't move anything and wait for the police.
How quickly do I need to report the accident to my insurer?
The usual deadline for reporting a claim to your insurer is 5 working days after the accident. Check the exact deadline stated in your policy, as it can vary between insurers.
When should the police be called after an accident?
When there are injuries, a disagreement about what happened, a vehicle that flees the scene, or damage that blocks traffic. For a minor collision with no serious damage, an agreed accident report between the parties is usually enough.