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I recently had an accident and was caught off guard. I was stressed and nervous. The other driver was completely unhelpful. I wish I had taken some photos.
 Familiarise yourself with your policy and the European Accident Form as soon as you receive your policy documents. Keep a copy of emergency numbers with your policy document and on your mobile phone. Ensure that you are well-acquainted with your company�s procedure � e.g. can you use any garage or do you need to go to a specific one named by your insurance company.
In case of an accident, call the police and get them to write a formal report on the accident. You will need this report to make a claim. If there is a life threatening situation or if medical attention is needed, call the ambulance on 061 or 112. If no one is injured phone the Guardia Civil on 062 or the Local Police on 092. If a member of Helicopteros Sanitarios, you can also call them on 952 81 18 18.
Complete the European Accident Form (comes with your policy) in as much detail as possible. Take down the phone numbers of the other parties involved in the accident. Information is key.
Where possible, try to get photographic evidence and make a note of the events as and when they occur.
Call your insurance company immediately. Most policy documents will have a 24 hour claims number on them. Call and log your claim at the first possible chance.
As soon as a claim is made, speak to the company to find out when the loss adjuster can come and inspect the vehicle.
In general the claims process is relatively simple and involves:
1. The �perrito� (loss adjuster) coming out to estimate the cost to fix the damage (many perrito�s will not speak English so it is useful to have a friend who can help with the translation nearby!)
2. The insurance company agreeing to foot the costs.
Claims not covered by your insurance company may be referred to the Spanish Consorcio. In the majority of policies, a small percentage of your insurance premium (check that this is the case with your broker), be it for a house or car policy (Spanish plated vehicles only) is attributed to the �Consorcio�. The Consorcio, (Consorcio de Compensaci�n de Seguros) is a Spanish public body set up to cover freak events � such as extraordinary weather conditions and national disasters. If this is the case, you will need to go through the Consorcio�s complaints procedure. See www.coseguros.com for more information.
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