What is an accident report?

An accident report — also known as a damage report or damage appraisal — is the independent, written documentation of damage to your vehicle following a road accident. As a vehicle appraiser in Erlangen, I document the full extent of damage, the repair costs, any market depreciation, the replacement value, the residual value, the repair duration and the resulting loss of use. An accident report forms the basis for a complete and fair settlement with the at-fault insurer — and, if the matter ends in litigation, it serves as court-admissible evidence.

Unlike a simple cost estimate from a workshop, an accident report captures every item of damage to which you, as the injured party, are legally entitled to compensation. Beyond the pure repair costs, this includes hidden damage, fictitious billing, appraiser's fees, rental car costs or loss-of-use compensation, deregistration and re-registration fees, a flat-rate allowance for incidentals and, where necessary, evidence preservation for later court proceedings.

When do you need an accident report in Erlangen?

As soon as the projected net repair costs of your vehicle exceed roughly €750, the damage is no longer considered trivial. From this threshold onwards, you are legally entitled as the injured party to commission an independent car appraiser of your choice — and the cost is borne by the at-fault liability insurer.

Typical situations that call for an accident report in Erlangen and the surrounding region include:

  • Rear-end collisions on the A3, A9 or within the city of Erlangen / Nuremberg
  • Right-of-way violations at junctions in Fürth, Herzogenaurach or Forchheim
  • Parking incidents where details have been exchanged
  • Wildlife collisions in the forests around Bayreuth, Bamberg or Schwabach
  • Hail damage, storm damage or vandalism
  • Accidents with unclear fault — where evidence preservation is decisive

Important: Commission the report promptly after the accident. The earlier the damage is documented, the lower the risk that the at-fault insurer will dispute the extent of damage or that evidence is lost.

Your legal entitlement: §249 German Civil Code (BGB)

Under §249 paragraph 2 BGB, you are legally entitled as the injured party in a no-fault accident to commission an independent expert of your choice to assess the damage. You are explicitly not obliged to accept the appraiser proposed by the at-fault insurer — that appraiser is, by nature, working in the insurer's interest, not yours.

Case law on this point is unambiguous: the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has confirmed in several rulings that the cost of a qualified expert report is part of the necessary restoration expense and must therefore be reimbursed by the at-fault liability insurer. The only conditions are that the damage is non-trivial and that the appraiser charges at local market rates.

How an accident report works — from inspection to finished report

  1. Booking: Reach me by phone at +49 176 21671827 or by email. In urgent cases, an appointment in Erlangen and the surrounding area is usually possible within 24 to 48 hours.
  2. On-site inspection: I come to you — at home, at the workshop or directly to wherever the vehicle is located. The vehicle is measured in full, photographed in detail and checked for hidden damage.
  3. Damage calculation: Using professional calculation systems (DAT SilverDAT, Audatex), I determine the exact repair costs based on manufacturer specifications and local labour rates.
  4. Valuation: Replacement value, residual value and market depreciation are determined in line with the current market.
  5. Finished report: You typically receive the complete report within 2–4 working days — digitally and, on request, in multiple printed copies.

Who pays for the report?

In a no-fault accident, the at-fault liability insurer covers the full appraiser's fees. You don't pay a cent out of pocket. On request, I bill the at-fault insurer directly so you don't need to take care of anything.

In a comprehensive insurance claim (e.g. wildlife collision, hail, vandalism or a self-caused accident), your fully comprehensive policy often covers the appraiser's fees — depending on the terms of your contract. We clarify the cost question transparently before accepting the assignment.

The damage items I fully document

Repair costs

Complete damage calculation per manufacturer specification with market-standard labour rates — the foundation of every claim settlement.

Depreciation

Market depreciation — even after a fully professional repair, an accident vehicle loses value. That difference is owed to you.

Loss-of-use compensation

A daily flat rate for every day you cannot use your vehicle — or, alternatively, rental car costs in an equivalent vehicle class.

Evidence preservation

Detailed photo documentation, forensic-style evidence of the damage pattern, description of the impact geometry — court-proof and impartial.

Market depreciation — often underestimated

Even after a fully professional repair, an accident-damaged vehicle loses significant value on the market. Any potential buyer will balk at the words "accident car" or demand a steep discount. This so-called market depreciation (Wertminderung) is a separate damage item to which you are entitled — on top of the repair costs. On newer or higher-end vehicles, this can quickly amount to several thousand euros. Without a professional report, insurers routinely fail to acknowledge this item or value it far too low.

Loss-of-use compensation or rental car?

While your vehicle is being repaired or replaced, you have two options: you take a rental car in a comparable class — the cost is borne by the at-fault insurer — or you choose the loss-of-use compensation in the form of a flat daily payment. Which option makes more economic sense for you depends on the specifics of your case. In the report, I state the correct daily rate based on the established Sanden/Danner/Küppersbusch table used throughout German insurance practice.

Regional coverage — accident reports across the entire metropolitan region

My service area covers Erlangen and the entire Nuremberg metropolitan region as well as Upper Franconia: Nuremberg, Fürth, Herzogenaurach, Bamberg, Forchheim, Bayreuth, Schwabach, Ansbach, Würzburg, Roth, Coburg and Amberg. Within a radius of roughly 100 kilometres, I happily come to you on-site — with no travel surcharge inside the greater Erlangen area.

Beware of the insurer's own appraiser

After an accident, the at-fault insurer often gets in touch very quickly and proposes "their" appraiser — usually with the suggestion that this is "faster" or "easier". Please be aware: that appraiser is commissioned and paid by the insurer. Their interest lies in calculating the damage as low as possible. Depreciation is frequently "overlooked", repairs are pushed to cheap independent workshops and labour rates are cut. As the injured party in a no-fault accident, you have the unrestricted right to an independent expert of your choice — use it.

Further services

Beyond accident reports, I also prepare vehicle valuations for sale, purchase and inheritance, specialised classic car appraisals for H-plate registration and insurance grading, as well as engine damage reports with detailed root-cause analysis. You can also explore my locations in Erlangen, Nuremberg and Fürth.