Reporting an Accident
If you are a student at a university or college in Berlin, you are automatically covered by statutory accident insurance provided by Unfallkasse Berlin.
If you are involved in an accident in connection with attending university or college, Unfallkasse Berlin will cover the costs of your medical treatment and rehabilitation. If you are a student, this insurance is free of charge – the premiums are paid by the State of Berlin.
If you wish to file an insurance claim for an accident that occurred in connection with attending university (including an accident that happened while you were traveling to/from university) and that resulted in medical treatment, Freie Universität is obligated to report this incident to Unfallkasse Berlin within three days. However, we need your support in doing so.
This means that you need to report any accidents as soon as possible by filling out an Unfallanzeige (accident report) and sending it to your department’s administrative unit or to unfallanzeige-studierende@zuv.fu-berlin.de.
How to Report an Accident
Report the accident by submitting an accident report to your department’s administrative unit. Upon receipt, the accident report will be forwarded to the Occupational Safety Service and the Central Services (VA) team within Division V: Academic Affairs. They will then take care of delivering the completed report to Unfallkasse Berlin.
If You Did Not Report an Accident Immediately
1. Unfallkasse Berlin contacts the university directly in the scope of its obligation to conduct a full review. Part of this review includes requesting a completed accident report.
2. The university’s Central Services (VA) team within Division V: Academic Affairs will then reach out to you regarding your accident. You will be asked to fill out an accident report as accurately as possible – including details such as the exact location of the accident (preferably with a full address), the event or class in which it occurred, and a detailed description of the incident. You must return the completed report to the Central Services team (by email or by regular mail) within one week.
Please note: if you wish to receive compensation, you are required to cooperate in this process. Only the person who was involved in the accident can provide the detailed information needed for Unfallkasse Berlin to carry out its review.
If a student fails to respond or provide the necessary information, Unfallkasse Berlin may be unable to complete its review and thus refuse to cover any medical costs related to the accident.
This could have serious consequences, as the treatments covered by Unfallkasse Berlin are often essential for a fast and lasting recovery.
Further information
German Social Accident Insuranc (DGUV)
FAQs
The official accident report is currently only available in German. Detailed information (in German) can be found on page two of the report. Under “2. Träger der Einrichtung” please write “Land Berlin.” You do not need to fill out “3. Unternehmensnummer des Unfallversicherungsträgers.”
Accidents that happen during field trips are covered by accident insurance as long as they are related to your study program and organized by a professor.
Yes, accidents connected with university sports activities (e.g., University Sports Center courses, UniFit) are covered by accident insurance.
There is a distinction that must be made here. If the internship did not take place within the scope of Freie Universität Berlin’s organizational responsibilities (for example, at an external business that offers internships), the student is covered through that institution and therefore needs to file a report via that institution.
Reports are only filed through Freie Universität in these cases if the internship is also completed at one of the university’s institutions.