Getting into a car accident is a fear of many drivers in Australia. However, taking the right precautionary measures could potentially limit the financial impact of a car accident.
We’ve compiled this list of tips and steps to guide you through what to do in a car accident.
If there are injuries, deaths or other emergencies (e.g. a car fire) as a result of the motor vehicle accident, the first thing you should do is immediately call 000 (triple zero) and request emergency services.
If there aren’t any immediate emergencies, you still need to make sure that everyone involved in the accident is safe. Check all impacted cars to see the extent of the damage and put on your hazard lights if necessary to avoid further incidents.
Depending on the accident’s severity and circumstances, you may need to call the police and provide accurate details of the accident, including time and date, location, contact details of all parties and the extent of any accident injuries. It might be necessary to call a tow truck to move the damaged vehicles, and you should consider calling your insurer for advice on who to contact for towing. Officers from the local police station might also help with road safety and direct traffic at the accident scene.
Regardless of who’s at fault for the collision, try to gather as much information about the other driver as you can, including their name, phone number, car registration number, insurance information (e.g. provider, insurance number, policy details) and drivers licence number. In return, you should give them the same details to assist them with their car insurance claim. You should also get the details of any witnesses to provide to your insurer.
Things get a little tricky if the driver at fault didn’t stop. If this happens, you should file a police report and ask witnesses what details they remember, so you can hopefully identify the driver as they’re responsible for the damages. If they don’t have car insurance, you might need to get legal advice about the avenues available to you.
Choose your words carefully when interacting with the other driver. Saying something as simple as “sorry” could possibly be used against you in an insurance claim, as it may imply an acknowledgement of being at fault. Likewise, saying, “I didn’t see you” can also be deemed an admission of guilt.
Instead, try and say ask questions such as:
Photographic evidence of damages could be very useful. Along with witness accounts, pictures can help you in the case where fault is disputed and may prove the extent of damage for insurance quotes. Likewise, ask if witnesses have photos, video or dashcam footage of the incident that they can share with you.
After collecting evidence and the details of other parties involved, it’s recommended that you call your insurance provider at the earliest opportunity to ensure your claim goes through as quickly as possible.
It’s important to note that if it’s determined that you‘re responsible for causing a car accident, your insurance premium may increase at renewal. If you’re at fault for the accident or if you cannot identify the other participant, you may also have to pay an excess for the claim.
Your car insurance policy must have been in place before the accident to make a claim for any damages.
Are you registered for roadside assistance? With our roadside assistance comparison service, you can find a policy that can help you if your car breaks down.
Whether a minor bingle or a light rear-ending with another motorist in a carpark, always check to see if everybody involved is uninjured and safe. After this, make sure you exchange details with the other driver or parties involved in the vehicle crash or road accident.
These should include:
You’ll need to provide these details (as well as photos or videos of the damage and a description of what happened) to your insurance provider to begin the claims process.
Sometimes, an accident can leave your or the other driver’s car in a dangerous situation (e.g. if it’s on fire, oil has spilt, or the engine has overheated). When this happens, these tips could help:
It’s important to note that you should only do what you’re physically capable of. If you’re injured or assisting will put you in danger, wait until the authorities and emergency services arrive. If your car requires towing, you may want to call your insurer for advice on who to contact.
No matter your level of car cover (comprehensive car insurance, Third Party Fire and Theft or Third Party Property Damage), contact your insurer and tell them about the accident to get the ball rolling on your claim.
You can generally make your claim either online through your insurer’s customer account portal or over the phone with your insurer. This is when you provide photos, details, police reports and any other evidence of the incident (e.g. car crash, a break-in).
Your insurer will take this evidence, build a case for your claim and assess whether or not it can progress according to the terms of your cover.
Your insurer should keep you updated on the process of your claim. If you’re unhappy with the outcome of your claim, there are steps you can take to dispute the outcome.
You should always call your own insurer and give them as much detail as you can about the road accident. If it’s determined that the other driver is at fault, your insurer will likely organise with the other driver’s insurer to cover any damages to your car.
If the driver who hit your car can’t be identified (e.g. they drove off before you could exchange details), you may need to pay an excess for your claim even if it wasn’t your fault. Be sure to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) of your policy to see how you’re covered for damage in these circumstances and any excesses that may apply.
There are no strict limits on how long after an accident you can claim for damages. However, you should notify your car insurer as soon as you can to start your claim so repairs or replacements can be arranged quickly.
Keep in mind that the police generally have a time limit of 28 to 30 days for you to lodge a traffic accident matter with them.
Check your policy’s PDS and any disclaimers to be sure of any time limits to lodge a claim for a car accident.
Suppose you’ve been in an incident and you’re fairly certain that it wasn’t your fault. You should inform your insurance provider of the car accident and provide plenty of detail and evidence about what happened, particularly if it proves that it was not your fault. Your insurance company will then work with the other party’s insurer to determine who was at fault for the accident and, therefore, which insurer must pay the repair costs of any damage caused.
The way excess works in this scenario can differ between insurers. Some may pay for your damages to be repaired or replaced and withhold your excess until the fault is determined; it’ll then be reimbursed to you if it’s determined to be the other driver’s fault. Other insurers may not charge excess at all if they’re sure that you’re not at fault for the accident.
If you are deemed to be at fault, you would need to pay the excess for your damages claim. However, if you don’t have car insurance, you may be liable to pay for all repair or replacement expenses of the other driver’s vehicle, as well any personal injury claim made if the other party has been injured as a result.
On the other hand, if you believe the other party contributed toward the accident, you have the right to dispute the claim outcome.
Compare the Market’s Stephen Zeller is passionate about demystifying car insurance for consumers, so they have a better understanding of what they’re covered for. There are different types of car cover: comprehensive, Third Party Fire and Theft (TPFT) and Third Party Property Damage (TPPD).
Stephen has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and is an Allied Member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) and helps review general insurance content on Compare the Market to ensure it accurately breaks down complex insurance topics.
Car accidents can be stressful for all parties, and if you don’t have the right car insurance policy, expenses could come directly out of your pocket. However, the right car policy can help cover your repair costs after a car accident – even if you were at fault.
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