What to do if you’re in a minor car accident: step-by-step procedure

If you are involved in a minor car accident, take a deep breath, put your car’s hazard lights on and calmly assess the situation.

Can you move your car safely off the road? If so, park your car out of the way of traffic, switch off your ignition and keep your hazard lights on. When exiting the vehicle, keep your car between yourself and any moving traffic.

If your vehicle has sustained damage that makes it difficult to manoeuvre or if it’s awkwardly positioned and you are blocking the road, keep your hazard lights on and call Triple Zero (000) for assistance. The same applies if the accident occurs on a busy freeway with multiple lanes where traffic is continuing to move past on both sides.

Once you’re safely out of harm’s way, you will need to collect the following details from the other driver/s involved in the accident (or their representatives) in order to claim on your car insurance:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• Car registration number
• Insurance details.

It may also be useful to collect the following information:

• Driver’s licence number
• Car make, model and colour
• Vehicle owner’s details (if different from the driver).

By law, you must also provide your details to others involved in a crash (or their representatives), as well as to the police if they attend the scene and to anyone whose property was damaged as a result of the incident.

Refusing to provide this information is a criminal offence in all Australian states, so call the police if a driver leaves the scene without divulging their details. In Victoria, if someone is injured and police don’t attend, you must report the crash to the nearest police station. The same applies if there is any property damage and the owner (or police) is not there.

An argument over who is at fault could aggravate the situation. Remain calm and polite and simply exchange the necessary details and take photographs of the damage to any vehicles involved before parting ways.

If there are any witnesses around, also politely request their name, address and phone number.

There are a few more things you will need to note down to help you decide whether to make a claim on your car insurance. While everything is still fresh in your mind, write down:

• The date, time and exact location of the accident
• The speed you believe you were driving at
• The weather conditions at the time of the accident
• Any factors that led to the accident – for example, a traffic light that was malfunctioning, an inappropriate distance left between cars, or a driver using their phone in the lead-up to the accident
• A diagram displaying how the accident occurred.

If any witnesses remain at the scene, as well as politely requesting their contact details you could also note down their account of the accident. This will help your car insurer determine who was at fault if you decide to make a claim.

Make sure you also take plenty of photos of the crash site and any damage to cars and property before you leave.

You will need to tell the police about any of the following circumstances:

• A driver involved in the accident refuses to stop or exchange details
• A driver involved in the accident appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Anyone has become trapped or injured during the accident (after calling an ambulance for emergency assistance)
• The accident has caused hazards such as a road blockage or leaking fluids
• The accident has caused damage to property.

In a serious crash, cars that have an accident emergency call (eCall) system can automatically connect the vehicle to an emergency response centre. 

More: What is e-Call and how crash detection technology can save lives

First, you must decide whether you want to make a claim. This may depend on the type of car accident you were involved in and how it happened. If you’re insured with RACV Car Insurance, contact the claims team for advice on your options. 

It’s important to report the incident while the details are still fresh in your mind. RACV Insurance enables you to make a car insurance claim using the RACV App, making a claim on the website or by calling 13 19 03.

More: How to make a car insurance claim

Even minor car accidents can do enough damage to make it unsafe to continue driving. This could include brakes or lights not functioning, damaged bodywork that could cause injury, signs of engine damage or leaking fluids.

If your car cannot be driven away from the scene, your insurer may help organise a towing service. Remember to remove any valuables or personal possessions from your car before it’s towed.