It’s important to know what to do in any emergency situation (particularly one with legal implications) but too often, it’s difficult to understand what your rights & obligations actually are.
We’ve tried to simplify this and put it in layman’s terms for you in our “What you need to know” series which kicks off with Motor Vehicle Accidents.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, there are a few things you need to do at the scene of the accident whether the accident was your fault or not:
- Stop immediately even if the accident seems minor
- Assist where if someone has been injured to the best of your capabilities (calling an ambulance if you are able should be your first
step) - Call the police if any injury or death has occurred
- Exchange details if any damage or injury has occurred. You’ll need to exchange your name, address, car registration number (and the
address of the person who owns the car if it isn’t you)
Once you leave the scene of the accident, there are a few more things you’ll have to do:
- Report the accident to the police (this must be done within 24 hours if you are physically able)
- Report the incident (along with the event number from the police) to your insurer, if you have one, and file a claim form
- If you are not insured and the accident was not your fault, you may try to claim for damages from the other drivers insurance
- If you suffered an injury and were not at fault, you may be able to claim compensation from the other drivers insurance. Please note
that strict time limits may apply.
Some useful phone numbers:
- QLD Police: 1300 365 635
- QLD Ambulance: 000
- Sinnamon Lawyers: 1800 007 277
We hope this has helped clarify things for you when it comes to motor vehicle accidents. If you have more questions about motor accidents, we have explored 6 FAQs on our blog. Of course, this is a fairly complicated area of law and we recommend seeking professional advice when attempting to make claims. Sinnamon Lawyers specialise in motor vehicle accidents and are ready to help you.