A car accident can turn an ordinary day into a stressful one in just moments. Whether it’s a minor bump or something more serious, many people find themselves asking, “what do I do after a car accident?”
It’s an important and far too common question, with over 40,000 Australians seriously injured on our roads each year. Knowing what steps to take after a crash can help protect not only your health, but also your right to claim compensation. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what to do after a car accident in NSW, so you can move forward with confidence.
Step 1: Get Medical Help and Prioritise Your Safety
Your first step after any car accident should be to prioritise safety, including yours, your passengers’, and others on the road. If anyone is seriously injured, call 000 immediately. If the scene is safe, move your vehicle out of traffic and turn on your hazard lights to prevent further danger.
Even if you feel fine, it’s important to get checked by a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, like whiplash, soft tissue damage, or even head injuries and concussion, can take hours or days to fully appear. Early medical assessment ensures that any injuries are properly identified and managed from the start.
Seeing a GP or visiting a hospital after the accident also creates an accurate medical record of the incident, which can be helpful down the track if you need support with recovery or lodging a compensation claim.
Tip: Keep notes of your symptoms, follow-up appointments, and any treatment you receive. Staying on top of your health early can make a big difference later.
Step 2: Collect Evidence at the Scene
Once everyone is safe and any urgent medical needs are addressed, your next step is to gather key information while you’re still at the scene. This can be incredibly useful later, especially if there are disputes about what happened or if you need to work with insurers or other parties.
Start by taking clear photos of:
The vehicles involved, from multiple angles
Any visible damage
Skid marks, debris, or vehicle positions
Surrounding road signs, traffic lights, and weather conditions
If there were any witnesses, ask for their names and contact details. Their account can help clarify the circumstances if needed later.
You’ll also need to exchange details with the other driver, including:
Full name and contact number
Driver’s licence number
Vehicle registration
Insurance provider and policy number (if available)
Try to stay calm and polite, and importantly: avoid admitting fault.
Tip: Use your phone to jot down any key observations while it’s fresh: what you were doing, the direction of travel, speed limits, and anything unusual about the other driver’s behaviour. These can sometimes be hard to recall accurately later after the trauma of an accident.
Collecting this information not only helps speed up the insurance process, but also ensures that you have a clear and accurate record of the event when communicating with police, insurers or motor vehicle accident lawyers after the incident.
Step 3: Report the Accident to Police and Insurance
After leaving the scene, it’s important to formally report the accident to the relevant authorities and your insurer. This step helps create an official record of what happened and can prevent complications later.
In NSW, you must report the accident to police if anyone is injured or killed, if there is significant damage, or if the other driver fails to provide their details. Even in less serious accidents, a police report can be helpful if there are disagreements about the circumstances of the crash.
You should also notify your insurance company as soon as reasonably possible. When doing so, provide clear and factual information about what occurred, along with any photos, witness details, or reference numbers you’ve collected. Try to avoid speculation or assumptions about fault, just be factual and stick to what you know.
Prompt reporting helps ensure the claims process runs more smoothly and reduces the risk of delays or disputes. It also means there is a reliable timeline of events, which can be important if questions arise later about injuries, vehicle damage, or responsibility for the accident.
Tip: Keep copies of all correspondence, claim numbers, and reports. Having everything organised early can save time and stress as the process continues.
Step 4: Know Your Rights to Compensation After a Car Accident
After a car accident, many people focus on repairs and insurance, without realising they may also have legal rights if they were injured. In NSW, the motor accidents compensation system is designed to provide support to people hurt on the road, even in situations where you may be partially at fault for the accident. This applies not only to drivers of motor vehicles, but also passengers, cyclists and pedestrians involved in the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to assistance with things like medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost income, and other costs related to your recovery. These rights exist even if the car accident injuries seemed minor at first, or if symptoms only appeared days or weeks later.
It’s also important to understand that insurance payouts for vehicle damage are not the same as support available for personal injury. The two processes are separate, and one does not cancel out the other. While not every driver has comprehensive car insurance to cover vehicle repairs or replacement, CTP (Compulsory Third Party) insurance (also known as a Green Slip) is mandatory in NSW. This means that if you’re injured in a car accident (or motor accident) involving a vehicle, capable of registration, there is a legal insurance scheme in place to compensate you, regardless of whether the at-fault driver has comprehensive or third party vehicle insurance.
If you’ve been hurt in an accident, it’s important to know your rights surrounding injury compensation. even if the damage to your car isn’t covered.
Time limits and eligibility rules apply, and missing key deadlines can affect what support is available to you. For this reason, understanding where you stand early can help you make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary stress later. Speak with our CTP lawyers today to know what you could be entitled to claim after an accident. Through our free claim assessment, our experienced team of car accident lawyers will talk you through your rights in simple terms, and explain the next steps forward to start your claim. And with our No Win No Fee policy, you never have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal support.
At Withstand Lawyers, our team of motor accident lawyers know exactly how unsure you can feel about what to do after a car accident, and that’s why we’re here to help.
Contact us today on 1800 952 898, or fill out our contact form to get the right advice you need after an accident.
Did you know?: If you’ve had a motor vehicle accident while driving your personal car for work, you may be eligible to make a workers compensation claim.
What Can You Claim After a Car Accident Injury?
Hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment.
If you are unable to work due to injuries, you can be compensated for lost wages and future earning potential.
Compensation may also be available for the psychological impact of the accident
If long-term care or home adjustments are required to manage everyday life activities due to severe injuries.
🔎 Read about motor vehicle accident compensation payouts on our website
Step 5: Speak to a Car Accident Lawyer Early
While some accidents resolve with insurance and minimal disruption, others can quickly become more complex, especially when injuries, time off work, or long-term impacts are involved. That’s why it’s a good idea to speak to a car accident lawyer as early as possible, even if you’re not sure whether you’ll make a claim.
At Withstand Lawyers, our experienced team of car accident lawyers can help you:
Understand your rights under the CTP scheme
Navigate the claims process with clarity and confidence
Ensure your injuries are properly assessed and classified
Avoid common mistakes that could affect your entitlement
Handle communication with insurers and other parties
Many people wait until problems arise to seek legal advice, but by then, damage may already be done. Early legal support can help you protect your claim from the start, gather the right evidence, and meet important timeframes.
At Withstand Lawyers, we offer No Win No Fee legal support, which means you won’t pay any legal fees unless your claim is successful. There’s no pressure or obligation, just clear guidance on where you stand and what your next steps might be.
Tip: Even if your injuries seem minor now, it’s worth getting legal advice early. Some conditions take time to develop and can impact your life more than expected.
Speaking to a car accident lawyer early can make the difference between a drawn-out, stressful process and a clear path toward the support and compensation you’re entitled to.
Contact us today to know exactly what to do after a car accident to protect your rights to claim the compensation you deserve.
Unable to Return to Work? You May Be Eligible for a TPD Claim
If your car accident injuries are serious enough that you can no longer return to work, you may be entitled to more than just a CTP claim for compensation. You might also be eligible to make a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claim through your superannuation fund.
Most Australians have TPD insurance automatically with their super fund, and it’s there to provide a lump sum payout to those who find themselves no longer able to work due to injury or illness. A TPD payout is separate from your car accident claim, and is not dependent on your super balance.
You may qualify for a TPD claim if:
You’ve been off work for several months due to your injuries
A doctor has confirmed you are unlikely to return to your usual job, or other jobs you have training or experience doing
Your super fund had an active TPD insurance policy at the time of the accident (most do by default)
At Withstand Lawyers, we help clients understand their eligibility, prepare strong TPD applications, and challenge unfair rejections if needed. If a car accident has left you unable to work, a TPD claim could be an important part of your overall compensation strategy, and is often overlooked when considering what to do after a car accident.
If you’re unsure whether you have TPD insurance, or what you’re entitled to, our TPD lawyers can help. We offer a free claim assessment to check your cover, explain your rights, and estimate how much your claim could be worth. Typical TPD payouts range from $50,000 to $350,000, and if you hold multiple superannuation accounts with insurance, you may be able to claim from more than one policy. Contact us today to see what your TPD payout could be worth.
Tip: Don’t assume you’re not eligible — even part-time, casual, or self-employed workers often have TPD cover without realising it. We can check this for you.
Why Choose Withstand Lawyers After a Car Accident?
Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can feel overwhelming — especially if you’re dealing with injuries, paperwork, or uncertainty about your rights. That’s where Withstand Lawyers can make a difference.
We focus on helping everyday Australians access the compensation and support they’re entitled to, without the stress of going it alone. Our team has deep experience in NSW car accident and personal injury claims, and we guide you through the process with clarity, compassion, and expertise.
Here’s why clients choose us:
No-win, no-fee: You won’t pay legal fees unless we win your case. Simple.
Straightforward advice: We explain your rights in plain English so you know where you stand.
Strong support: We manage communication with insurers and handle the paperwork.
Experienced negotiators: We work to maximise your compensation.
Personalised service: You’ll speak with real people who care about your recovery.
Whether you’re unsure about your next steps after a car accident or ready to start your claim, we’re here to help.
Contact Withstand Lawyers today on 1800 952 898 or fill in our contact form for a free consultation and take the first step toward protecting your rights after a car accident.
- No Upfront Costs
- No Win No Fee
- 99% Success Rate
- Maximum Lump Sum Payout
Frequently Asked Questions: What to Do After a Car Accident?
Stay calm, move to a safe place if you can, and check for injuries. Exchange contact and insurance details with the other driver, and gather evidence.
Even if you think you’re fine after the accident, it is best to have a doctor assess you for any physical or pyschological injuries. Depending on the accident, you may have access to entitlements to help with treatment or time off work.
Our team of car accident lawyers can explain your rights in simple terms so you know where you stand. Contact us today for a free claim assessment.
You should exchange full names, phone numbers, licence plate numbers, and insurance details. Also note the make and model of the vehicles involved. If there are any witnesses, get their contact details too, as their statements can help clarify what happened and which party was at fault.
In NSW, you should submit your CTP claim as soon as possible. To receive certain benefits like back‑dated weekly payments, you should lodge within 28 days of the accident. You have up to three months to lodge a CTP claim with the insurer, and up to three years from the date of the accident to start a common law damages claim
Yes, even if you were partially at fault, you may still be eligible for compensation under NSW’s motor accident laws. The amount of compensation may be reduced depending on the degree of your responsibility.
Yes, even if the driver responsible for the accident was uninsured, you may still be able to claim compensation through the Nominal Defendant scheme in NSW. Our team of car accident lawyers can talk you through the process and explain your rights with a free claim assessment. Contact us today to know where you stand after an accident.
Yes, if you suffer injuries from a car accident that leave you unable to return to work, you may be eligible to make a TPD claim.
TPD claims are typically made through your superannuation fund, and they are separate from your motor vehicle accident claim. Contact our team of superannuation lawyers today for a free claim assessment to see what you could be eligible to claim.
Issa Rabaya
• Bachelor of Laws
• Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
• Approved Legal Service Provider to the Independent Review Office
• Member of the Law Society
