Car accidents

What to do after an accident

After an accident there several things you may need to do:

• help anyone who is injured
• exchange details with the other driver(s)
• report the incident to the police
• get your evidence
• contact your insurance company.

For more information, see What to do after a car accident.

Who is responsible

If a person causes an accident because of their negligence, then they are at fault. 

Sometimes it is not clear which driver is at fault, for example, where there are three or more cars involved. If you are not sure who is at fault, you should get legal advice.  

For more information about owners and drivers, taxis, buses, trucks, hire cars, bikes and accidents involving animals, see Who is responsible?

Evidence

You should collect evidence as soon as possible after the accident.

You may need to get evidence about:

• who caused the accident - who was 'at fault'
• what damage and losses were caused by the car accident
• the cost of repairing damage to your car.

This will help you to either make a claim or respond to a claim. 

For more information, see Evidence.

Making a claim

If your car was damaged in a car accident and it was the other driver's fault, you may wish to make a claim against that driver for the damage and losses.

For more information, see Making a claim.

Insurance

A person who is injured in a car accident can make a claim against the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance company of the driver at fault (also called a green slip).

For more information, see Insurance.

Responding to a claim

If you were in a car accident and a car was damaged, the driver or owner of that car might make a claim against you if they believe it was your fault.

For more information, see Responding to a claim.

Settling your dispute

If you have a dispute with someone about a car accident, it is important to try to settle that dispute without going to court. 

For more information, see Settling your dispute.

Going to court

If you can't settle your dispute, you may end up in court. It is a good idea to try to avoid going to court by settling your dispute, if possible. 

For more information if someone owes you money, see Going to Court.

For more information if someone says you owe them money, see Responding to a claim.

After court

If you win your case, the other party will have to pay your claim, including your legal costs.

If you lose your case, the other party won’t have to pay your claim, and the Court may order you to pay the other party's legal costs.

For more information if you are the plaintiff, see After court.

For more information if you are the defendant, see After court.

Driving offences

If you were involved in a car accident, and police believe you were at fault, you might get a fine, suspension, loss of demerit points, or for serious driving offences, prison time.

For more information, see Driving offences.

Last updated: September 2026