Immediately after a car accident, stop your vehicle, check for injuries, and call 000 if anyone needs medical help. Once the scene is safe, exchange details with every driver involved, photograph the damage and scene, and report the accident to Queensland Police within 24 hours
A car accident in Queensland triggers a series of immediate legal obligations and practical steps that protect both the safety of everyone involved and the injured person's right to claim compensation. Every driver involved in a crash is required to stop at the scene, check for injuries, exchange details, and report the accident to police under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. Failing to meet these obligations is a criminal offence.
There are 8 key steps to follow after a car accident in Queensland.
- Stop your vehicle and check for injuries. Check yourself, your passengers, and the occupants of every other vehicle involved. Do not move anyone who is seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger.
- Call emergency services. Call 000 if anyone is injured, trapped, or the scene is dangerous. Call Policelink on 131 444 for non-emergency reportable crashes such as a driver refusing to exchange details or a vehicle requiring towing.
- Move to a safe location. Move your vehicle off the road if it is driveable and safe to do so. Turn on your hazard lights. Photograph the vehicle positions before moving them.
- Exchange details with every driver involved. Queensland law requires every driver to provide their full name, residential address, vehicle registration number, and vehicle owner details. Photograph the other driver's licence and registration documents.
- Collect evidence at the accident scene. Photograph all vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, and visible injuries. Record witness details and note nearby CCTV cameras. Write or record a voice memo describing how the accident happened.
- Report the accident to police. Report within 24 hours for any crash involving injury or death. A police report and Traffic Incident Number (TIN) are required for both insurance and CTP compensation claims.
- See a doctor - even if you feel fine. Whiplash, concussion, and soft tissue injuries commonly present with delayed symptoms. A medical certificate is a legal requirement for lodging a CTP personal injury claim.
- Notify your insurance company. A property damage claim through your comprehensive or third party car insurer is a separate process from a CTP personal injury claim. Notify your car insurer as soon as possible.
Leaving the scene of a car accident is a criminal offence in Queensland, with penalties of up to 20 penalty units or 1 year imprisonment. A crash involving injury or death must be reported to police within 24 hours. The same legal obligations apply to a minor car accident as to a serious crash - every driver must stop, exchange details, and document the scene regardless of severity. Knowing what not to say after a car accident is equally important - admitting fault or giving a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer without legal advice can reduce or eliminate a compensation claim. A personal injury claim after a car accident is made through Queensland's CTP insurance scheme, which is a separate process from a property damage claim through your own car insurer.
1. Stop your vehicle and check for injuries
The first thing to do after a car accident is stop your vehicle immediately and check whether anyone is injured. In Queensland, every driver involved in a crash is legally required to stop at the scene under section 92 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.
Check yourself for injuries first, then your passengers. Move to the other vehicle and check the other driver and their occupants. Check any pedestrians or cyclists involved in the crash. Speak to each person and ask whether they are in pain, dizzy, or disoriented - some injuries are not visible and the person may not realise they are hurt.
Adrenaline after a collision often masks pain. A person who feels fine at the scene may have whiplash, a concussion, or internal injuries that only become apparent hours later. Do not assume that no visible injury means no injury.
Do not move anyone who appears seriously injured unless they are in immediate danger from fire, fuel leakage, or oncoming traffic. Moving a person with a spinal injury or fracture can cause further harm. Stay with anyone who is unconscious or seriously hurt until paramedics arrive.
The obligation to stop is not optional. Failing to stop at the scene of an accident is a criminal offence in Queensland. The maximum penalty is 20 penalty units or 1 year imprisonment.
2. Call emergency services
Call 000 immediately after a car accident if anyone is injured, trapped, or the scene is dangerous. Queensland emergency services dispatch ambulance, police, and fire and rescue through the same 000 number. The operator will usually ask for the location and a brief description of what happened, then send the appropriate response.
A 000 call is the right response when there is any injury, any threat to life, or any hazard at the scene such as fuel leakage, fire, or downed powerlines. Call Policelink on 131 444 instead when the crash is not life-threatening but still requires police involvement - a driver refuses to exchange details, a driver appears impaired, or a vehicle requires towing.
Not every car accident requires an emergency call. A minor collision with no injuries, no hazards, and both drivers cooperating does not require police attendance at the scene. Those crashes are reported online or at a police station after the fact.
When should you call 000 after a car accident?
Call 000 after a car accident when there is any injury, any threat to life, or any immediate danger at the scene. That includes a person who is unconscious, bleeding, trapped in a vehicle, or reporting pain. A 000 call is also required when the crash has created a hazardous environment - fuel on the road, downed powerlines, fire, or vehicles blocking a high-speed road where secondary collisions are likely.
Call 000 rather than trying to assess the severity of injuries yourself. Paramedics are trained to identify injuries that are not visible, and early treatment improves outcomes for serious conditions like internal bleeding, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
When should you call Policelink
(131 444) instead of 000?
Call Policelink on 131 444 instead of 000 when the crash is not life-threatening but still requires police involvement. There are 4 situations where Policelink is the appropriate contact point rather than 000.
- Driver refuses to exchange details: A driver involved in the crash will not provide their name, address, or registration number
- Suspected impairment: A driver appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Vehicle requires towing: A vehicle is too damaged to drive from the scene and needs a tow truck
- Hazardous debris or property damage: The crash has damaged fences, power infrastructure, or other property that creates a safety risk for other road users
Police attendance at minor property-damage-only crashes is not automatic in Queensland. The Queensland Police Service changed its attendance policy in 2015, and police do not attend crashes where there are no injuries, no reportable circumstances, and both drivers are cooperating. Those crashes are reported online or at a police station instead.
3. Move to a safe location
Move your vehicle off the road and out of traffic if it is safe to do so. Queensland law requires drivers to move their vehicles after a crash when the vehicle is driveable and moving it will not create additional danger. Turn on your hazard lights immediately to alert other drivers.
A stationary vehicle on a live traffic lane creates a serious risk of secondary collisions, particularly on highways and high-speed roads. Move the vehicle to the road shoulder, a nearby side street, or a car park. Move passengers and anyone else involved in the crash well away from the road.
Do not move the vehicles if anyone is seriously injured, if there is a fuel leak or fire risk, or if police have been called and you are waiting for them to attend. The position of the vehicles at the point of impact is valuable evidence for police investigation and for any future compensation claim. Take photographs of the vehicle positions before moving them.
A vehicle that is not driveable after the accident should be left where it is until a tow truck arrives. Turn on the hazard lights, switch off the engine, and move all occupants well away from the vehicle while waiting for assistance.
4. Exchange details with every driver involved
Every driver involved in a car accident in Queensland is legally required to exchange their personal and vehicle details with the other drivers, any injured person, and the owner of any damaged property. This obligation applies under section 92 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. The penalty for failing to exchange details is 20 penalty units. A driver who leaves the scene without exchanging details is committing a separate criminal offence.
The details you exchange at the scene determine whether you and the other driver can be contacted, whether insurers can identify the vehicles involved, and whether a CTP personal injury claim can be lodged against the correct insurer.
What details are you legally required to exchange after a car accident in Queensland?
Queensland law requires every driver involved in an accident to provide 4 pieces of information: their full name, their residential address, the vehicle registration number, and the name and address of the vehicle's owner if different from the driver. These are the minimum details prescribed under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995.
Beyond the legal minimum, you should also collect 4 additional details that are needed for insurance and compensation claims.
- Driver licence number: The other driver's licence number confirms their identity and is required by your insurer when you lodge a claim.
- Contact phone number: A direct phone number allows follow-up if any of the exchanged details need to be clarified after leaving the scene.
- Vehicle make, model, and colour: Recording the make, model, and colour helps identify the vehicle if a registration number is photographed incorrectly or is illegible.
- CTP insurer name: The CTP insurer name is shown on the vehicle registration certificate and is needed to lodge a personal injury claim against the at-fault vehicle's insurer.
Photograph the other driver's licence and registration documents rather than writing details down. A photograph eliminates transcription errors and provides a verifiable record. Stress and adrenaline after a collision make handwriting unreliable, and a single incorrect digit in a registration number can make the other vehicle impossible to trace.
What should you do if the other driver refuses to exchange details?
If the other driver refuses to exchange details, record their vehicle's registration number, make, model, and colour, then call Policelink on 131 444 immediately. A driver who refuses to provide their details after an accident is committing an offence under Queensland law. Do not attempt to physically prevent the other driver from leaving and do not engage in an argument.
Take a photograph of the vehicle and its registration plate. Note the direction the vehicle travels if it leaves the scene. Provide this information to police when you make the report. Witness details are particularly valuable when the other driver is uncooperative - ask anyone who saw the crash for their name and phone number.
What should you do if the other driver does not stop?
If the other driver does not stop after a car accident, write down or photograph as much identifying information as possible before the vehicle is out of sight. The registration number is the most important detail. Record the vehicle's make, model, colour, and the direction it travels. Note the time and exact location of the crash.
Call Policelink on 131 444 to report the incident, or call 000 if anyone is injured. Ask any witnesses for their name and phone number - witness accounts are often the strongest evidence in identifying a driver who has left the scene.
A personal injury claim is still possible when the at-fault driver cannot be identified. The Nominal Defendant acts as the insurer in these cases, for crashes involving unidentified or uninsured vehicles. The deadlines for lodging a claim with the Nominal Defendant are significantly shorter than standard CTP claim deadlines - 3 months from the date of the accident as the primary deadline, with a 9-month absolute bar that cannot be extended by a court. Early police reporting and thorough evidence collection are critical in these claims because the Nominal Defendant requires proof that proper search and enquiry was undertaken to identify the at-fault driver.
5. Collect evidence at the accident scene
The evidence you collect at the scene of a car accident directly affects the strength of any future insurance or compensation claim. Photographs, witness details, and contemporaneous notes are the 3 most important types of evidence to gather before leaving the scene. Evidence that is not collected at the scene is difficult or impossible to recover later - skid marks fade, debris is cleared, and witnesses leave without providing contact details.
To collect evidence properly after a car accident, use your phone to take photographs of the following 7 things.
- Vehicle positions before moving them: Wide-angle shots showing where each vehicle came to rest relative to the road, intersection, or lane markings
- Damage to every vehicle involved: Multiple angles for each vehicle, including close-ups of the point of impact and wider shots showing the extent of damage
- Registration plates of all vehicles: A clear, readable image of each registration plate
- Road conditions and markings: Lane lines, stop signs, traffic lights, speed signs, give way markings, and any faded or missing signage
- Skid marks, debris, and fluid spills: Skid marks and debris patterns show the trajectory and speed of vehicles before impact
- Visible injuries: Photograph any cuts, bruising, swelling, or abrasions as soon as possible after the crash
- Weather and visibility conditions: Weather and visibility are useful context if rain, fog, sun glare, or poor lighting contributed to the crash
Ask any witnesses for their name and phone number. Witness accounts become critical when the drivers involved give conflicting versions of how the accident happened. Confirm contact details by exchanging a text message at the scene so you have a verified phone number.
Look for CCTV cameras on nearby buildings, service stations, or traffic infrastructure. Note the locations and approach the owners as soon as possible to request footage. CCTV footage is routinely overwritten within days, so a delay of even a week may result in the footage being lost permanently.
Record a voice memo or write notes about how the accident happened while the details are fresh. Include the time, date, exact location, speed you were travelling, what you saw the other vehicle do, and any words exchanged. Contemporaneous notes carry significant evidentiary weight because they are recorded before memory fades or is influenced by later conversations. This evidence forms the foundation of how fault is determined in a motor vehicle accident, and collecting it thoroughly at the scene is far more effective than trying to reconstruct events weeks later.
6. Report the accident to police
Report the car accident to Queensland Police within 24 hours to create an official record of the crash. A police report is the official document that records the details of the drivers, vehicles, scene description, and any offences identified. Insurers and lawyers rely on this report when investigating a claim.
Reporting is a legal requirement for any crash involving injury or death. The Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 (often called TORUM) requires drivers to provide their particulars to police as soon as possible after an injury crash, and no later than 24 hours except in exceptional circumstances. The Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 section 34 separately requires that appropriate notice of the accident has been given to a police officer before a CTP personal injury claim is lodged. A police report is not just good practice - it is a prerequisite for accessing the CTP compensation scheme.
When do police need to attend a car accident in Queensland?
Police need to attend a car accident in Queensland when there is an injury or death, or when the crash involves suspected drug or alcohol impairment. These are the 2 circumstances where police attendance is mandatory.
- Injury or death: Any crash where a person has been injured or killed requires police attendance. Call 000 immediately.
- Suspected drug or alcohol impairment: Any crash where a driver appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs requires police attendance. Call 000 or Policelink on 131 444 depending on the severity of the situation.
Police will also attend if requested through Policelink (131 444) for reportable crashes - where a driver refuses to exchange details, a vehicle requires towing, or the crash has created a hazardous environment such as debris across the road or damaged infrastructure.
Police do not automatically attend minor property-damage-only crashes where both drivers are cooperating and no reportable circumstances exist. This policy has been in place since 2015. A minor crash with no injuries and no dispute is reported online or at a police station instead.
How do you report a car accident to police in Queensland?
You report a car accident to police in Queensland through 1 of 4 channels, depending on the severity of the crash.
- Call 000: Call 000 for any crash involving injury, death, or an immediate threat to safety.
- Call Policelink on 131 444: Call Policelink for reportable crashes that are not emergencies, including driver refusal to exchange details, suspected impairment, or a vehicle that requires towing.
- Report online: Report online through the Queensland Police Service reporting form for non-injury property damage crashes where both vehicles are driveable.
- Attend a police station: Attend your nearest police station in person if you prefer face-to-face assistance or were unable to report at the scene.
What is a Traffic Incident Number and why does it matter for a claim?
A Traffic Incident Number (TIN) is the unique reference number issued by Queensland Police when a traffic crash is reported. The TIN identifies the specific crash in the police system and is used by insurers, lawyers, and the court to locate the official police record.
Your lawyer will ask for the TIN when preparing a CTP personal injury claim. Your comprehensive car insurer will also ask for the TIN if you have comprehensive cover and lodge a property damage claim. The TIN links your claim to the police version of events, which carries significant weight in any dispute about how the accident happened or who was at fault.
Record the TIN as soon as police provide it. Store it in your phone and write it down separately.
What happens if you do not report a car accident within 24 hours?
If you do not report a car accident involving injury or death within 24 hours, you are committing an offence under Queensland law. Drivers involved in these crashes are required to provide their particulars to police as soon as possible, and no later than 24 hours except in exceptional circumstances such as hospitalisation. The maximum penalty under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 is 20 penalty units (approximately $2,875) or 1 year imprisonment.
The 24-hour deadline is widely misunderstood as applying to all car accidents. That obligation applies specifically to crashes involving injury or death. Other reportable circumstances (a driver refusing to exchange details, a vehicle requiring towing, or a hazardous environment) require police involvement but are governed by separate reporting obligations, not the 24-hour rule. Crashes that involve only property damage, no injuries, and no reportable circumstances have no mandatory reporting deadline at all.
Missing the 24-hour window does not permanently prevent a police report from being made. You should still report the crash as soon as you are able. Late reporting may require an explanation, and it weakens the evidentiary value of the police record because details become less reliable as time passes.
Reporting a crash that involves only property damage is still recommended for insurance purposes and to create an official record in case the other driver later disputes what happened.
7. See a doctor - even if you feel fine
After a car accident, see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours even if you feel uninjured at the scene. Adrenaline and shock mask pain in the hours following a collision. Injuries that are not apparent at the scene frequently emerge in the days that follow. Whiplash, concussion, soft tissue damage, and internal bleeding are all conditions that commonly present with delayed symptoms.
Report every symptom to your doctor, including ones that seem minor. A headache, stiff neck, dizziness, or difficulty sleeping may indicate an underlying injury that requires treatment. Early diagnosis improves medical outcomes and creates a documented link between the accident and your injuries.
That medical record becomes critical if you later pursue a compensation claim. The Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 requires a medical certificate in the prescribed form to accompany the claim lodged with the at-fault vehicle's CTP insurer. A gap between the accident date and the first medical consultation gives the CTP insurer grounds to argue that your injuries were not caused by the crash or are less serious than claimed. The types of compensation available through a car accident compensation claim depend heavily on the strength of this early medical evidence.
Follow your doctor's treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments. Keep copies of every medical report, referral, scan result, and prescription. These records form the medical evidence that your lawyer and the CTP insurer will rely on when assessing your claim.
8. Notify your insurance company
After a car accident, notify your car insurance company as soon as possible, and within 24 hours if your policy requires it. Most comprehensive and third party car insurance policies include a prompt notification clause. Delaying notification gives your insurer grounds to reduce or deny your claim.
Have your police report number (TIN), the other driver's details, photographs from the scene, and any witness contact information ready when you call. Provide a factual account of what happened. Do not speculate about the cause of the accident or accept fault during the call.
A car insurance claim for vehicle damage is a separate process from a CTP personal injury claim. Your comprehensive or third party insurer handles repairs or replacement of the vehicle. The CTP insurance scheme handles compensation for personal injuries. These are two different claims lodged with two different insurers, and one does not affect the other.
Not every driver has comprehensive car insurance. A driver with third party property insurance only is covered for damage to the other person's vehicle and property, not their own. A driver with no car insurance at all (other than the compulsory CTP attached to registration) has no property damage cover and is personally liable for repair costs.
How do you make a personal injury claim after a car accident in Queensland?
A personal injury claim after a car accident in Queensland is made through the CTP insurance scheme by lodging a claim against the at-fault vehicle's CTP insurer. The claim is for personal injuries only. Vehicle damage and property damage are handled separately through your own car insurer.
The formal document that begins a CTP claim is a sworn declaration called the Notice of Accident Claim Form (NOAC). The form provides details of the accident, the injuries sustained, the treatment received, and the at-fault driver's vehicle. Your lawyer will prepare and lodge the form on your behalf.
Early lodgement has a practical benefit beyond meeting the deadline. Once the Notice of Accident Claim Form is lodged and the CTP insurer accepts liability, the insurer is obligated to fund reasonable medical treatment and rehabilitation while the claim is ongoing. That funding covers expenses like physiotherapy, specialist appointments, and diagnostic imaging that would otherwise come out of your own pocket. These expenses form part of the broader compensation claim, alongside lost income, general damages for pain and suffering, and care and assistance.
What is the time limit for making a personal injury claim after a car accident?
The time limit for making a personal injury claim after a car accident in Queensland is 9 months from the date of the accident, or 1 month after first consulting a lawyer, whichever comes first. These deadlines apply to lodging the Notice of Accident Claim Form with the at-fault vehicle's CTP insurer.
Missing the 9-month deadline does not automatically end the claim. A late lodgement is possible if the claimant provides a reasonable excuse for the delay. Missing the 1-month deadline after consulting a lawyer is harder to explain because the claimant has already taken the step of seeking legal advice.
The deadlines are significantly shorter when the at-fault vehicle is uninsured, unregistered, or unidentified. Claims against the Nominal Defendant must be lodged within 3 months of the accident as the primary deadline, with a 9-month absolute bar that no court has the power to extend.
A separate 3-year limitation period applies to court proceedings. A claimant who does not resolve their claim through negotiation must file court proceedings within 3 years of the accident date. Different deadlines apply depending on the circumstances, and each deadline under the time limits for car accident claims in Queensland runs independently.
What should you not do after a car accident?
After a car accident, do not leave the scene, do not admit fault, and do not delay medical treatment. These are the most common mistakes that damage a person's legal position and ability to claim compensation.
There are 7 things to avoid after a car accident.
- Do not leave the scene: Leaving the scene of a car accident is a criminal offence in Queensland, even if the crash appears minor. The penalties include fines and imprisonment.
- Do not admit fault: Admitting fault at the scene can be used against you by the other driver's insurer, even if a full investigation later reveals the other driver was partially or entirely responsible.
- Do not sign an unsolicited tow truck authority: Tow trucks that arrive at the scene without being called have no right to tow your vehicle. A signed tow authority is required before any tow truck can move your vehicle, and signing one under pressure can result in excessive fees and your vehicle being taken to a yard you did not choose.
- Do not delay medical treatment: Injuries that feel minor at the scene can develop into serious conditions. Delaying medical treatment creates a gap in the medical record that a CTP insurer will use to argue your injuries were not caused by the accident.
- Do not post about the accident on social media: Photographs, comments, or check-ins posted on social media can be used by the other driver's insurer to dispute the severity of your injuries or to argue contributory negligence. Contributory negligence is a legal mechanism that accounts for your partial fault in an accident, such as through speeding or not giving right-of-way.
- Do not accept an informal cash settlement: An offer to settle the damage with cash at the scene may seem convenient, but accepting an informal cash settlement leaves no record of the accident. Injuries or vehicle damage that emerge later cannot be claimed if no report was made and no details were exchanged .
- Do not throw away receipts or records: Medical receipts, repair quotes, towing invoices, and wage records are all evidence in a compensation claim. Throwing away these records weakens your ability to prove the financial impact of the accident.
What should you not say after a car accident?
After a car accident, do not admit fault, do not apologise, and do not speculate about what caused the crash. Anything you say at the scene can be used by the other driver's insurer to reduce or deny your compensation claim.
A statement like "I didn't see you" or "sorry, it was my fault" feels natural in a stressful moment but creates a record of an admission that is difficult to retract. The other driver, their passengers, or witnesses may repeat your words to police or to an insurer. That admission can be treated as evidence even if a full investigation later reveals the other driver was partially or entirely responsible.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer without first getting legal advice. The at-fault driver's CTP insurer may contact you in the days after the accident and ask you to describe what happened on a recorded call. The insurer is not acting in your interest during that call. The questions are designed to identify inconsistencies or admissions that reduce the value of your claim.
Limit what you say at the scene to factual information. Provide your name, address, and vehicle details as required by law. Cooperate with police. Do not discuss who was at fault, do not speculate about speed or distances, and do not volunteer opinions about what happened.
What is the procedure for a minor car accident in Queensland?
The procedure for a minor car accident in Queensland is the same as any other car accident - stop, check for injuries, exchange details, and document the scene. The legal obligations under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995 apply regardless of the severity of the crash.
The difference with a minor accident is that police attendance is not required if there are no injuries, no reportable circumstances, and both drivers are cooperating. The crash can be reported online through the Queensland Police Service reporting form or at a police station after the fact.
Do not assume that a low-speed collision means no injury. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries commonly result from minor rear-end crashes at speeds as low as 10 to 15 kilometres per hour. Symptoms often do not appear until 24 to 72 hours after the accident. A person involved in a minor car accident who develops pain, stiffness, or headaches in the following days should see a doctor and is still eligible to lodge a CTP personal injury claim.
The most common mistake after a minor accident is failing to exchange details or collect evidence because the damage looks insignificant. Vehicle damage that appears cosmetic at the scene can reveal structural problems during a mechanical inspection. Exchanging details and photographing the damage takes minutes and protects both drivers if costs escalate later.
What happens if you leave the scene of a car accident in Queensland?
If you leave the scene of a car accident in Queensland, you are committing a criminal offence under section 92 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995. The maximum penalty is 20 penalty units or 1 year imprisonment. The penalty increases if the court finds the driver showed callous disregard for the safety of an injured person.
The obligation to stop applies to every driver involved in a crash, regardless of how minor the damage appears. A driver who leaves the scene of a minor collision without exchanging details is committing the same category of offence as a driver who flees a serious crash.
Beyond the criminal penalty, leaving the scene severely damages any future insurance or compensation claim. A driver who left the scene and later attempts to lodge a claim faces questions about why they did not stop, whether they were impaired, and whether their version of events is reliable. The absence of exchanged details, photographs, and a police report leaves the driver with limited evidence to support their account.
Queensland law also imposes a separate obligation to render assistance to any person who is injured in the crash. A driver who leaves the scene while a person is injured, unconscious, or trapped is committing a more serious form of the offence. The court treats a failure to render assistance as an aggravating factor when determining the penalty.