The first week after a car accident: a practical checklist

The days after a car accident are confusing. You may be sore, dealing with a damaged car and fielding calls from insurers, all while trying to work out whether you are entitled to anything. This checklist covers the things that matter most in the first week. It is general information, not advice about your particular accident.

Day one: safety, reporting and details

• Get medical attention, even if you feel mostly fine. Whiplash, concussion and soft tissue injuries often show up a day or two later, and a record made on the day is worth a great deal.
• Report the accident to police where your state requires it, which generally includes any accident with an injury. Ask for the event or report number and keep it.
• Exchange details with the other drivers: names, addresses, phone numbers, registration numbers and insurers. Note the exact location, time, weather and road conditions.
• Photograph everything you safely can: the vehicles, the damage, the road, any skid marks or debris, and your own visible injuries.
• Get witness details. Independent witnesses are often the difference in a disputed account.

Days two to three: see a doctor and start a file

• See your GP and describe every symptom, including the small ones. Ask for a certificate if you cannot work. In New South Wales the doctor can complete a certificate of fitness, which the CTP insurer will ask for.
• Start a simple file, on paper or on your phone. Keep every receipt, letter, text message and email about the accident together. Note each medical visit, what was said and any time off work.
• Tell your own insurer about the accident if your policy requires it, even if you were not at fault.

Within the first week: notify the right scheme

Compensation for injuries is separate from the repair of your car, and it runs through your state's motor accident scheme. Each has early steps:

• NSW: lodge a claim for statutory benefits with the CTP insurer as soon as possible. Claims made within 28 days can receive weekly payments from the day after the accident; claims are generally expected within three months.
• Queensland: a Notice of Accident Claim form goes to the CTP insurer within nine months, or within one month of seeing a lawyer.
• Victoria: lodge a TAC claim within 12 months.

If you are not sure which insurer covers the vehicle at fault, the scheme's website can identify it from the registration number. Our post on how long you have to make a claim has more detail on the dates.

Things to be careful about

• Do not sign or accept a quick settlement from an insurer before you understand the full extent of your injuries. Early offers rarely allow for how a recovery actually goes.
• Be careful on social media. Photos of you at a barbecue the weekend after the accident can be used to argue you were not injured.
• Keep your recorded statements short and factual. You do not have to give an insurer a detailed statement on the spot; you can ask for time and get advice first.
• Do not throw anything away, including damaged clothing, a cracked helmet or a broken child seat.

When to get advice

Get advice early if the other driver disputes fault, if your injuries are keeping you off work, if you were a passenger, cyclist or pedestrian, or if the vehicle at fault was unregistered or drove off. A conversation costs nothing and helps you avoid missing a step that matters later. Our free claim check is a simple place to start.

General information published 25 September 2026. It is not legal advice and may not reflect later changes to the law or a scheme. Check your own position with a qualified adviser.

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