What to Do After a Car Accident in Townsville

Being in a car accident is stressful and disorienting. Knowing what to do in the first few minutes can protect your safety, your insurance claim, and your rights. This is a step-by-step guide for Townsville drivers.

Step 1: Stop and Check for Injuries

This is a legal requirement in Queensland. You must stop immediately after an accident. Check yourself and any passengers for injuries. If anyone is hurt, call 000 before doing anything else. Do not move injured people unless they are in immediate danger such as a vehicle fire.

Step 2: Move to Safety If Possible

If the vehicles are driveable and it is safe to do so, move them off the road to avoid blocking traffic and creating a secondary accident risk. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. If you are on the Bruce Highway or a busy road like Stuart Drive and cannot move the vehicles, stay inside with your seatbelt on until help arrives.

Step 3: Call Police If Required

In Queensland, you must report an accident to police if anyone is injured, if a vehicle needs to be towed, if any driver involved fails to exchange details, or if you suspect a driver is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. For non-injury accidents where you can exchange details, police attendance is not always required but it is always a good idea.

Step 4: Exchange Details

You are legally required to exchange the following information with the other driver:

• Full name and address
• Driver licence number
• Vehicle registration number
• Insurance company and policy number (if known)
• Phone number

Use your phone to photograph the other driver's licence, rego plate, and the damage to both vehicles from multiple angles. Also photograph the overall scene including road conditions, traffic signs, and skid marks if visible.

Step 5: Do Not Admit Fault

This is important. Do not apologise or admit fault at the scene, even if you think you may have been in the wrong. Fault is determined by insurers and sometimes courts based on evidence, not on what was said at the roadside. Be polite and cooperative but stick to the facts.

Step 6: Call Your Insurer

Contact your insurance company as soon as practical. Most insurers have 24/7 claims lines. They will advise on next steps including whether they will arrange towing or whether you should organise it yourself and claim the cost back.

Step 7: Arrange Towing

If your vehicle cannot be driven, you need a tow truck. In Queensland, you have the right to choose your own tow truck operator. Do not feel pressured to use a tow truck that arrives unsolicited at the scene. Call us on 0451 252 501 and we will quote you upfront and dispatch immediately.

Step 8: Get a Medical Check

Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, some injuries such as whiplash and soft tissue damage do not present symptoms for hours or days. Visit Townsville Hospital or your GP within 24 hours for a check. This also creates a medical record that supports any future claim.

For details on our accident recovery service, visit Accident Recovery. For pricing information, see our pricing page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to call police after every accident in Queensland?

Not always. You must call police if anyone is injured, if a vehicle needs towing, if a driver fails to exchange details, or if you suspect drink or drug driving. For minor incidents where you can exchange details, police attendance is not always required.

Can I choose my own tow truck after an accident?

Yes. In Queensland you have the legal right to choose your own tow truck operator. You do not have to use a truck that arrives uninvited at the scene.

Should I move my car after an accident?

If the vehicles are driveable and it is safe to do so, yes. Move them off the road to avoid blocking traffic and creating a secondary accident risk.