What to Do After a Car Accident That Wasn't Your Fault

First, Check for Injuries

Before anything else, check yourself, your passengers and anyone else involved. If anyone is hurt, or if the road is blocked or unsafe, call 000 straight away. Your safety and the safety of others always comes before anything to do with insurance or blame.

If the cars are drivable and no one is hurt, move them out of the traffic where it's safe to do so. Turn on your hazard lights. If you can't move the car, stay inside it with your seatbelt on until it's safe to get out.

Collect the Other Driver's Details

Swap details with the other driver. You want their full name, phone number, home address, registration number and the name of their insurer. If there are other drivers involved, get theirs too. It's easy to forget in the moment, so take a moment to write it down or photograph it.

If the other driver won't give you their details, or drives off, don't chase them. Note down whatever you can — the number plate, the make and colour of the car, the time and the direction they went. A hit and run is a matter for Victoria Police, and you can read more in our guide to what to do after a hit and run.

Take Photos of Everything

Photos are the most useful thing you can collect at the scene. Photograph both cars from several angles, both number plates, the position of the cars on the road, any skid marks or debris, and the surrounding street. If there's damage to a fence, pole or sign, photograph that too.

Our guide on what photos to take after a car accident goes into more detail, but the rule is simple: take more than you think you need. You can always delete them later.

Don't Admit Fault

Even if you think the accident was your fault, don't say so at the scene. Fault isn't always obvious in the moment, and what you say can be used later. Be polite, check that everyone is okay, and stick to the facts. Don't sign anything you haven't read, and don't agree to pay for anything on the spot.

If you're not sure who was at fault, that's normal — and it's one of the things we can help untangle. Read our guide on what if I'm not sure who was at fault for more on that.

Report It If You Need To

You don't always have to report a minor accident to the police, but you do need to if anyone is hurt, if a vehicle needs to be towed, or if the other driver won't give you their details. When in doubt, check with Victoria Police or VicRoads for the current rules.

Then Hand It Over to YBV Group

Once you've collected the details and photos, the hard part is done. From there, YBV Group can take over. We arrange a comparable replacement vehicle so you can keep moving, we manage your panel beating and smash repairs from start to finish, and we recover your costs from the at-fault driver or their insurer. You deal with one point of contact instead of chasing insurers and repairers yourself.

We're based in Brighton and help drivers across Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs. If you've had an accident that wasn't your fault, fill in our contact page form or call us on 0481 797 861 and we'll take it from there.