What To Do After a Car Accident in NSW

Last updated 2026-08-16 · SmashX Concierge Team · Sydney, NSW

In NSW, the first hour after a car accident sets up everything that follows. This guide covers what to do at the scene, which details to exchange, what to photograph, and when the accident has to be reported to police.

Make sure everyone is safe first

Check whether anyone is injured. If someone is hurt, or the road is blocked and dangerous, call 000 immediately.

If the vehicles are drivable and it is safe to do so, move them out of the traffic lane. Turn on your hazard lights. If you cannot move the vehicles, stay clear of the traffic and wait for help.

Do not leave the scene before exchanging details. In NSW this is a legal requirement, not a courtesy.

Exchange details with the other driver

You need enough information to identify the other driver and their vehicle later. Collect all of the following:

• Full name and residential address
• Phone number and email address
• Driver licence number
• Vehicle registration number, make, model and colour
• Insurance company and policy or claim number if they have it
• The name and address of the vehicle owner, if it is not the driver

Take photos before anything moves

Photos are the single most useful thing you can produce later, and they cost nothing at the time. Take more than you think you need.

• Wide shots showing both vehicles and their positions on the road
• Close ups of the damage to every vehicle involved
• The other vehicle's number plate, clearly readable
• The road, lane markings, traffic signals and any signage
• Skid marks, debris and road conditions
• The weather and light conditions

Record who else was there

Independent witnesses matter a great deal when two drivers disagree about what happened. Ask for a name and phone number from anyone who saw the accident, including passengers in other vehicles.

If police attend, write down the officer's name, station and the event number they give you.

Know when police must be involved

In NSW you need to report the accident to police when someone is killed or injured, when a driver fails to stop and exchange details, when a driver appears to be under the influence, or when the accident involves a bus or a dangerous goods vehicle.

You should also report the accident if the other driver refuses to give you their details.

For accidents where nobody is injured and details are exchanged properly, police attendance is often not required, but you can still report the incident for your own records.

Write down what happened while it is fresh

Before the day is out, write a short account of the accident: the time, the direction each vehicle was travelling, the speed you were doing, what you saw, and what was said. Memory fades quickly and this note is genuinely useful weeks later.

Avoid admitting fault at the scene. You may not have all the facts yet, and fault is assessed on the evidence.

What happens next

Once you are safe and have the details, the next decisions are about repairs, a replacement vehicle, and dealing with insurers. That process is where most people lose time.

SmashX manages that side for you: assessing the claim, coordinating repairs, and arranging a like-for-like replacement vehicle where you are eligible. If another driver caused the accident, the cost is usually covered, with no upfront payment in most cases. Eligibility and circumstances apply.

This guide is general information about the accident claims process in New South Wales. It is not legal or insurance advice, and it does not take your individual circumstances into account. Your policy wording and the facts of your accident determine what applies to you. Eligibility and circumstances apply.