Car accidents can be traumatic - even minor bumper bashing can affect your emotions in a negative way. It can even be difficult to fully understand the depth of your emotional trauma following a car accident, and once the initial impact has cleared from memory it’s important to seek help if you’re still struggling with the aftermath of the accident.
Here are some of the emotions you could expect to feel following a car accident
Shock or denial
Often people feel shock immediately after an accident. Common symptoms of shock include feeling numb, emotional distress, feeling afraid or experiencing unpredictable mood swings. Shock is different for everyone.
Anger or irritability
Whether you’re at fault - or not at fault - some people can feel anger at the other driver involved. Many passengers can also experience this anger or irritability. It’s important to recognise this anger or irritability and to not take it out on others around you. These feelings are a valid response to the trauma experienced, but it’s important to not act on them.
Guilt or shame
Car accidents can come out of nowhere, and many feel guilt or shame following an accident. It’s important to not beat yourself up after an accident - accidents happen.
Anxiety, worry or fear
Anxiety is one of our natural reactions to stress. Feeling anxious after an accident can be a normal and common response, with some people feeling many symptoms while others have none at all.
In Australia, we have organisations dedicated to helping. Please reach out if you feel you need help.
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
1300 889 256
Traffic happens - and if you’re caught in a bad traffic situation, then these tips are for you. Here’s how to keep your calm and avoid that accident that’s not your fault.
When moving slowly in traffic, it’s easy to get comfortable and to get close to the other vehicles around. It’s important while driving in heavy traffic, however, to keep your following distance. This will help you have enough time to make a change to your driving should you need to avoid an accident!
It’s important to avoid doing anything you wouldn't usually do while driving in heavy traffic. This can include getting distracted by your radio or by your phone. Even though traffic may be moving slowly, things can still change very quickly - potentially becoming dangerous.
Weaving in and out of traffic may seem like it saves you a considerable amount of time or will get you ahead of everyone else - but it actually doesn’t! Weaving in and out can also get you into a lot of trouble if you misinterpret how much space you have to change lanes. If you do need to change lanes, be sure to indicate with enough time, letting everyone around you know you’re making a move.
Many times, traffic happens because people are looking at an accident on the other side of the road - it’s natural to want to look at what's happening. However, it’s safer to keep your eyes directly in front of you and to keep checking your blindspots as you drive past the accident scene.
If you’re really unlucky and another driver drives into your car, be sure to give us a call as soon as possible. Being not at fault means that you have the right to drive - we’ll help you. From organising an accident replacement car to filing your insurance claim for you.
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
Driving at night can be quite different from driving during the day - especially if you’re tired or not used to it. Accidents are more likely if you’re tired, it’s dark and you’re not used to driving in the dark. Here are some tips to keep you safer during that late night trip.
Be aware of tiredness
Getting sleepy can happen quickly - and for most people, they don’t realise that the tiredness is setting in. When driving at night, it’s important to be aware of how tired you’re feeling - and to take regular refresher breaks to stretch your legs.
Don’t look directly at oncoming vehicles
Something we do without thinking about doing the day - but can lead to problems if you do it while driving at night. Looking directly at oncoming traffic is a natural response - but at night, the cars are likely to have their headlights on. Staring into their headlights may make you temporarily blind. It’s better to rather keep your focus to the side of the road, while keeping track of the vehicles and traffic around you - this takes practice!
Keep your windscreen clean
Dirt and grime can seriously dampen your view out of your windscreen at night - especially as lights shine on it. Make sure to keep your windscreen clean!
Watch out for pedestrians - and animals crossing the road
At night, in the dark, there’s often less time to see oncoming danger - our reaction times are greatly reduced. While driving at night, it’s important to keep an eye on your surroundings and watch for any pedestrians or animals crossing the road.
Accidents happen - what to do if you’re not at fault
Accidents can happen - at any time of the day! At night, things can be more complicated - reduced visibility, lack of people passing and potentially assisting. If you find yourself in an accident and you are not at fault, then give our team a call as soon as possible. Luckily, our dedicated accident support line is available to you 24/7!
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
1300 889 256
How much do you use your car? Have you ever sat down and considered how much value your car brings to your life? For the majority of people, a car is an essential part of getting things done. From getting to and from work to dropping your kids off at school - a lot of time can be spent just driving around town!
It could be a breakdown, a faulty fuse - or worse case, a car accident that suddenly means you’re unable to use your car. There are really a multitude of reasons that your car may need to go into the repair shop. So how will you be getting around now? You could ask friends and family to help you to get to work, school and back - but that is not a long term solution!
If it happens that your car has been damaged in a car accident that was not your fault, then you have the right to drive. Did you know that in Australia, any costs associated with a car accident where you are not at fault, are to be covered by the driver at fault? This includes the cost of hiring an accident replacement car while yours is getting repaired!
Yes! You may be entitled to an accident replacement car at no cost - and even better news, it will be as close as possible to your own car meaning that you can get back to life without skipping a beat! Like for like accident replacement vehicles mean that if you’re used to driving a large family SUV, you’ll be able to get a similar car for the time that yours is being repaired.
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
In an instant things can go from fantastic to grim - car accidents happen out of the blue and it can be a set back you just don't need. Not to mention the time you will need to set aside to manage your insurance claim, get your car fixed and organise an accident replacement vehicle. It can all seem a bit daunting - and imagine if you were not even the driver at fault!
If you’re not at fault then it shouldn't have to be that difficult! We’ll help you! Here are a couple of things that you should keep in mind when making your not at fault insurance claim.
If you didn't already know, an important step to follow after any car accident is to take down and record as much information as possible - this is especially true if you are not at fault in the accident as we’ll need this to successfully file your insurance claim. Here are a few things that you need to gather:
Our team is here to help you. You can contact us at any time on our dedicated accident support line - 1300 889 256. By contacting us as soon as possible, we will be able to help you right from the start - ensuring that you're not missing any important information! We will also be able to send a tow truck to take your car away should you not be able to drive it, as well as organise an accident replacement vehicle that can meet you at a location most convenient. If you’re not at fault then you shouldn’t need to worry about anything!
Did you know that in Australia you have the right to drive? This means that if you are not at fault in the car accident (the other driver caused the crash), then you may be entitled to an accident replacement vehicle at no cost to yourself while your car is getting repaired. The cost to repair the damage caused by the accident (including the cost of the rental car and the damage to your vehicle for instance are to be paid by the driver at fault or their insurer.
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
Getting stuck in an accident can be stressful - and if you’re the innocent driver it can be even more daunting. When the accident is caused by another driver, you are eligible to file a “not at fault” car accident claim - but there are certain steps that you will need to follow to ensure your claim is successful.
While you are still at the accident scene, be sure to take as many photos as possible. Record the damage to the vehicles as well as the area in which the accident took place. Documenting what happened in photos can help the insurance companies fully understand what happened and make it easier for them to determine fault.
Take a look around and notice if anyone may have seen - or recorded - your accident. Witnesses can help paint a better picture of the accident. Even better is having access to CCTV footage or dashcam footage of your accident. If you notice anyone around be sure to ask for their information to pass on for your insurance claim.
It’s important to call our team as soon as possible - we will be able to help you through gathering everything you need to while still at the accident scene to organising a tow vehicle to tow your car safely away. Our team is available round the clock on our dedicated accident support line, just give us a call - we’ll help you.
In Australia you have the right to drive - this means that if you’re deemed to be not at fault, you are entitled to a like-for-like accident replacement vehicle at no cost (the cost is covered by the at fault driver). There are terms and conditions to the right to drive - such as being in an accident where more than one car was involved and having the at fault driver’s details available. Our team at Carbiz has years of experience and knowledge and we’ll be able to help you with your successful claim, give us a call as soon as possible!
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
Not all accidents are big ones - in fact, the majority of accidents are only minor with minor damage. Bumper bashings and parking lot smashes can lead to only minor damage but it’s a good idea to still get it seen to. Here’s why:
Even a seemingly minor accident can cause a major fault that may be invisible to the naked eye. Sometimes internal systems can be damaged - such as your engine’s warning systems, or cracks in the car’ frame can occur. Damage can even happen to your airbag systems making them useless for any future accident. It’s important to take your car into a repair shop to get a once over inspection done and make sure that your car A-OK!
Fault is determined by a number of factors - decided on by professionals - and indicates the driver who will be liable for the costs caused by your car accident. Fault is important to determine - and if you were not the driver who caused the car accident then you will be able to submit your insurance claim to recover your costs. If you believe that you were not at fault then be sure to gather the necessary information at the accident scene and exchange details with the at fault driver.
If you were not at fault then you have the right to drive. This means that you can put through your insurance claim for the costs associated with the accident - costs to repair your car and costs to hire an accident replacement vehicle are just two of such costs.
Our team understands that you need help in this situation - from delivering your like-for-like accident replacement vehicle to a location convenient for you through to managing your not-at-fault insurance claim. We’ve simplified the process and try our best to make things easier for you - give us a call as soon as possible after your car accident, we’ll help you.
We’ve all made note of the information that we must collect after a car accident - the other driver’s name and contact details, their insurance information, any witness information and details of the accident. But what happens if the other driver simply refuses to share their insurance details with you.
It can be frustrating, but it can happen that the at fault driver refuses to cooperate after an accident - or it may be a simple case of forgetting to get this information while on scene.
We’ve previously shared an extensive list of details to collect after any car accident, here’s a quick overview.
So what happens if you don’t get everything on this list - and what if the other driver refuses (or forgets) to give you their insurance information?
If you are not at fault, this information is critical to your successful insurance claim - our team at Carbiz needs all of this information to ensure that your claim is complete. In short, it’s a legal requirement that the other driver share their insurance details with you (and for you to share your details with them). If asking the other driver for their information doesn’t yield any results due to refusal or aggression, then you have the right to call the police for help - the other option is to make note of their vehicle as well as vehicle registration number and to call the police to report the accident. If it is an emergency, you should always call 000.
And it’s important to remember that if you need help after a car accident then you can give us a call! We’ll help you