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If you’ve ever been stuck without your beloved car due to an accident then you know the struggles! And renting a car can be expensive - especially if you want to get a loan car similar to your own. Imagine needing to get groceries or pick up your child and (all of) their friends from soccer practice - things can get a lot more complicated if you’re without a car.

The good news is that if you’re not at fault and in Australia, then you don’t really need to worry! As the driver not at fault, you may be entitled to an accident replacement vehicle - at no expense - while your vehicle is being repaired. And on top of this, your car rental should be a like for like model - this is important to remember! But what does this all mean, and what do you need to know?

If you’re used to driving a 7 seater SUV that can carry all your kids back and forth then why should you settle for a city run-about if you’re not at fault? This is exactly why not-my-fault car insurance claims are important - if the other driver caused the accident, then you shouldn’t be the one living with the consequences of the accident. A like for like accident replacement vehicle is a loan car that is similar (and if you’re lucky enough!) the same as your own car that is now in for repairs - it’s really that simple. The cost, as we mentioned, is covered by the at fault driver or their insurance - with zero upfront costs payable by you.

So if you’re in a car accident tomorrow - and the other driver is to blame, then give us a call first. Our team will help you in every step of the way. Not-at-fault claims are not widely known about, making it even more important to work with a team - that is there to help you - right from the beginning.

Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you

1300 889 256

Whether you’re planning a long trip out to a remote destination or simply running your weekly errands, your emergency car kit should ideally be stocked and in your car at all times - you never know what can happen on your next trip out.

The essentials for any emergency car kit

Spare tyre - Seems simple enough! But when last did you check the air pressure in your spare tyre? Make it a habit by checking the air pressure of all of your tyres - including the spare! Another top tip is to read up in your manual about your spare tyre. Some cars are fitted with a space saver which can only be used at a recommended safe speed - normally around 80km/h maximum.

First aid kit - A simple first aid kit that is easily accessible is always handy in emergencies. You never know when you might hurt yourself - and if you happen to drive past an accident scene, it may come in use for someone else in a time of need.

A towel - A strange recommendation but a towel can come in handy in a lot of situations. It could be a simple grocery spill that needs to be cleaned up or it could be in a more serious situation such as in a car accident to cover broken glass. 

Spare cash - we’re not talking a lot of spare cash, just a spare $20 - $50 to help you in a pinch. Imagine being stuck without your wallet and needing fuel.

A high visibility vest and hazard triangle - These high visibility essentials are great to have in your car if you break down unexpectedly. They will help you to easily alert other drivers that you are on the road, that there’s a hazard to be aware of and potentially in the way.

Car accident guide and Carbiz contact details - Our free and easy download “what to do in a car accident” is an essential to carry in your car. You never know when an accident can occur and this simple document will help you when you need it most. Keep it in an easily accessible spot in your car and give us a call if you get stuck in an accident, we’ll help you.

Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you 

There is a process that you should follow after a car accident that was not your fault, one of the steps includes gathering evidence at the accident scene. Ever wondered what you need to gather?

Besides contacting our team immediately on our dedicated accident support line, it’s important to accurately record everything.

The other driver’s details

Besides gathering the other drivers reg and car details, it’s important to swap contact information and insurance details. If you have any struggle swapping details with the other driver then it’s important to contact the police to assist.

Take photos

Gathering evidence is just a way of recording the event. Photos are a great way to capture details that you may forget to mention later on. It’s important to snap some pictures of the accident itself, the damage to the vehicles as well as the scene around the car accident. Your phone is perfect - it will automatically record the date and time which may be used later on during your insurance claim process.

Witness statements

Evidence can also include what others saw. Be sure to ask any witnesses for their contact details - while witnesses aren’t legally obligated to give statements, it’s always a great idea to ask.

Sketches and notes of the accident scene

While your accident is still fresh in your mind, it’s important to make notes about your accident - things that you can remember and the sequence in which they happened.

Any dashcam footage

Recorded footage can assist your insurance claim. If you have footage of your accident then be sure to save it. Ask any other drivers if they have any footage of the accident - or even the time leading up to your accident. While you can’t be sure what is relevant or not until your claim is closed, it’s critical to gather everything you can upfront.

Not at fault? Contact our team, we’ll help you.

Have you ever seen a car accident or been in one - and then struggled to explain to others the exact sequence of events? With so many more drivers on the road, there are many more accidents occurring. If you’re involved in an accident that was not your fault, a dashcam will definitely help your claim.

Who was at fault

What’s better at proving your claim than actual footage? As the not at fault driver, you are entitled to get back on the road with a like for like accident replacement car - with the at fault driver liable for the costs. But the other driver may just dispute the claim. While some accidents, fault is easily determined, however there are cases where fault and liability is tricky to prove. Dashcam footage will help your claim move smoothly through the process. Not at fault? Then contact our team, we’ll help you.

Use it to analyse your driving habits

Dashcam footage can actually have other benefits - such as using it to analyse and review your driving behaviour. Your driving skills, lane-change timing or even your response to high pressure situations are things you can review after-the-fact. Are you giving other drivers enough time to clear intersections or are you giving way to others? Do you keep a calm head if faced with bad driving from others or do you get upset and find yourself speeding? It’s always a good idea to improve your driving skills.

Record on-the-road experiences

Have you seen how others drive? With so many more cars on the road, there are a lot more high pressure situations. On the one hand, recording on the road footage may just help another driver with their insurance claim. On the other hand, a dashcam permanently installed can record some great experiences - such as that long road trip down visiting family and friends.

Simple fender benders can be inconvenient to say the least - and they happen more often than you can imagine! Whether it happened in a parking lot where someone reversed into your car - or you were sitting at a traffic light and were rear ended - fender benders can seem like more of a pain than a serious concern. But there may be reasons for you to be worried.

In most of our modern cars, the bumper is an important part of the car and is the area in which the car absorbs impact from an accident - So besides the obvious dent, there could be something more serious lurking.

Your bumper may house sensors crucial to systems related to your airbags and impact from an accident may affect these. Additionally, impact from a simple fender bender may cause damage to your wheels, alignment and even cause damage within other parts of your engine bay. Imagine your airbag sensors no longer functioning - these are crucial to keeping you safe in an accident, and perhaps the next accident is more serious - these airbags could be life saving!

Regardless of how small the impact may seem, it is very important to get the damage assessed - sometimes the only way to know what damage has occurred is to take the bumper off allowing the technician to properly assess the sensors.

Another reason to be concerned - even if it was just a simple fender bender - is that your bumper is there to absorb impact, so a damaged bumper can increase the severity of a future accident. Once damaged, the bumper can no longer take on that impact from a car accident, leaving you in danger.

Many folks would prefer to just leave the dent - it’s easier to carry on with life without the hassle of taking your car in to be repaired. A simple repair could take a couple of days - but it could take longer. That’s where accident replacement vehicles come in! Accident loan cars provide a way for you to be able to carry on with life without the inconvenience of being car-less for a couple of days - or weeks. And if you were not at fault, then the costs of the rental may be covered by the at fault party. What is important is making sure that your car is repaired correctly and that you remain safe on the road!

Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you

If you’ve ever been in a car accident - or are close to someone who has - then you’re probably familiar with the type of trauma it can cause. Even minor accidents and accidents where you are not at fault can cause serious trauma - physical as well as emotional trauma. Emotional trauma can include flashbacks or even PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder). 

But have you ever considered - even if you were not at fault in the accident - how the stress of the car accident can affect the emotional wellbeing of your kids? Children can especially be prone to PTSD so it’s important to keep an eye out for the warning signs and to help them cope with the accident.

Please seek professional medical help if you feel that your child is struggling after an accident.

Your children can experience flashbacks of the accident, they can also have nightmares and upsetting memories that can bring up emotions.

How can you help 

It’s important to be there for your kids - and to be available to them when they want to talk about the accident. Psychologists recommend letting your children speak openly and freely about the accident and what they remember from it. Letting them speak about the accident is a great tool in helping them to come to terms with what happened as well as to process the accident for themselves. 

Children generally open up when they are relaxed and open to sharing. It’s important to be available at this time to properly listen to them.

More than just talking

Some kids don’t want to express their feelings by talking. And that’s ok! There are other ways to get your child to open up about the car accident. You can try letting them draw pictures of the accident and what they remember. Once they’re comfortable with that, you can move onto other activities that will allow them to express their feelings and emotions - such as playing with cars or other toys to recreate their memories. It’s important to not force any conversation but rather let it happen naturally.

Making life as normal as possible - accident replacement vehicles

Life goes on - and it’s important to make things as comfortable as possible for everyone. Getting an accident replacement vehicle can really help - your rental car means that you can go back to your normal life as quickly as possible. If you were not at fault then you may be eligible for a replacement rental at no cost to you - contact our team as soon as possible after your accident, we’ll help you.

Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you 

1300 889 25

What’s the best way to avoid accidents? There’s no concrete way to avoid one - especially if the other driver is at fault! And while car accidents can happen to the least suspecting driver, there are a few driving techniques that will come in handy!

Driving posture

Your driving posture plays a massive role in how fast you are able to react to accidents. It also impacts how tired or fatigued you will get during a car ride. Things to keep in mind when seating yourself in your car include your seat belt, your driver’s seat and the mirror positions. Be sure to properly adjust your driving posture and position every time that you get into your car - and take an extra moment if you’re driving a car that you’re unfamiliar with.

Braking techniques

Did you know that there is a safer way to brake? Correct braking is actually done in two phases - first lightly applying pressure to your brakes followed by a short pause and then applying progressive pressure to appropriately come to a stop. Of course, if an accident is about to happen - especially when you are not at fault - it's often difficult to take these braking techniques into consideration.

Steering techniques

Before we get into the different steering techniques, let’s chat about hand position! Your hands should be placed on your steering wheel on opposite sides - your grip should be firm. There are a couple of steering methods - Hand to hand steering and hand over hand steering. Steering methods or techniques can really assist you to have a smoother and more controlled driving experience.

Accidents - when you’re not at fault

Unexpected accidents can really hit at the most inconvenient moments - and being unexpected, you’re unlikely to have a moment to make adjustments to minimise impact or damage. Not at fault means that the other driver has caused the accident - whether its a minor fender bender in the parking lot or a light bumper bashing in traffic. Driving techniques that can potentially prevent accidents include defensive driving - basically being constantly aware of all of the drivers around you.

Defensive driving

Defensive driving is all about being alert and aware of your surroundings. It allows you to have enough time to react to other drivers should you need to move out of the way. Some ways you can implement defensive driving is by allowing a 2 to 3 second gap between you and other cars, maintaining a safe speed as well as to avoid weaving in and out of traffic.

Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you

1300 889 256

Have you ever been in the situation where you encountered an angry motorist? It’s never an easy situation to deal with - and less so if they are the driver at fault. So if you are ever in the situation where you are not at fault and dealing with an aggressive driver then these tips are for you!

Remember that if you’re not at fault then you’re the innocent driver and you don't deserve to deal with aggressive drivers - however, it’s important to keep your own cool! Here are some tips on how to deal with other drivers, especially if they are being aggressive.

Remain calm and keep your cool

It’s always a good idea to remain calm - even if confronted with aggression. Even not at fault drivers have to deal with aggression from the at fault party - but it’s all about the way you handle it. If the other driver gets agitated or aggressive towards you, it’s important to take a breath and not get involved. 

Gather as many details as possible

While it may not always be the easiest thing to gather information from an aggressive driver, there are a few tips and tricks that you can try without escalating the situation further. You can easily take note of the at fault driver’s number plate number and car make/model. Take note of the drivers appearance and, if relevant, if there is any possibility of intoxication. It’s always a good idea to take photos of the accident scene, the cars and the damage, but if you’re confronted with an aggressive driver, it’s important to take care. Be sure to make note of all of the important details such as what happened, the position of the cars and any other relevant information.

Call for help if you need it!

If the other driver is refusing to exchange their details or they become too aggressive and you feel threatened, then remember you can call the police to assist you. It’s important to remain calm and ask for their assistance at the accident scene./p>

Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you