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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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
If you’re unfamiliar with accident replacement vehicles, the logistics of not at fault accident claims or how we’ll help you, then read on!
Here are some general questions that we often get asked about our accident replacement cars
The best thing you can do if you were not at fault is to call us immediately from your accident scene. We have a dedicated accident support line where we will be able to help you - from gathering all the information from the accident through to arranging a tow company to meet you. Our friendly team knows what to do! We will also help you with your not at fault insurance claim - making the whole accident recovery process just that much easier. We assist with accident replacement vehicles in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.
If the other driver was at fault, then you shouldn’t have to be inconvenienced by the accident. There are a few things that we will need to confirm but our friendly team is on hand to help you right away! If you were not at fault and did not claim any fault, there was more than one car involved and you have the at fault driver’s details, then you may be eligible for an accident loan vehicle at no cost. Determining fault is done by the experts, so before you do anything, give us a call.
The at fault driver or their insurance company! While our team at Carbiz will recover rental costs from the at fault party, you may need to assist us in the recovery of the costs, should it be required. You are only responsible for normal car rental terms and conditions, which will include fuel costs, tolls and fines. That’s it!
We deliver your car to a place convenient for you! We can deliver the car directly to you at home, at your work or meet you at the repair shop, making it easy and hassle free.
Need help after a car accident? We’ll help you
If you had to answer this question, what would you say? Are you a good driver? Most of us would say YES, of course! And most of us have been driving frequently for a considerable amount of time - so you must be a good driver, right? Well, turns out that good drivers all have a couple of qualities in common - let us know how you fare.
Knowledge - the know how if something goes wrong
Good drivers all have a good knowledge of what to do in the event of something untoward happening. They’re normally fully educated on how to handle their vehicles, general road safety and safe driving. They’re also aware of what to do in the event of an accident - and how to seek out help after an accident where they were not at fault.
General driving skill
Good drivers are skilled drivers! Steering, changing gears, handling of your vehicle during suboptimal conditions and accelerating safely and smoothly are all skills of a good driver. There are ways to improve your driving skills - such as taking an advanced driving course or learning how to be a proactive or defensive driver.
Awareness and observation
Good drivers often have the ability to see an accident before it happens - this is because they are always fully aware of their surroundings. Driving with the ability to be aware of what is happening around you at all times will help prevent accidents from happening. While some accidents are unavoidable - especially those where you are not at fault - it’s still a good idea to be fully aware at all times.
Having the right attitude
Being a good driver is more than just skills or knowledge - it’s about having the right mindset before setting off on your journey. Being calm and level headed while driving is incredibly important especially when there are other drivers around. Another important part of having the right attitude is not panicking should something unexpected happen. For instance, being involved in an accident where you are not at fault. Having the right mindset will allow you to remain calm at the accident scene, allowing you to take a moment to get to what you need to - such as sharing your details, taking witness statements and gathering their information as well as taking photos. Being calm will also help you when calling our dedicated accident support line and organising your accident replacement vehicle. And while accidents are scary, unexpected and inconvenient, the team at Carbiz is here to help you through it!
Has a car accident gotten you down recently? It’s often a time in many people’s lives where they discover which people and companies are there to help - and which ones are not. It’s also a time when people find themselves needing to learn everything that they possibly can about insurance, car accidents, witness statements, claim management, legal requirements etc - the list is endless. And that is only the start, there is a mountain of admin that usually comes with a car accident.
Any accident can be a scary and traumatic experience for most - but there are some accidents that are just minor inconveniences and others that take years to come to grips with. And the steps that you need to follow may differ slightly depending on whether you’ve been in a minor accident vs a major car accident.
A minor accident could be something as simple as a bumper bash - Here are a couple of steps to take after a minor accident:
More serious accidents can mean that your car is likely unsafe to drive - in this case, it will be important to tow your car. We can help you with contacting a tow company who will help you get your car to the nearest repair facility. And if you were not at fault, we will help you with an accident replacement vehicle!