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Emergency vehicles are often first responders to accident scenes - those sent to help when others are in need. Flashing lights and sirens can indicate that they are on their way to a new accident scene - and as such they need to get there as quickly as possible.
Being constantly vigilant and observant while driving is incredibly important - and the responsibility to help emergency vehicles get to their accident scene as quickly as possible is on us. 
Hearing sirens and seeing flashing lights in the rear view mirror can really frighten some, however, it’s important to remain calm and give way as quickly as safely possible. This often means moving left so that they can overtake on your right hand side. However, if you are not confident in moving left - or it’s unsafe to do so, it’s recommended that you slow down and come to a safe stop so that the emergency vehicle can overtake you safely when the opportunity presents itself. Remember - it’s never a good idea to speed up for the emergency vehicle or to block their way. Impeding or intentionally blocking emergency vehicles can land you with a fine.
While you must allow emergency vehicles to pass, you need to ensure that this is done safely and you should not break the law in order to let an emergency vehicle pass. No speeding or running of red lights is permitted as this increases the chances of an accident.
Emergency vehicles include ambulances, police cars and fire trucks - these are all services that can be reached by dialling 000. Tow trucks and repair vehicles are not considered to be emergency services.
Need help after a car accident? Then call our team at Carbiz, we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

Our team at Carbiz is committed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Australia. As such we are taking countless safety measures to make the experience of hiring your accident replacement vehicle safe for everyone.
If you’re in an accident and your car is in the repair shop, then we don’t want you to be stuck on public transport. A car is a good way to maintain social distancing - another win for accident replacement vehicles!
During the pandemic, our team wants to ensure your safety and we’ve introduced a number of Covid safe practices in place including

• Social distancing and minimal customer contact,
• Masks are worn,
• Enhanced cleaning protocols including using disinfectant
• Deep cleaning of cars before every rental including special attention to ‘high touch’ zones such as the steering wheel, indicators, dashboard, hand grips, cup holders, keys and door handles.

Other areas in our accident replacement vehicles that are cleaned before dropping them off to you include

• Safety restraints and seatbelts, 
• All surfaces inside the vehicle,
• All switches and controls.

Been in an accident that was not your fault? Contact our team as soon as possible, we’ll help you, every step of the way. We’ve simplified the whole process - and our goal is to get you the best deal.

Rear end collisions can happen to even the most experienced and cautious drivers. While rear end collisions can often be unexpected and sudden - due to a momentary loss of concentration or a lapse in judgement and unfortunate events - determining fault can often be tricky. We investigate a few types of rear end collisions and the possible at-fault drivers.
These are general guidelines and we advise that you speak to the experts when determining fault - call our team, we’ll help you.
Scenario 1
Two cars are involved. Generally it is the driver who hit from behind or caused the accident that will be at fault and liable for damages.
Scenario 2
There are two cars involved and one rolls back. Generally in this instance, the driver in front or the driver who rolls back - regardless of how close the other car is - is at fault.
Scenario 3
Three or more cars are involved. Determining fault in this instance is often a lot trickier. In some cases it could be the last car in the pile up that is deemed responsible. However, the exact circumstances will come into play - for instance, were the first two cars already stationary.
The specifics of your accident will need an individual assessment - need help in determining fault? Contact our team at Carbiz, we’ll help you.
How should you get around while your car is getting repaired? 
Bypass any inconvenience by securing an accident replacement vehicle - as the driver who is not at fault, you are eligible for a like for like hire car. The costs are for the account of the at fault driver - so be sure to speak to the experts at Carbiz, we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

How safe is your car? It’s probably a question you’ve either asked or even just wondered about. For most, it’s one of the most important aspects of their car. So why should you be concerned with how safe your car is? During an accident, your car will take most of the impact - and how well your car cushions you from the impact needs to be considered. 
Car accidents happen in seconds - so it’s important to make sure you are driving a car that will keep you as safe as possible. How is the safety of your car determined?
In Australia, we are lucky that we are able to rely on independent research by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) to determine just how safe each car is.
All cars are given a star rating from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest score. All cars on sale in Australia have an ANCAP rating - so be sure to ask! 
ANCAP testing evaluates a car’s safety against a range of criteria in key areas of assessment including adult occupant protection, child occupant protection, vulnerable road user protection (such as pedestrians) and safety assist. Test criteria are updated every 2 years, so if your car scored a 5 ANCAP rating a couple of years ago then it may not have the same score today. 
Physical crash tests are where the car is put through a crash simulation and dummies are used to assess the likely injuries that would result from the physical impact of a collision. Types of crashes tested include frontal impact, side impact, run-off-road, rear-end, and pedestrian strikes.
Your accident replacement vehicle also has a safety rating - be sure to ask the team more about the safety of your accident replacement vehicle. 
If the accident was not your fault, then give Carbiz a call - we’ll help you. 📞1300 889 256

Did you know that driver fatigue is one of the biggest killers on the roads? It’s also one of the hardest accident causes to combat - many don't realise they are tired and it’s difficult to police. The majority of people are likely to be fatigued either in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Driver fatigue can strike at any time while driving, but particularly if you’ve had a long day, not enough sleep or when you’re running on empty. Driver fatigue impacts your reaction time to road hazards as well as the time it takes you to respond to situations you encounter when driving.
What’s interesting is that driver fatigue can only partly be attributed to being tired of not having enough sleep - it can also happen to you while driving in a highly monotonous journey, such as a long road trip through the outback.
Tired or fatigued drivers have lower performance - they take longer to react to hazards. Besides the increase in reaction time, driving fatigued can also lead to impaired attention, the inability to focus and the impairment of decision making. This not only leads to you taking longer to notice a road hazard, but also means that if you’re driving fatigued, you will find it harder to assess the danger and then to make the appropriate decision to avoid it.
Microsleep or the short term loss of consciousness, typically occurs to fatigued drivers. This loss of consciousness, if only for a fraction of second, can be highly dangerous while actively driving. Microsleep can even occur and not be actively noted - in such cases, drivers will assume temporary loss of focus while they’ve actually been sleeping for short periods of time.
Driver fatigue can lead to accidents. We are here to help you after an accident, call us as soon as possible on our dedicated accident support line. 📞1300 889 256

Road rage is more common than you think and experiencing road rage from another driver can be very confronting. Road rage can be anything from rude hand gestures to tailgating. While more serious cases can result in car damage from an accident that was not your fault or even physical assault.

What to do if you become a victim of road rage

Avoid eye contact. It’s important to never engage with road rage - don’t look at the aggressive driver and don't return any gestures. Doing so will escalate the situation further.
Stay in your car until you feel safe enough. Getting out of your car to retaliate or while the other driver is still angry may put you in more danger, rather wait it out until others are on scene or until you feel safe enough.
Increase the distance between you and the other driver. If you notice an aggressive driver while driving, then slow down a bit and increase the distance between the two of you.

What happens if the aggressive driver causes an accident that was not your fault?

Not at fault? If the other driver causes damage to your vehicle and you are clearly not at fault, then it’s important to call for help. While the other driver should stop and exchange details, he/she may drive off. In this case, it is important that you collect as much information as possible - such as their rego, car make and the description of the driver. If they do stop, be sure to remain calm during your exchange of details. If you do not feel safe, then you should call for help.
Pull off the road if it is safe to do so and call Carbiz immediately. Our team will be on hand to help you. 📞1300 889 256

Ever heard a story about a car accident where the not at fault driver was short-changed? Were the details unclear and did you have a suspicion that things were not as they should be? Here are some common misconceptions. Before we unpack these, if you are not at fault - you shouldn't be left out of pocket. Our team will help you!
If you’re not at fault and you don’t have optional car hire cover, then you will need to pay for your accident replacement vehicle.
No, this is not always the case! If you are not the driver at fault, then you have the right to drive. This means that you may be entitled to a like for like accident replacement vehicle while your car is being repaired, with the costs covered by the driver who was at fault.
You will need to pay for the costs associated with your accident replacement vehicle.
When you work with Carbiz, we will ensure that the costs are recovered from the at-fault party’s insurer on your behalf. 
If you get an accident replacement car, it will be nothing like your own.
No! It’s important to remember that you have the right to drive a like for like vehicle - one similar to your own car in the repair shop. If you are used to driving a Tesla, then we will help you with a Tesla accident replacement vehicle! Not at fault? Contact our team, we’ll help you 📞1300 889 256

Have you ever wondered what really happens to your body during a car accident? Did you know that most severe car accident injuries happen at speeds that many wouldn’t consider dangerous? Yes you read that right - you don’t need to be speeding to get seriously injured.
While most modern cars are designed to absorb the impact of a car accident, it’s important to understand the basics of what really happens when you come to a sudden halt as a result of a car accident. While driving, your body and your car have a certain amount of kinetic energy created by the motion. When you suddenly stop, your car is designed to absorb most of this energy from the impact, however, your body will still be forced into motion - usually stopped through impact with your seatbelt or another part of your car.
Frontal injury is caused when you continue moving forward after the impact. This can be force into your seatbelt, steering wheel or even your dashboard. If you are wearing your seatbelt, you will still have frontal impact into it - and while it is designed to save your life, it can still leave you with an injury.
Common injuries caused by your seatbelt include broken or fractured collarbones, broken ribs or even a punctured lung. If your seatbelt is not worn correctly, injuries can be more serious including massive internal injuries.
Frontal impact and injury can also be caused by your airbag. Your airbag is designed to push your head and body backwards. However, due to the force that your airbag exerts when deployed, injuries can occur. Such injuries can include temporary or even permanent blindness, facial injuries or even neck and spinal injuries.
But what happens when there is a cabin intrusion as a result of the accident? It can happen that parts of your vehicle can collapse and be forced into the cabin. 
And besides these frontal impacts, rear end collisions, side collisions and rollover accidents are all types of accidents that can cause a lot of harm to the occupants of the car. 
All of these types of accidents involve the transfer of kinetic energy to either the car or to yourself - and the latter leaves you open to injury. 
Need help after an accident that was not your fault? Contact our team, we’ll help you.📞1300 889 256