What really happens to you and your body in a car accident?

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

For further information after a crash, read about injuries that may not be immediately visible and the difference between medical shock and emotional distress.

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What To Do If Someone Hits Your Parked Car

Coming back to find your parked car damaged is never fun, but knowing how to respond correctly can save you time, money and stress.

Firstly, understand that getting upset is natural, but taking a deep breath will help you make better decisions. Examine your car thoroughly and document any visible damage, taking multiple photos from different angles, including close-ups of dents, scratches or broken parts, and capturing the surrounding area, such as road signs and markings, for context.

Next, see if you can locate the driver responsible. Sometimes, people leave a note with their contact information and insurance details. If there’s no note, look for witnesses nearby who may have seen what happened. You can also check for CCTV from nearby businesses, homes or on the street, as some areas have coverage. If you’re unsure, consider contacting the local council to find out whether cameras are in place that might have captured the accident.

If the driver didn’t leave a note, or if they did but are unresponsive or the information they provided seems incorrect, contact the police to report the accident and provide all the information you have, including photos, footage and witness statements. Be sure to request a copy of the police report, as it can be useful when dealing with insurance.

If you’re still having a hard time getting a hold of the at-fault driver and therefore cannot claim directly through their car insurer, it’s time to lodge a claim with your own insurance provider, if you have one. Provide them with as much information as possible, including the police report. From there, your insurer can determine whether your coverage, along with the information you have, will cover the damage to your car.

If your car insurer happens to find information about the at-fault driver and is able to have them lodge a claim so the costs of the damage are recoverable, you can contact Carbiz for a replacement car while your car is being repaired or until it’s been deemed a total loss. This ensures you’re not left without a car during this time, giving you peace of mind and the ability to keep your life moving.

For help organising your next steps, read our car accident insurance claim checklist and explore accident replacement vehicle options.

What It Means When Your Car Is Declared A Write-Off After An Accident

Updated 6 October 2026.

When an insurer declares a car a write-off, it has assessed the vehicle as a total loss under the policy. The damage may make repairs unsafe, or the cost of repairing the car may make a repair uneconomical. A write-off does not always mean the car is visibly destroyed.

How is a write-off decision made?

The assessment can take account of the vehicle's value, repair costs, salvage value and the policy terms. There is no single repair-cost percentage that determines every write-off across Australia. Ask the insurer for its assessment and the basis for its decision.

A total-loss insurance decision and a vehicle's written-off registration category are related but different matters. Whether a car can return to the road depends on the damage classification and the rules of the relevant state or territory.

Statutory and repairable write-offs

Statutory write-off: the vehicle meets specified damage criteria and cannot be re-registered for road use.
Repairable write-off: repairs may be technically possible, but the vehicle has been assessed as uneconomical to repair. This label does not itself authorise repairs or guarantee re-registration.

Requirements vary across Australia. In NSW, an eligible written-off light vehicle needs an Authorisation to Repair from Transport for NSW before work begins. Only limited applications are considered, and vehicles with statutory write-off damage are excluded. Approval, compliant repairs and the required inspections are separate steps.

What happens to your insurance payout?

The settlement depends on your cover and circumstances. It may be based on an agreed value, a market value or a replacement-vehicle benefit if your policy provides one. An excess, outstanding premium or finance arrangements may affect the amount you receive. Ask for a written breakdown before accepting the settlement.

Keep the assessment, photographs, policy documents and correspondence together. If you disagree with the valuation, provide relevant evidence and use the insurer's complaints process. See AAMI's explanation of total-loss claims for an insurer's example; your own policy determines your cover.

Getting around after a not-at-fault accident

If you need a replacement vehicle, tell Carbiz that your car has been declared a write-off. Eligibility, vehicle availability, the hire period and the terms of the agreement need to be confirmed for your circumstances. A write-off does not automatically entitle everyone to unlimited hire.

Contact Carbiz to discuss your accident replacement vehicle options. For a practical checklist, read what to do after receiving a write-off decision.

2 September 2020