A car accident, even a small one, has a way of scrambling clear thinking. The good news is that the right steps are simple and the same every time, so you can run through them almost on autopilot once you know them. This guide walks through what to do at the scene, what you must do by law in Queensland, when you have to report a crash to police, and the few things that are worth not doing.
Start with the calm version
Your first job is safety, not sorting out who was at fault. Stop the car, put your hazard lights on, and check whether anyone is injured. If they are, ring Triple Zero (000) straight away. Everything else, the details and the paperwork, can wait a few minutes until people are safe.
Most crashes people are involved in are minor knocks with no injuries, and they are dealt with by swapping details and letting the insurers do the rest. A calm, orderly few minutes at the scene makes the days afterwards far easier, so it helps to know the routine before you ever need it.
Work through it step by step
Tap through the steps below in order. They apply anywhere in Queensland, from a Brisbane car park to a Bruce Highway shoulder near Cairns. If anyone is seriously hurt, skip straight to calling 000.
Stop and steady yourself You must stop
The first seconds after any crash.
Stop the carBy law you must stop if you are involved in a crash, however minor it feels. Pull up as safely as you can.
Hazard lights onSwitch on your hazard lights straight away so other drivers can see something is wrong.
Take a breathGive yourself a moment before you get out. A few slow breaths steady the shakes and help you think clearly about the steps that follow.
Make the scene safe
Protecting yourself and other road users.
Get clear of trafficIf the cars are drivable and it is safe, move them out of the lane. If not, leave them and get yourself well clear.
Keep people backMove everyone off the roadway and onto the footpath or verge, away from moving traffic.
On a motorwayOn a fast road, stand behind the safety barrier rather than beside the car. Passing traffic is the real danger after a crash.
Check for injuries
People come before property, every time.
Check everyoneCheck yourself, your passengers, the other vehicle, and any pedestrians or riders involved.
Call 000 if neededIf anyone is injured, phone Triple Zero and ask for ambulance or police. It is free from any mobile.
Do not move the badly hurtUnless there is an immediate danger such as fire, leave a seriously injured person where they are and let the ambulance crew move them.
Photos and notes
A few minutes now saves a lot later.
Photograph everythingThe damage to both cars, the positions on the road, number plates, skid marks, signs and the wider scene.
Note the factsThe time, the location, the weather and road conditions, and how it happened while it is fresh.
WitnessesIf anyone saw it, ask for a name and phone number. An independent account can matter a great deal afterwards.
Swap details Required by law
What everyone involved has to exchange.
Give your detailsYour name, address and vehicle registration number to the other people involved.
Get theirsThe same from the other driver, plus a contact number. Note the make, model and colour of their car.
If they refuseGiving your details is a legal duty in Queensland, even for a small bump. If the other driver refuses or drives off, that alone makes it a crash you must report to police.
Report and claim
Wrapping up in the day or two after.
Report to policeIf it is a reportable crash (see the next section), report it within 24 hours through Policelink on 131 444, online, or at a police station.
Contact your insurerTell your own insurer promptly and give them your photos and notes. Check your policy for any time limit on lodging a claim.
Keep it togetherStore your photos, your written notes and any police report number in one place so nothing goes missing.
When you must report a crash to police in Queensland
You do not have to report every minor prang, but you must report a crash to Queensland Police within 24 hours if any of the situations below apply. When in doubt, report it. Ring Triple Zero (000) if the crash is happening now and someone is hurt or in danger, or Policelink on 131 444 for anything less urgent.
According to the Queensland Police Service, a crash is a reportable crash if it involves any of these:
🚑
Someone is injured or dies
Any injury that needs treatment from an ambulance officer, nurse or doctor.
🛻
A vehicle is towed
A car involved is not drivable and has to be towed or carried away.
📝
Details were not exchanged
A driver fails, refuses, or is unable to give their required details.
⚠️
There is a hazard
Something like a blocked road, spilt fuel or a downed power line.
🍺
Drugs or alcohol are suspected
You believe another driver was affected, or there was dangerous driving.
🏛️
Public property is damaged
Damage to things like traffic signals, guard rails or other government property.
If none of those apply, the crash is not one you have to report to police, though you may still want to record it for your own insurance. Whether or not police are involved, you always have to stop and exchange details at the scene.
What not to do
A calm head avoids most of the mistakes people make after a crash. These are the ones worth steering clear of.
🚫
Do not drive off
Leaving the scene of a crash you were part of is a serious offence, even for a minor knock.
🤐
Do not admit fault
Stay factual and polite. Sorting out fault is for the insurers and, if needed, the police, not the roadside.
🙅
Do not move the seriously hurt
Unless there is danger like fire, wait for the ambulance rather than moving an injured person.
📵
Do not forget the details
Names, addresses, registrations and photos are easy to overlook when you are rattled, and hard to get later.
😤
Do not lose your temper
Everyone is shaken. Keeping it civil keeps the situation safe and makes the details easier to swap.
⏱️
Do not skip a needed report
If it is a reportable crash, lodge it within 24 hours rather than letting the deadline slip.
Being ready for the unexpected
Nobody plans to have a crash, and no amount of skill removes the chance entirely, because a lot of what happens on the road is other people. What good habits do is buy you time and options. A proper following gap, an early scan of the mirrors, and a head that stays calm when something goes wrong are the difference between a near miss and a knock.
Those habits are exactly what we have taught since 1965. Our instructors work from dual-control cars, so a learner can practise reading traffic and reacting early with a second set of controls there as a backstop. Knowing the steps on this page is worth having tucked away too, so that if the unexpected ever does happen, you already know what to do.
Common questions from Queensland drivers
Reportable-crash requirements were checked against the Queensland Police Service traffic crash guidance (police.qld.gov.au) and the Queensland Government non-injury crash reporting page (qld.gov.au) in July 2026. Rules and reporting methods can change, so confirm the current requirements with the Queensland Police Service before relying on them. This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not recommend any particular insurer.
Keep reading
Steady habits are what keep small mistakes from becoming crashes. If you would like a hand building them, our driving lesson packages cover the everyday skills that matter most.