Crash Guide

What to do if you are injured in an accident

Crash Guide Editorial TeamPublished 10 September 2026Last reviewed 10 September 2026General information only. Crash Guide is not a law firm, an insurer or a medical service.

Short answer

What should I do if I was injured in a car accident?

Get medically assessed even if symptoms seem mild, and tell the doctor it followed a motor accident so the connection is recorded from the beginning. Every state and territory has a compulsory third party scheme covering personal injury, and each has its own process and time limits. Keep a simple record of symptoms, treatment and time off work from day one.

Get assessed, properly

If you have severe pain, numbness, weakness, confusion, a persistent headache, vomiting, vision changes, or pain in the chest or abdomen, seek urgent medical care. Call 000 for anything that looks serious.

Adrenaline suppresses pain for hours. A great many people feel fine at the scene and wake up unable to turn their head. See a doctor even if you think it is nothing, and say clearly that it followed a motor vehicle accident — that single sentence puts the link in your medical record from the start, which matters later.

Symptoms people report after a crash

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Back or shoulder pain
  • Headache
  • Bruising from the seatbelt
  • Dizziness or nausea
  • Pins and needles in the arms or hands
  • Difficulty sleeping, anxiety about driving, or intrusive memories of the accident

Crash Guide does not diagnose injuries, assess how serious they are, or determine whether you are eligible for compensation. Only a treating health professional can assess you, and only the relevant scheme or an appropriately qualified adviser can address entitlement.

Psychological effects count too

Anxiety, disrupted sleep and avoidance of driving are common after a crash and are legitimate to raise with your GP. They are frequently under-reported because people assume only physical injury counts.

Keep a simple record

  • Symptoms, and how they change week to week
  • Every appointment: who, when, what was said
  • Medication and treatment, including physiotherapy
  • Days missed at work, and duties you could not perform
  • Out-of-pocket costs and receipts
  • Things you can no longer do easily at home

A contemporaneous record written as it happens carries far more weight than a recollection assembled months later.

CTP schemes differ by state

Every registered vehicle in Australia carries compulsory third party cover for personal injury, but the schemes are genuinely different between states and territories — different names, different regulators, different processes and different time limits.

Start with your state or territory hub for the correct scheme and regulator, and act early. Time limits are real.

Common questions

Should I see a doctor if I feel okay?

Yes, if there is any doubt. Soft tissue injuries commonly present a day or two later, and an early assessment establishes the connection to the accident in your medical record.

Does Crash Guide tell me whether I have a claim?

No. Crash Guide provides general information only and does not assess eligibility, promise compensation or provide legal advice. We can point you to the scheme for your state and, if you ask us to, to a provider who can advise you properly.

Sources

Crash Guide checks state rules against primary government and regulator sources. If something below has changed, tell us and we will correct it.

Related guides