What to do if you have a minor car accident

The big one. Failing to stop after a motor-vehicle collision in Australia is an offense, so even if it's just a small scrape, don't just drive away. As well as being required by law to stop after a collision, all drivers involved must exchange details – we'll come to that later.

Once the dust has settled, you need to make sure all parties are safe. If you and your passengers are safe, and it's safe to do so, exit your vehicle and check those in the other vehicle are all right. If any of the cars are blocking traffic but can be moved, move them to a safe location, switch the engines off and turn on the hazard lights to alert motorists.

In the event of injuries or fatalities – the definition of a 'major' collision – you must immediately call triple zero. The national emergency phone operator will call police and other required services.

Some of the other circumstances that fall into the major-collision category and require police attendance include suspecting a driver is affected by alcohol or drugs, someone is trapped in a vehicle, a bus or truck needs to be towed, or any of the involved parties failed to stop.

If none of these situations apply it's a minor collision and you and the other driver/s can work out the details between yourselves.

By law, drivers involved in a collision must exchange details such as name and address (plus, if the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, the name and address of the owner), vehicle registration numbers and any other information needed to identify a vehicle such as make, model and colour.

But if you intend to claim with your insurer, for the best legal protection in a dispute you'll want more details. If you can, get the other driver's phone number and insurance policy details too. If there are any witnesses, ask for their contact details. Note down the time and location of the collision. With your smartphone, take photos of the location and vehicle damage from multiple angles, as well as any property damage. Note down any CCTV cameras in the area as the footage could be significant in a dispute.

Most importantly, don't get into an argument about where fault for the collision lies, that's for the insurers to untangle.

As soon as convenient, contact your insurer and inform them of the collision. They'll walk you through the process of providing the necessary information so they can assess your claim.

How things develop from there will depend on your insurance status that of the other driver/s and who was at fault. But if you have a typical comprehensive policy, weren't at fault and have supplied all the necessary details about the other driver/s, you likely won't be asked to pay your excess. If the accident was your fault or you can't supply that key information, expect to take the excess hit.

If you don't have insurance and the collision was your fault, the other driver's insurer will send you a letter of demand with a quote for repairing their car. In that scenario, seeking legal advice is recommended.

Ultimately, always practice road safety to avoid these road accidents by not exceeding the speed limit and travelling three or four seconds behind the vehicle in front so you have time to stop to avoid an accident. Always drive within your comfort zone, avoid distractions and make sure your phone is away. Abiding by the law and following these few simple precautions will help you avoid accidents and safely get to your destination.