Road trauma costs Western Australia more than lives – it reshapes families, communities, and futures. In 2023, 171 people died on WA roads, with thousands more injured in crashes ranging from minor fender-benders to serious collisions. What you do in those first critical minutes after impact can determine your safety, your legal standing, your insurance outcome, and your recovery timeline.

The post-crash procedures that apply in WA are specific to this state. Western Australia operates under a fault-based liability system governed by the Road Traffic Act 1974, with reporting requirements, documentation obligations, and vehicle recovery rights that differ in important ways from other Australian states. Knowing these procedures before you need them is your clearest advantage at a crash scene.

WA drivers also have clearly defined crash scene rights that protect them from being pressured into decisions that affect their insurance claim – including where their vehicle is towed and which repairer it goes to. These rights apply at every crash, regardless of who was at fault.

All Out Towing specialises in professional vehicle recovery across Perth and regional WA – attending over 3,000 crash scenes in 15 years. The difference between drivers who navigate the post-crash process effectively and those who don’t comes down to preparation. One knows exactly what to document, who to call, and how to protect themselves legally. The other stands in shock, missing crucial evidence while their rights quietly erode.

Check for Injuries and Secure the Scene

Your first 60 seconds determine everything. Before you think about insurance claims or vehicle damage, assess the immediate threats around you.

Your Legal Obligation to Stop

Stop immediately. Western Australia’s Road Traffic Act 1974 makes it a criminal offence to leave a crash scene, even if you believe the damage is minor. Penalties include up to three years imprisonment and $36,000 in fines. This applies regardless of who caused the crash or how late you are.

Checking for Injuries

Check yourself for injuries first. Adrenaline masks pain – fractured ribs or internal bleeding can go unnoticed immediately after impact. Move carefully. Then check all passengers in your vehicle.

If anyone is injured, call 000 immediately. Don’t attempt to move injured people unless there’s immediate danger such as fire or oncoming traffic. Moving someone with spinal injuries can cause permanent paralysis.

Making the Scene Safe

Turn on your hazard lights. If it’s safe, set up warning triangles at least 50 metres behind the crash site – more on freeways, where traffic approaches fast. If the crash blocks traffic or involves injuries, report it to WA Police. Call 131 444 for non-urgent police attendance or 000 if there are injuries, a blocked road, or someone appears affected by drugs or alcohol.

Exchange Information With Other Drivers

Once the scene is secure and emergency services have been called if needed, you’re legally required to exchange specific information with other involved parties. This is both a legal requirement and an important step in protecting your crash scene rights for the insurance process that follows.

What Information to Exchange

  • Your full name and address
  • Vehicle registration number
  • Vehicle owner’s name and address if different from the driver
  • Insurance details – company name and policy number

Collect the same information from the other driver. Don’t accept a first name and phone number only – that won’t help when your insurer needs to pursue a claim. Photograph their driver’s licence and vehicle registration if they’ll allow it. People give wrong details accidentally – or deliberately – more often than most drivers expect.

Getting Witness Details

Get contact details for any witnesses at the scene. Independent witnesses can be crucial if the other driver later changes their account of what happened. Witness statements have completely changed liability outcomes in situations where driver accounts directly conflicted.

Stay calm and factual throughout. Don’t apologise or admit fault, even if you think you caused the crash. Saying “I’m sorry” can be interpreted as an admission of liability, which may affect your insurance claim. Stick to exchanging information and documenting facts.

Document Everything at the Scene

Insurance assessors and lawyers reconstruct crashes from evidence. The more you capture now, the stronger your position throughout the post-crash procedures that follow.

What to Photograph

  • Wide shots showing the entire scene, including road layout and traffic signs
  • Close-ups of all vehicle damage – yours and theirs
  • Skid marks, debris, and road conditions
  • The other vehicle’s registration plate
  • Any visible injuries
  • Weather and lighting conditions at the time

Modern phones timestamp photos automatically, creating an irrefutable record of scene conditions. Take more photos than you think necessary – you can’t return to the scene later. Note the exact location using GPS coordinates from your phone, or record the nearest street address and landmarks.

Write a Contemporaneous Account

Your memory will fade and distort within hours. Write down what happened while you’re still at the scene or immediately after:

  • Time and date
  • Weather and visibility conditions
  • What you were doing immediately before impact
  • Your speed at the time
  • What the other vehicle did
  • Whether you braked or swerved

This documentation becomes evidence if there’s a dispute about fault. Comprehensive scene photos have saved drivers from fraudulent claims and inflated damage reports – and protected their crash scene rights under WA’s fault-based system.

Report the Crash to Authorities

WA has specific reporting requirements that vary based on crash severity. These are part of the core post-crash procedures every WA driver should understand before they need them.

When Police Must Attend

Police must be notified when:

  • Anyone is injured or killed
  • Any driver appears affected by alcohol or drugs
  • A driver fails to stop and exchange details
  • The crash involves a government vehicle
  • The road is blocked or there’s a hazard to other road users
  • Total property damage exceeds $3,000 including vehicles and infrastructure

Reporting When Police Don’t Attend

If police don’t attend, you must report the crash to WA Police within 24 hours when it involves injury or significant property damage. You can do this at any police station or online through the WA Police website. Don’t assume the other driver will report it – make your own report. Your contemporaneous report establishes the facts if the other party later claims additional injuries or damage.

Contact Your Insurance Company Promptly

Most insurance policies require notification as soon as reasonably practicable after a crash – typically within 24-48 hours. Delays can void your coverage or complicate claims processing.

What to Tell Your Insurer

  • Crash location, date, and time
  • Other driver’s details
  • Police report number if applicable
  • A brief factual description of what happened
  • Extent of visible damage

Don’t speculate about fault or injuries. Stick to observable facts. Your insurer will investigate liability – that’s their role, not yours. Ask about claims procedures and whether they’ll arrange vehicle recovery. Some policies include towing services in Perth as a standard benefit.

Understand Your Rights and Obligations

WA operates under a fault-based system for motor vehicle crashes. Whoever caused the crash is liable for damages. Understanding this system – and your crash scene rights within it – protects you at every stage of the post-crash process.

If You’re Not at Fault

  • You can claim repairs, towing, and hire car costs from the at-fault driver’s insurer
  • You shouldn’t have to pay an excess
  • Your insurance rating shouldn’t be affected
  • You can choose your own repairer – this is a core crash scene right that cannot be removed

If You’re at Fault

  • You’re liable for all damage to other vehicles and property
  • Your comprehensive insurer covers costs up to your policy limits
  • You’ll typically pay your policy excess
  • Your premium will likely increase at renewal

Why Private Settlements Are Risky

Don’t let the other driver pressure you into a private settlement without involving insurance. Hidden vehicle damage and delayed injury symptoms regularly emerge after private settlements have been agreed. Your crash scene rights include the right to go through insurance – and that protection exists for good reason.

What to Do If the Other Driver Leaves the Scene

Hit-and-run crashes create unique challenges. If the other driver leaves without exchanging details, you’re dealing with a criminal offence – not just a traffic incident.

Immediate Actions

  • Try to note the vehicle’s registration, make, model, and colour
  • Note the direction they travelled
  • Check for witnesses who may have seen more
  • Look for security cameras at nearby businesses or homes
  • Call police immediately on 131 444 or 000

Report the crash to police within 24 hours even if you couldn’t capture any details. The police report establishes that you attempted to comply with your legal requirements. Contact your insurer and explain the situation – most comprehensive policies cover hit-and-run damage, though you’ll typically pay your excess unless the other driver is later identified.

Handle Vehicle Recovery and Repairs

Once the immediate post-crash procedures are complete, you need to move your vehicle safely from the scene. This decision matters for both safety and your insurance position.

When Not to Drive Your Vehicle

  • Tyres are blown or wheels are damaged
  • Steering feels loose or unresponsive
  • Brakes aren’t working properly
  • Fluid is leaking – oil, coolant, or brake fluid
  • Airbags have deployed
  • Visible structural damage to the frame

Driving an unsafe vehicle risks further crashes and can void insurance coverage. Under WA road rules, it’s also illegal. If there’s any doubt about your car’s condition, call for professional expert vehicle recovery services rather than attempting to drive it.

Tilt Tray Services for Crash Recovery

For crash-damaged vehicles, towing service in Perth using a tilt tray is the safest recovery method. Our safe flatbed vehicle transport eliminates stress on damaged suspension and steering systems by keeping all wheels completely off the ground during transit. The vehicle sits flat on the tray – protecting compromised components that could be worsened by conventional wheel-lift recovery.

Choosing Repairers and Your Rights

Your insurer may have preferred repairers, but your crash scene rights include choosing your own licensed repairer. Get multiple quotes if you’re not using an insurer-approved network – quality varies considerably, and the cheapest quote isn’t always the best outcome for your vehicle.

Common Mistakes That Weaken Your Position

These errors regularly cost WA drivers thousands of dollars and months of stress.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Leaving the scene too quickly – even minor crashes require information exchange, and driving away can result in criminal charges
  • Accepting cash settlements – hidden damage and delayed injuries regularly emerge after private deals are struck
  • Not reporting to police when required – failing to report when damage exceeds $3,000 or anyone is injured is an offence and can void coverage
  • Posting about the crash on social media – insurers and lawyers monitor social media, and posts can be used to establish liability
  • Admitting fault at the scene – crash investigation often reveals contributing factors you didn’t observe
  • Delaying medical assessment – whiplash, concussion, and internal injuries can take hours or days to manifest

Conclusion

Following the correct post-crash procedures in Western Australia transforms a chaotic, frightening situation into a manageable process. Stop immediately, check for injuries, secure the scene, exchange details, document everything, report to police if required, notify your insurer, and arrange professional vehicle recovery. These steps protect your safety, your legal position, and your crash scene rights throughout what follows.

Our team provides fast emergency recovery across Perth and regional WA – with GPS-tracked trucks and experienced operators who document crash scenes, photograph damage comprehensively, and transport vehicles to your chosen repairer or assessment centre. For breakdowns that aren’t crash-related, our emergency roadside support team provides on-site assistance including jump starts, tyre changes, and emergency fuel delivery.

To request emergency towing, contact our team at0418 959 216. All Out Towing operates 24/7 across Perth’s metro and regional corridors – ready when the road puts you in a situation you didn’t plan for.