Injured in a Car Accident? What to Do First (NSW)

A car accident scrambles your thinking. Even if you walk away feeling okay, adrenaline masks pain and the decisions you make in the first few hours can shape your recovery — and your CTP entitlements — for months to come. This guide walks through the practical steps in the order that matters most, from the moment of impact through to starting your CTP process.

Step 1 — Make the scene safe

Your first job is safety. If you can move, check yourself and your passengers. Turn your hazard lights on. If the vehicles are drivable and blocking traffic, move them to the shoulder or a safe spot nearby. If they are not drivable, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on until help arrives — standing on the road is one of the most dangerous things you can do after a crash.

If anyone is seriously hurt, unconscious, or trapped, call 000 immediately. Paramedics will assess everyone on scene and transport to hospital if needed. Even if you do not go by ambulance, keep a mental note of what hurts and when symptoms started — that information matters later.

Step 2 — When to call an ambulance vs drive to the ED

Call 000 if there is any loss of consciousness, heavy bleeding, difficulty breathing, suspected spinal injury, or if someone cannot move a limb. For less obvious injuries — neck stiffness, headaches, dizziness, nausea — you can have someone drive you to an emergency department, but do not drive yourself if you feel unwell.

If you feel fine at the scene, you still need a proper medical assessment within 48 hours. Many soft-tissue injuries like whiplash, disc bulges, and concussion symptoms do not show up until the next day or even later in the week. Getting checked early protects your health and creates the medical record that anchors your CTP file.

Step 3 — Photograph everything

Use your phone to capture as much as you can before vehicles are moved or towed. Photograph damage to all vehicles from multiple angles, the road layout, traffic signs, skid marks, debris, and weather conditions. Take a wide shot that shows the intersection or stretch of road, and close-ups of each vehicle's damage. If you have visible injuries — bruising, swelling, cuts — photograph those too.

These photos become powerful evidence if there is ever a dispute about fault or the severity of the crash. Save them in a dedicated album on your phone so they are easy to find later.

Step 4 — Exchange details and get the police event number

Swap names, phone numbers, licence numbers, and registration plates with every driver involved. Note the make, model, and colour of each vehicle. If there are passengers or witnesses, get their contact details too.

In NSW, you must report the accident to police if anyone is injured, if a driver leaves the scene, or if a vehicle needs to be towed. You can report online through the NSW Police website or at a police station. Once reported you will receive an event number — write it down and keep it safe. Your CTP application will need it.

Step 5 — Do not post on social media

This is the step people forget. Resist the urge to post about the accident on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or anywhere else. Even innocent comments like 'Lucky escape — feeling fine!' can be taken out of context months later and used to argue that your injuries were not serious. The same goes for photos of you at social events during your recovery. Keep your recovery private until your matter is fully resolved.

Step 6 — Get a proper medical assessment within 48 hours

This is non-negotiable. Seeing a doctor within 48 hours does two things: it picks up injuries before they worsen, and it creates a dated clinical record linking your symptoms to the accident. Without that record, getting treatment approved under CTP becomes harder.

A thorough post-accident assessment covers your neck, back, shoulders, cognitive function, sleep, mood, and pain levels. It is more detailed than a standard GP visit, and it matters that the doctor understands CTP reporting requirements. That is exactly what CTP Doctor does — our doctors know what to document, what to screen for, and how to write a report that supports treatment approvals from day one.

Step 7 — Start the CTP process early

Under the NSW CTP scheme you have up to three months to lodge your claim, but starting earlier is almost always better. Early lodgement means earlier access to treatment funding, weekly payments if you cannot work, and allied health like physiotherapy and psychology.

CTP Doctor helps you get moving on this quickly. We prepare your medical documentation and coordinate referrals to physio, psychology, and exercise physiology. Our goal is to remove the admin burden so you can focus on getting better.