Car Accident, I Am at-Fault Party, How Should I Proceed with Insurance?

juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:07

Hi guys, this time, we have an accident where we have both comprehensive insurance and a dashcam for a change, albeit I am the at-fault party.

For context, this happened in Perth, WA. My wife was driving back from work with my daughter. As she was approaching a traffic light, she turned her head back to check on our daughter for a bit and miscalculated the distance with the car in front. She rear-ended the other car at probably 3-4km/h according to GPS speed from dashcam.

The damage seems minor, but if the other party will be claiming from their insurance, I would imagine I'd have to pay my insurance excess anyway so I thought I might as well get my front bumper fixed.

Now, my question is:

  • What are the steps I need to do?
  • If/when the not-at-fault party make a claim against my insurance and I get my car fixed, do I only have to pay the excess once?

My understanding so far is to first report the crash at https://www.crashreport.com.au/ocrf/ then proceed with claiming from my insurance to get my car fixed.

What I am not sure is, what would happens if the other party make the claim much later down the track? would the insurance know they are from the same accident and not make me pay the excess twice?

Any help is much appreciated.

Automotive

Comments

  • EightImmortals on 18/10/2025 - 09:17
    +5

    So wait, are you the at-fault party or is your wife?

    Just call your insurance company and see what they have to say. :)

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:21
      +1

      Apologies, when I say I am at fault, I mean my wife is.

      • life is suffering on 18/10/2025 - 11:33
        +15

        Did you wife say you were at fault ?

        • juns on 18/10/2025 - 16:31

          Hahaha, I better not show her the comment that I said she's at fault then.

          In all seriousness, she immediately phoned me after the accident and sounded very apologetic.

          She was worried that I would be mad that she caused the accident.

  • SmiTTy on 18/10/2025 - 09:19
    +12

    Have your wife call your insurance and provide details to raise a claim. They'll handle the rest and let you know if anything is needed. It's that simple and that's the reason you pay for insurance.

    The insurance company will deal with the other insurance company for the other party so you should not have to deal with them. (and if they reach out to you, just direct them to talk to their insurance or your insurance company)

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:34

      Thanks, I'll call the insurance and let them know that my wife had an accident with the car.

  • MS Paint on 18/10/2025 - 09:33
    +2

    Is your wife a nominated driver on the policy?

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:34
      +1

      Yes she is.

      • MS Paint on 18/10/2025 - 09:38
        +3

        See if your insurance company allows online claims. RACV does in Vic and it's super easy. Even a function to upload dashcam footage.

        • juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:40

          Thanks. The other important information I'd like to know is if my car will be fixed and the other party covered by paying the excess only once?

          I presume it is, but just want to be sure. If the excess need to be paid twice, I'd rather skip on fixing my car's damage.

          • Dollar General on 18/10/2025 - 09:52
            +3

            @juns: It’s all part of the same claim so yes you only pay the excess once, but your PDS is worth checking to confirm

          • wannagrababargain on 18/10/2025 - 09:54
            +1

            @juns: That's not how it works. You are covered for the 'event' and any subsequent liability to third parties or public property. The insurance company decides who is "at fault." You pay one excess per 'event' to whatever is in your insurance schedule.

  • 87percent on 18/10/2025 - 09:41
    -1

    Also, if your kid was in a car seat, we were told (by AAMI) that if you’re in an accident it should be replaced (regardless of speed)

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:50

      Seriously? That sucks. What's the implication if I don't do that?

      It's such a waste when the accident is so minor.

      • 87percent on 18/10/2025 - 09:52
        +1

        Well, I guess the structural integrity of it could be compromised. But with AAMI, you get up to(I think if I remember) $250 to replace it. You just need to cut the straps and send them a photo

        • juns on 18/10/2025 - 09:56
          +1

          Ah, I might check with the insurer if there's anything to replace the car seat then. Thank you for that information.

          • 87percent on 18/10/2025 - 09:59

            @juns: The first time I had an accident with a kid in their car seat, I was reversing out of a spot and scraped the car next to me. That’s when AAMI told me about it.

            • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:01
              +2

              @87percent: Surely that can't do any damage at all to the car seat! Did you replace the car seat from that accident?

              • MS Paint on 18/10/2025 - 10:04
                +2

                @juns: Technically you should replace a bike helmet if it gets dropped on the ground. No one does though.

                • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:11
                  -2

                  @MS Paint: Well that's a bit extreme. I've fallen from my bike twice so far and never replaced my helmet because I think it's not damaged.

                  • MS Paint on 18/10/2025 - 10:28
                    +2

                    @juns: Don't come running to me when your helmet provides minimal protection in your next accident.

                    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:36
                      +2

                      @MS Paint: That's nice of you saying that I could still run, meaning my next accident can't be that bad.

      • Jimothy Wongingtons on 18/10/2025 - 10:05
        +1

        implication

        Possibly your child’s compromised safety?

        • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:08
          +1

          I am thinking about the implication towards my insurance or anything that the system might catch me down the track.

          Based on the answers though, there doesn't seems to be one.

          I said that only because the accident happened at a very low speed that I think will not compromise the car seat's integrity at all.

          • MS Paint on 18/10/2025 - 10:29
            +2

            @juns: More worried about your premium increase than your child's safety. Nice.

            • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:35
              +1

              @MS Paint: I guess you are technically correct given that I am not concerned at all about the car seat integrity

      • Jono05 on 18/10/2025 - 12:17
        +4

        At that speed I wouldn’t worry about replacing the child car seat. It’s an unnecessary cost.

    • GordonD on 18/10/2025 - 10:41
      +2

      Its is almost impossible to know when an impact was serious enough to compromise the integrity of crash helmet or similar. There is no clear line for anyone to know whether it has been crossed. So what can they do except take the most cautious approach of saying replace it after ANY incident.

      You've got to exercise some common sense though if there is no reasonable possibility whatsoever that the incident would have done any damage. When the incident is no worse than normal wear and tear that the product would have to have been designed to survive unscathed.

  • USER DC on 18/10/2025 - 10:08

    i think you just need to take details of the other party (not at fault), driver license, rego, photos, DOB, address, phone/email

    and of your side too (wife's details, car photos, etc.)

    then you call your insurance and provide them with all these details.

    you'll pay excess from you insurance

    technically once you share details then you wont have to make contact with other side (or them with you), since insurance takes care of it most of times nowadays.

    Other side wont normally like to deal with their insurance due to fear of paying excess (but they dont have to pay excess if they can provide your details to their insurance company).

    After that its game of waiting in queue for being called to an inspection at multiple repair shops (1st time just take photos of cars, then you take it back with you), then you wait for insurance/repair shop to talk and come up with something. If repair shop can repair it they'll ask insurance to pay for it, and you setup dates taking your car to repair shop.

    In some cases repair shop will refuse repairs, e.g. no parts available etc if old car etc etc. in those cases insurance will try to do cash settlement (albeit you still will have to play the long waiting game)

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:24

      My wife did not immediately go out of the car because she's not comfortable leaving our daughter alone in the car.

      So we only had the other party's phone number, and video of before/after the accident from dashcam including their rego. She did take a photo of my car's bumper after reaching home.

      So we didn't have some of the other party's detail such as driver licence and DOB.

      I hope that's not going to be an issue with insurance claim.

      • USER DC on 18/10/2025 - 10:26
        +1

        we only had the other party's phone number,

        that should be plenty to ask them for their details i think. but only ask them if your insurance asks for them, otherwise no point annoying other side.

      • qtr pounder on 18/10/2025 - 19:28

        You'll also need their home address, and they will need yours. And full names if you havent exchanged them.

  • theHMASfriendship on 18/10/2025 - 10:10
    +2

    I still think you’re neat OP despite your faults

  • Bignudge on 18/10/2025 - 10:11
    +4

    Good on you for having an adaquate level of cover/insurance.

    As per what other people have said, just make a claim (easier if you can just do it online through your insurer's website). It'll ask for the vehicles involved, drivers involved, time, location, and a quick summary of what happened.

    I was with Shannons and I don't think they even asked for photos or dash cam footage… (perhaps as there wasn't a dispute between the stories between the parties).

    My car was booked in to be assessed and fixed by their partnered smash repair shop, rental car was provided (as I wasn't at fault… but you may get one even being at fault if you paid for that in your policy).

    Other than that, it was pretty straight forward. P.S and if you get sent letters from lawyers or dodgey car rental invoices from the other party, don't respond and just forward it straight to your insurance company :)

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 10:19
      +1

      Other than that, it was pretty straight forward. P.S and if you get sent letters from lawyers or dodgey car rental invoices from the other party, don't respond and just forward it straight to your insurance company :)

      Wow, never heard of such things! Thank you for that information!

  • Euphemistic on 18/10/2025 - 13:19
    +1

    How bad is the damage? I see a couple of options.

    If their damage appears to be bumper only, you could pay cash. Get them to get a quote. If its under or near the excess, pay the amount to repair. Dont fix your own car, or DIY it cheap. Ie dont make a claim.

    If the other party claims their insurace, deal direct without your insurer if the repair cost is near the excess. Diy your own repairs.

    The above two options may save future premium increases because you wont have an at fault claim on your record.

    Next option is to go with your own insurer. Get your own car fixed and have any claim from the other party sorted by your insurer. May cost more in future premium increases, but youll have a fully repaired car.

    FWIW ive had 2 minor claims recently, both not at fault. Cosmetic damage only. I had comprehensive and used it once.

    One, the other party wanted to pay cash, but baulked at the repair cost I gave him. I went insurance, collected a cash payment from my insurer and upgraded to a bullbar with the funds.

    Second, I was hit from behind, I dealt direct with their insurer and collected a cash payment and did the repairs DIY for half the payment value.

    There are options, just depends how much work you want to do.

    • juns on 18/10/2025 - 16:28

      Thanks for the detailed explanation of possible outcomes.

      What I am thinking is, there is a chance the other party has their own insurance and they might opt to go through their insurance to get a free car hire because they are not-at-fault party.

      In that case I'd most likely would be best to go through my insurance anyway. I was thinking if an excess has already been paid, it might be the best to get my car fixed if the excess is only paid once for the repair of both cars.

      • Euphemistic on 18/10/2025 - 18:49

        Any costs incurred by the other party is going to come back to you to pay. Including that not free hire car.

        I should note that in my cases I did not have any down time for the car that required a hire car replacement. I chose to spend some time in the driveway fixing the car myself to 'profit' from the incidents effectively by pocketing the labour charge.

  • Randxyz123 on 18/10/2025 - 15:43
    +1

    My understanding so far is to first report the crash at https://www.crashreport.com.au/ocrf/ then proceed with claiming from my insurance to get my car fixed.

    Am I living under a rock or has anyone else not heard of that website?

    Surely you just make a claim on your insurance. Text the not at fault party the claim number and ignore any further conversation from them (i.e. if they want you to pay for a hire car separately or something)

  • cashless on 18/10/2025 - 23:22
    +3

    What are the steps I need to do?

    You’ve already done the most important step. Report it to OzBargain

    • SlickMick on 19/10/2025 - 10:32

      Honestly, OP has clearly never needed to make a claim before, and now he has the confidence to proceed. Well done OZB!

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