The first 10 minutes after an accident
The first 10 minutes after a Townsville crash matter more than the next 10 hours. Most of the long-term mistakes people make happen at the kerb, in the noise — and most of them can be avoided with a short, repeatable checklist.
1. Stop, breathe, check for injuries (0–60 seconds)
Switch on hazards. Stay belted. Check yourself, then anyone else in your car. If anyone is injured, the answer is 000 before anything else. Do not move anyone with a head, neck or back injury unless leaving them where they are puts them in immediate danger.
2. Make the scene safer (1–3 minutes)
If the vehicle is drivable and you are blocking traffic in a dangerous spot — middle of the Ring Road, on a blind crest, in a busy roundabout — move it to the shoulder. If it is not drivable, leave it, hazards on, and step well clear of the road. Townsville drivers are usually fine. Tourists, fatigued long-distance drivers and wet-season conditions are not.
3. Call police if it qualifies (3–5 minutes)
In Queensland you must report a crash to police if anyone is injured, if the road is blocked, if a driver appears under the influence, or if a driver leaves the scene. For property-damage-only crashes that meet none of those, you can usually exchange details and move on. Either way, take the QPRS number if police attend — it makes the insurance claim faster.
4. Exchange details (5–7 minutes)
Get from the other driver: full name, address, phone, licence number, rego, insurer. Give them the same. Take photos of the cars (all four corners), licence, rego sticker if visible, and the wider scene including any street signs and skid marks.
5. Call your tow company — not whoever shows up first (7–10 minutes)
This is where most people get caught. In Queensland you have the right to choose your own tow operator. If a truck rolls up and you did not call them, you can politely decline. If they push, hold the line — it is your decision. Both companies we recommend handle accident tows in Townsville and will quote on the call.
When you call:
- Confirm they are coming for your vehicle.
- Get a quote, including any after-hours surcharge.
- Tell them whether you want the car towed to a panel beater, your insurer's holding yard, or your home address.
- Ask them to bring an authorisation form and ID.
6. Authorise the tow in writing
The tow operator will ask you to sign a tow authorisation. Read it. Make sure the destination on the form matches what you said on the call. Take a photo of the signed form for your records.
7. Call your insurer before you leave the scene
Most major insurers have 24/7 claims lines. Calling at the scene gives you a claim number, locks in the timeline, and confirms whether your policy covers the tow you just authorised. If the insurer wants the car at a specific repairer, the tow operator can usually adjust the destination on the spot.
8. Hold the paperwork
Keep the authorisation form, the operator invoice, the police QPRS number, your photos and any witness details together. That is everything your insurer needs.
A short, sober note on shock
People make bad decisions in shock. They sign things they have not read, they accept tows they did not call, they apologise for things that were not their fault. None of that helps. If you do nothing else, do this: stop, breathe, and run through the checklist above before you sign anything.
Who to call
If you want a single number to ring after a Townsville crash, our recommended operators are listed on the home page. For accident-specific information by service category, see the accident towing page.
