If you are in an accident you are obliged to

• immediately following the accident make sure that any injuries and the safety of all people involved are attended to wherever possible, without creating risk of further danger or injuries
• move vehicles to the roadside or away from traffic if possible
• telephone the Police on 131 444 and ask them to attend the scene if any vehicle involved in the accident cannot be moved and is blocking traffic
• telephone the Accident Towing Roster on (08) 8231 5555 if Police are not attending the accident and a Tow Truck is required (the phone number is printed on the rear of your registration label)
• Tell them the
  
  • vehicle’s registration number
  • make
  • owner details
  • where the vehicle is to be towed to
  • the exact location of where the accident took place (not the location of where the vehicle may have been driven or pushed)

You will be told which towing service is being dispatched and the approximate time it will take to arrive (about 20 minutes under normal traffic conditions)
You cannot pick a towing service of your choice if the accident took place in a Declared Area.

When the tow truck arrives you do not have to agree to your vehicle being towed to any place you do not want, no matter what the tow truck driver tells you. Even if you do not have the money on the spot, you have the right to have your vehicle taken to a place of your choice. Make sure that place is written on the authority to tow before you sign it.

If no one is available to go with the towed vehicle, the Police will authorise the vehicle to be towed to the place of business of the tow truck operator where it will be safely stored.

The owner of the vehicle has to pay for all lawful fees claimed for rescue and towing of a vehicle from an accident scene and cannot take a vehicle from a storage area until all fees are paid in full.

Fees include

• a tow fee determined by the time and day of the week which may include kilometre charges over the first 20km for a tow truck’s round trip from its depot
• waiting and working time of more than 30 minutes while the tow truck is at the accident scene
• additional rescue equipment and vehicle storage at the tow truck operator’s place of business.

View the Video

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For a transcript of the video in PDF format please click here