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The aftermath of a motor vehicle accident can be physically and emotionally overwhelming. If you or a loved one has been injured, it’s important that you’re able to focus on recovery and rehabilitation, and not be caught up in a complex legal system trying to access compensation.
That’s why seeking legal support as soon as possible is so important. Delaying your road injury claim could lead to the missed opportunity of accessing proper funding for your rehabilitation expenses and financial compensation for the pain, suffering and past/future loss of income you have experienced.
Our road accident lawyers can help you maximise your compensation claim
Our road accident lawyers will treat you will compassion and empathy, while working proactively to get your rehabilitation costs covered as soon as possible. We work directly with your healthcare providers to do this. We won't just tell you to keep the receipts for reimbursement - we focus on treatment for your road accident injuries as the first priority.
Car accident compensation
Car crash injuries can be serious or life-threatening, both physically and psychologically. If you've been injured or someone you were dependent on is fatally injured in a car accident, you could be eligible for compensation including medical expenses, loss of income and earning capacity and other lump sum compensation.
Motorbike and scooter accident compensation
Motorcyclists, scooter riders and pillion passengers face higher risks of severe physical injuries, or even death, in collisions. If you've been in an accident or if someone you were dependent on is fatally injured in a motor vehicle accident, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
Bike accident compensation
If you've been hurt riding your bike on a road, bike path or in a park, we can help you claim compensation for your injuries. We can also help you make a claim if someone you were dependent on is fatally injured in an accident with a motor vehicle.
Quad bike accident compensation
Quad bikes are the leading cause of farm accidents, but they can happen anywhere. If you've been hurt riding a quad bike or someone you were dependent on is fatally injured, you may be able to make a road accident compensation claim.
Road accident compensation schemes
Our dedicated team of motor vehicle accident lawyers specialise in the different road accident compensation schemes around Australia. We can help you with your TAC claim, CTP claim and 'fault' and 'no fault' claims.
Causes of motor vehicle accidents
Sadly, crashes, collisions and other motor vehicle accidents continue to happen on Australian roads, with an average of 1,200 lives lost and 44,000 people badly injured each year.
Some of the main causes are:
- Distracted driving: This is one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents in Australia. Distracted driving can include activities such as using a mobile phone, eating or drinking, adjusting the radio or GPS, or engaging in conversations with passengers.
- Speeding: Driving over the speed limit reduces a driver's ability to react to hazards on the road and increases the severity of accidents. It is important to obey speed limits and drive at a safe speed, especially in hazardous conditions such as rain or fog.
- Drink driving: Drink driving is a serious offence and is a leading cause of accidents on our roads. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of, for most people, 0.05 or higher, and penalties for driving over this limit can be severe, including loss of license and fines.
Other common causes of motor vehicle accidents include fatigue, driver inexperience, and reckless driving such as the failure to obey road rules and signs.
If you've been injured on the road, whether you were at fault or not, one of our experienced road accident lawyers can advise you on what road accident compensation scheme applies to you and help you understand your options.
How we support our road injury clients
We’re here to listen to your story, then act. Being our client means you’ll receive highly skilled legal support from our expert team of motor vehicle accident lawyers. We will be there for you at every step of the claims process and will provide regular communication and updates to keep you informed.
We are known for our empathetic and warm approach, while delivering the highest standard of legal services to ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation possible. We have an outstanding record of winning fair compensation for our clients. Our 'no win, no fee*' policy means that if we don't win, you don't have to pay our legal fees.
Your motor vehicle accident lawyer will help you gather all the information required for your compensation claim, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court if necessary. Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for clients so you can focus on what’s important – your recovery. Don't wait to seek the help you need, call us today on 1800 305 568 and let us help you get the compensation you deserve.
The process of making a motor vehicle accident claim
If you have sustained injuries in a road accident, the most important thing to do is seek medical attention, no matter how minor you think the injuries may be.
Next, if the police did not attend the accident scene and make a report, you should report the accident to the police. You cannot make a claim if the accident has not been reported to the police. The report to the police is an essential part of the claims process and it protects your legal rights and entitlements. If you haven’t reported the accident to police, we can help with this.
Following that, the steps involved in making a claim are:
- Book a free consultation with us: the next step is to consult with an expert road injury lawyer. In your first consultation we will assess your case, advise you of the best course of action, and discuss our fees. If you choose not to pursue your claim with us, this appointment is free of charge.
- Make a claim: you will then need to fill out and submit a claim form – we can help you with this as the forms can be tricky.
- Gather evidence and information: your lawyer will gather all the evidence and information needed to assist with your case and ensure you’re set up for success.
- Attend medical examinations: you will need to be assessed by an independent medical examiner to determine the severity of your injury/injuries and their impact on your life and work. We organise these appointments for you.
- Settle your claim: we’ll keep you updated throughout your claim and be there for you at every step. In the unlikely event your case will proceed to court, we will support you through this too.
Injured on the road?
Use our free online claim check tool and find out in minutes if you're eligible for motor vehicle accident compensation.
Understanding compensation for motor vehicle accident claims
Eligibility for road accident claims
You might be able to claim road accident compensation, no matter who's at fault. Your claim will depend on where the motor vehicle accident happened, where your vehicle is registered, the extent of your injuries, and the terms of the relevant insurance policy.
Road accident compensation benefits
Depending on the state where the road accident happened, you could be eligible for financial support for medical expenses, loss of earnings and loss of super contributions.
Time limits for road accident claims
Strict time limits can vary depending on the state, and who is injured or eligible to claim road accident compensation. Time limits can start from just 28 days after the road accident, so it's important to speak to a lawyer as soon as possible.
Road accident lawyer fees and costs
Our road accident injury lawyers offer no win, no fee* claims, and if you choose not to proceed with your claim, your first consultation is free.
Types of motor vehicle accident claims by state
The road accident compensation you may be eligible for will vary depending on which state your accident happened, and where your vehicle is registered. Each state and territory has different laws, road accident schemes and compensation claim processes.
A road accident lawyer can advise you on what road accident compensation scheme applies to you and help you understand your options.
- VIC
- NSW
- QLD & WA
- ACT & SA
- TAS & NT
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) insurance
TAC insurance in Victoria covers a number of accident types, including:
- a driver or passenger of a vehicle injured in an accident regardless of fault
- a pedestrian injured by a vehicle
- a cyclist hit by a vehicle or hit by an opening door of a vehicle (‘dooring’)
- a cyclist injured by taking evasive action to avoid being hit by a vehicle
- a motorcyclist injured in an accident regardless of fault
- a driver or passenger in a tram/bus/train accident
- a driver or passenger injured because of a defect in the vehicle
Speak to a road accident lawyer who specialises in TAC claims in Victoria.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
CTP insurance in New South Wales is generally a ‘fault’ scheme. It covers a number of accident types, including:
- a driver injured where another vehicle was at fault
- a passenger injured in an accident with another vehicle
- a passenger injured in a single vehicle accident
- a pedestrian hit by a vehicle
- a cyclist hit by a vehicle or hit by an opening door of a vehicle (‘dooring’)
- a motorcyclist hit by a vehicle
- a driver or passenger in a single vehicle accident caused by a defect in the vehicle, causing the vehicle to run out of control
- children involved in accidents, and in some circumstances for medical expenses when they are at fault
- medical expenses for blameless accidents, for example, circumstances where a driver suffers from a medical condition such as a heart attack or epileptic seizure or where an animal suddenly appears on the roadway
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
CTP insurance in Queensland and WA is a ‘fault’ scheme unless you're very seriously injured. It covers a number of accident types, including:
- a driver injured in an accident where the other vehicle was at fault
- a passenger injured in an accident with another vehicle
- a passenger injured in a single vehicle accident
- a pedestrian hit by a vehicle
- a cyclist hit by a vehicle or hit by an opening door of a vehicle (‘dooring’)
- a motorcyclist hit by a vehicle, and
- people injured when a vehicle cannot be identified or is unregistered
- a person who witnesses one of these accidents
- the dependants of someone who dies in an accident
Speak to a road accident lawyer who specialises in CTP claims.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
CTP insurance in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory is a ‘fault’ scheme. It covers a number of accident types, including:
- a driver injured in an accident where the other vehicle was at fault
- a passenger injured in an accident with another vehicle
- a passenger injured in a single vehicle accident
- a pedestrian hit by a vehicle
- a cyclist hit by a vehicle or hit by an opening door of a vehicle (‘dooring’)
- a motorcyclist hit by a vehicle
- a driver or passenger in a single vehicle accident caused by a defect in the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to run out of control
Speak to a road accident lawyer who specialises in CTP claims.
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance
CTP insurance schemes are in place in Tasmania and the Northern Territory. They are different in each location, but generally cover a number of road, motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, public transport and motor vehicle accident types, including:
- a driver or passenger injured where another vehicle was at fault
- a driver or passenger injured in a single vehicle accident
- a driver or passenger injured in a multiple vehicle accident where the driver is at fault
- a pedestrian hit by a vehicle
- a cyclist hit by a vehicle or hit by an opening door of a vehicle (‘dooring’)
- a cyclist injured by taking evasive action to avoid being hit by a vehicle
- a motorcyclist hit by a vehicle
- a motorcyclist injured by taking evasive action to avoid being hit by a vehicle
- a driver or passenger in a tram/bus/train accident
- a driver or passenger in a single vehicle accident caused by a defect in the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to run out of control
Speak to a road accident lawyer who specialises in CTP claims.
Motor vehicle accident claims frequently asked questions
If you have sustained injuries in a road accident, the most important thing to do is seek medical attention, no matter how minor you think the injuries may be. The process for reporting a road accident differs in each state and terriroty, but will generally involve:
- making a report to the police (if you haven’t done this yet, we can do it for you)
- filling out and submitting a claim form (we can submit this on your behalf)
- getting a medical certificate to include with your claim if required.
Time limits can apply for making a road accident claim, so it's best to seek legal advice as soon as possible after your motor vehicle accident.
Injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents can be serious and can take some time to stabilise before you understand the full extent of them. Compensation can be claimed for the following injuries when you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident:
- Back injuries and spinal damage
- Brain damage or traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Injuries involving an amputation
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue spinal injuries
- Head injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Chronic pain
- Psychological trauma (such as post-traumatic stress disorder)
The compensation you may be able to claim will depend on the severity of your injuries. An experienced road accident lawyer will be able to advise you on what you're eligible to claim compensation for.
Road accident compensation covers all 'reasonable' expenses related to your motor vehicle accident injuries. This will differ depending on where you live and what scheme you're covered by, but can include:
- medical and hospital costs (including pharmacy and counselling)
- rehabilitation
- nursing and disability services
- post-acute support services
- expenses arising from a death including funeral costs.
- travel to and from medical appointments associated with your road accident injuries
- an injured person returning to work or retraining
- home and vehicle modifications
- attendant care services, including attendant care while travelling overseas,
- home help, domestic assistance, gardening services, school tutoring and integration aides.
In some states you may have common law rights to sue the person who caused the accident. Common law claims usually involve money being claimed for:
- pain and suffering
- past and future medical expenses
- past loss of earnings
- future loss of earnings or loss of earning capacity
- past and future loss of superannuation contributions.
It’s our mission to ensure you get your full compensation payout to help you get back to being you as soon as possible. The amount of compensation you receive will depend on your impairment level, date of the accident, and the law that covers your road accident.
Get in touch with a road injury lawyer, we can help you assess your claim based on the details surrounding your road accident injury.
Time limits vary depending on the state your motor vehicle accident claim is in, whether the person injured is an adult or a child, and who is at fault for the road accident.
In some cases you may have as little as 28 days from the date of the road accident to lodge your initial claim, while in other states you may have up to a year with a possible extension of up to three years. It's important you speak with a road accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident.
Our road accident lawyers are highly experienced in getting fair compensation for our clients on a 'no win, no fee'* basis. We offer no win, no fee* legal support because we are confident that we will win your case.
Regarding the exact costs, it will depend on the amount of work required to resolve your claim. In some situations, the insurer may also have to pay some of your legal costs. Every claim is different, but your lawyer will be able to give you an idea of the costs involved before you sign our cost agreement.
Call us to organise a free first consultation and find out where you stand.
Yes, it’s possible to represent yourself when making a claim for compensation. However, representing yourself will involve researching and understanding the law thoroughly, so you know and can advocate for your rights and entitlements. It also means you will need to take the lead on ensuring your case moves forward with the insurer at each step.
Self-represented claimants can be taken advantage of by insurers as they may be seen as an easy target to settle the claim quickly and for less money. Only an expert vehicle accident lawyer can ensure you get the highest amount possible, which is why most people choose to engage a lawyer rather than represent themselves.
The amount of time your accident claim will take depends on the nature of your claim and the seriousness of your injuries, but most road injury claims take around 1-3 years to complete. While time needs to be allowed for your injuries to stabilise before determining the compensation amount, we know you want to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. Our motor vehicle accident compensation lawyers will be able to give you a good idea of how long your claim may take.
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We have lawyers who specialise in a range of legal claims who travel to Tasmania. If you need a lawyer in Hobart, Launceston or elsewhere in Tasmania, please call us on 1800 675 346.