TAC compensation claims in Victoria

My name is Matt. I'm 32 years old, from Bay Desert. I used to be a full-time mechanic. Obviously that involves a lot of physical work, which now is not much of an option.

My name is Denise. I'm 27, and I live here with my husband Matt and our pet.

Matt and Denise were injured as a result of another vehicle's negligent driving. As a result of that, they ended up colliding with this vehicle and sustaining serious injuries.

The day of the accident started out like any other. We decided to take the bike. We were just cruising along, and I saw a car pull out at the side of the road. You always think you're going to have time to react or time to do something, and you just don't.

I was 24. I had my whole life ahead of me, my dreams, everywhere I wanted to go, my career path, and that changed that day. I became depressed, fidgety and angry. I felt like life was hopeless and there was nothing good to come of it.

I remember laying in the middle of the road looking around for my fiancée at the time. I couldn't see her and didn't know whether she was alive or dead. I was just panicking, trying to figure out how to get back to her, and I could not work out why I couldn't stand up.

The injuries had a profound impact on many aspects of their lives. They both required extensive treatment and rehabilitation throughout the course of their claim, which meant they weren't able to return to work or earn an income.

I was really struggling sitting at home. I needed something to give me a sense of purpose. I had an old car, a 1977 HZ that was originally my first car. I've had it since I was 15, and over the course of about a year, I fixed it up.

After the accident, we thought it would be best to speak to a lawyer. When we went into Maurice Blackburn and spoke to Omar, I felt like he genuinely wanted to be there, help us and support us. We'd always heard the ads on TV and radio for Maurice Blackburn personal injury lawyers, so we decided to go in and have a meeting with Omar. He was genuinely interested in our case and what had happened to us.

Matt and Denise did everything by the book when it came to the motor vehicle accident. We were able to make a third-party claim for them against the insurer of the at-fault vehicle. We were also able to make a workers' compensation injury claim for Matt and Denise, because they were on their way home from work at the time of the accident. This entitled them to weekly benefits for time off work while they were receiving treatment and rehabilitation, and they were also entitled to funding for treatment and rehabilitation with providers of their choice.

The no-win, no-fee arrangement was such a huge relief, knowing we could get the help we needed without being put in a position where we couldn't live day to day.

The claim entitled them to recover damages such as loss of income, loss of superannuation benefits, and expenses for medical treatment both past and future. It was a real boost for them to be able to access these benefits, which helped them essentially keep a roof over their heads.

The outcome that Omar and the team were able to achieve was life-changing. Without him, I don't know where we would be.

One of the main milestones in any case is the settlement of the claim. I could really tell with Matt and Denise that there was a genuine sense of relief when we reached that point. They were able to put the claim in the past and focus on the future.

We were happy with the outcome. It's given us the security to know that we'll have a roof over our heads and be able to move forward through the rest of our lives.

I would definitely recommend Omar and Maurice Blackburn to anyone who's been in any kind of accident.

I would recommend Maurice Blackburn because of the safety net they were able to provide. The help and support has been amazing. They have been right there by our sides.

I realised that I was no different to anybody else, and that my injury was just as valid as anybody else who had received support. There is help there. You just have to ask for it.

My name is Mark Harris. I have been a physiotherapist for nearly 40 years now, and I am very passionate about the work I do.

I had been working as a lecturer doing the graveyard shift. I walked back to the car park, got absolutely soaking wet because it was completely teeming with rain. I remember getting into the car thinking all I wanted to do was get home. So I drove out of the university, and there was so much standing water on the road that I was taking it quite easily. I pulled up at the junction, waited to turn left, and a car behind me came travelling too fast and couldn't brake in time. It went right into the back of me.

Initially I was in a bit of shock, but then I went to move and I realised I was completely stuck. I couldn't move my neck, and that was really scary. The driver came up to the window and said, "Are you okay?" And I said, "I'm not sure. I think you need to call an ambulance."

I didn't ever seek any help. It was completely random. I had been working with Maurice Blackburn for years. I was having a meeting with Caitlyn and I inadvertently began to rub my neck because it was aching. She inquisitively asked what was wrong, and I said, "Nothing, Caitlyn. I don't want to tell you." Because I realised then that the injury was something they actually deal with. She said, "Well, we might be able to help you. This is what we do." Of course I felt really guilty, because that's not supposed to be me. I'm the physio who fixes people. But once I started on the process, Caitlyn was really supportive. Because of her strength, conviction and faith, I was brought along on the journey.

My favourite thing about Mark is his passion. He so strongly believes in helping people. Mark had been managing his condition for over four years, but it had got to a point where it was impacting many aspects of his life. It was affecting his sleep and his family life. The really profound impact for Mark was that he had to give up a clinic he had worked at for many years, and also had to reduce the number of patients he was seeing each day. In the time we worked together, we were able to build a case. We did have to go to court, and it did require Mark to be quite strong in wanting to pursue his case and in trusting Maurice Blackburn.

The outcome changed my life. At the time, things were very difficult financially. It was the middle of COVID, and my daughter had been struggling to attend Melbourne University from [location]. The money I received in compensation meant I could support her by buying a small apartment where she could live, so she was able to go to university. I was able to do something really worthwhile with the money, which helped her become a primary school teacher. Now I have a bit of security as well, knowing I don't have to keep working forever. Because I am an immigrant and have no superannuation, I now have a choice.

At Maurice Blackburn, we focus on getting the best outcome at the earliest opportunity, so that you can move on with your life and focus on your treatment and recovery. In Victoria, we have a TAC scheme, which is set up to assist people to recover from injuries sustained in a transport accident. That means people can access funding for medical and rehabilitation services, weekly payments, and lump sum compensation. It is important to access legal advice early because we can give you information that can support your recovery.

I value Caitlyn very highly now as a friend, and I would recommend her in a heartbeat. When you have suffered an injury, either at work or in a car accident, you are quite often isolated. It is just you, and you are the only person who can experience your pain and your feelings. You need people who understand you, who are going to advocate for you and lead you on the journey to recovery. Maurice Blackburn does that remarkably well. They are all wonderful, compassionate individuals. They are extremely professional and very focused, yet they never lose their empathy for the people they help.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a transport accident, please get in contact with us. It costs you nothing to find out where you stand, and it is really important that you know your rights and entitlements.