Table of Contents
Car Accident Statistics
NSW Accident Data
Insurance Company Advice In 2012 there were 41,520 car accidents in New South Wales. Of those 336 were fatal and 18,110 resulted in injuries to those involved. See more car accident stats here.
Compensation Overview
Eligibility for Claims
If a driver, passenger or pedestrian was not at fault and suffered an injury, that person is entitled to compensation.
We have lawyers dedicated to working on car accident injury claims. That means they deal in hundreds of claims a year and have dealt with thousands in their time with us. CTP claims is a specialised area of compensation law, separate to workers compensation, occupiers liability, medical negligence and total and permanent disability (TPD) claims, all of which lawyers at PK Simpson are experts in.
Specific Case Study
Client Injuries and Impact
In this particular situation our client was struck by a car on her way home from work, as a nurse, one afternoon in Glenfield, NSW. In the accident our client suffered injuries to her head, face, both shoulders and arms, chest, abdomen, back and both legs. Additional to this our client suffered mental harm in the form of anxiety and depression as well as sexual dysfunction as a result of the accident.
Claim Timeline
Filing Requirements
Our client was lucky to seek out our services in time. In NSW a period of 6 months is given in which an injured person must lodge a claim. In some cases exceptions are given in circumstances of death and depression and other things which would justify why a claim had not been lodged. If you find yourself out of time we can still help.
Insurance Company Advice
Settlement Information
Remember, your best weapon against an insurance company is information. We will provide that and plenty of expertise to make sure you receive your full entitlements. Often, insurance companies will offer you a settlement sum but it would be silly to accept this not knowing your full entitlements under the relevant legislation. In many cases the final settlement can be 10 times what the insurer initially offered! — even after legal fees have been deducted.
Read more: Traffic Accident $731,000 Compensation Win
Frequently Asked Questions
When lodging a claim for car accident injury compensation after a motor vehicle accident, it’s best to do it as soon as possible. However, it isn’t always feasible if you were severely injured and couldn’t file a car accident claim straight away. There are time limits, however, so get someone to call a lawyer at PK Simpson for you to lodge a claim at least within 6 months of the crash.
See above. However, the length of time you have to make your claim depends on the jurisdiction.
For instance:
- TPD claims – these may be commenced up to 10 years after you’ve stopped work. TPD claims are very technical, and you may have more than one TPD claim.
- Car accident claims – A personal injury claim form should be filled in and sent to your CTP insurer as early as possible, but must be no later than six months from the date of your accident. HOWEVER, out-of-time claims may be made. New NSW CTP laws have made it difficult for injured people, and many law firms still do not understand how to run new claims under these laws – so call us at PK Simpson Sydney as soon as possible.
- Workers compensation claims – You should contact a lawyer within six months of the accident. But remember, out-of-time claims can be handled by PK Simpson Sydney. We can help you get the treatment required to build your claim.
- Slip ‘n’ fall/occupiers liability claims – Your claim must be lodged usually within three years of the date of your accident.
- Medical Negligence – within three years of the date of when the cause of action was discoverable to our client OR 12 years from the time of the act or omission which caused the injury through negligence.
Motor accident compensation claims for car accident personal injury are normally finalised after you’ve recovered or your injuries have stabilised. It can take some people longer to recover than others – from days to years – which determines the length of time it can take to finalise a claim. Also, your injuries may not always appear immediately after the accident and can take some time to appear, in some cases, years.
At PK Simpson, our legal service has the best car accident lawyers who deal with all kinds of car accident claim payouts and compensation, and we operate on a no-win, no-fee basis. Motor vehicle compensation can be tricky, so you need professional help to make a claim. Be aware, though, that you need detailed information on the legal costs that can be charged for statutory benefits CTP Insurance car accident claims in NSW, so click on this link.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the police must be notified as soon as possible but within 28 days. You will need to complete a Motor Accident Act Personal Injury Claim Form or get help from PK Simpson car accident lawyers to do so.
You will need to consult a doctor or hospital and get a medical certificate. Gather the certificate and all the receipts and accounts you accrued for your medical treatment and any out-of-pocket expenses. This documentation, plus the police report, is sent to the CTP insurer of the motor vehicle you believe is at fault. You will receive a CTP reference number, and a decision will be made to ascertain who was liable.
If liability is accepted, the insurer is obliged to pay for the following:
- Reasonable or necessary hospital, medical, rehabilitation, pharmaceutical, respite care and attendant care expenses.
- Reasonable and necessary travel and accommodation expenses associated with any treatment or rehabilitation provided’
If the CTP insurer denies liability, you should contact your solicitor immediately. To be sure, it’s best to see a lawyer to handle your claim.
If you’ve had a motor car accident, stop your vehicle and turn on your hazard lights. Make sure nobody is injured, and if so, call emergency 000 and remain at the scene of the accident. If it’s a minor incident, you don’t need to call the police, but move the damaged cars if possible. Never admit responsibility, even if you think you were at fault. Collect the other parties’ names, addresses, registration numbers, and insurance details and get witness details if possible.
If you’ve had a motor car accident, stop your vehicle and turn on your hazard lights. Make sure nobody is injured, and if so, call emergency 000 and remain at the scene of the accident. If it’s a minor incident you don’t need to call the police, but move the damaged cars if possible.
Never admit responsibility even if you think you were at fault. Collect name, address, registration number and insurance details from the other parties and get witness details if possible.