Life after a car accident can be challenging, particularly if you have suffered from a physical or psychological injury. This can lead to medical expenses, time off work and loss of future earnings that can seriously impact your quality of life. This is why claiming compensation after being injured in a car accident can be an important part of helping you deal with your financial needs.
Compensation law in New South Wales can be complex and difficult to understand if you are not a trained professional, which is why we have tried to break down into simple terms what compensation you may be eligible to claim after a car accident.
What compensation can you claim after being injured in a car accident?
Compensation after a car accident can be claimed for a number of factors including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Attendant care expenses and home modification related to the injury.
In New South Wales, however, not every accident will entitle you to claim on all of these benefits. Compensation for a car accident will depend on the severity of your injury and how it has affected your life. The main categories of injury are minor and non-minor injuries. Here is what you may be able to in each of these categories:
Minor Injury
This can be a minor physical injury such as soft tissue damage or minor psychological injury that has not been diagnosed as a psychiatric illness. For minor injuries individuals can claim:
- Up to 6 months of medical, home care and income support
Non-minor injury
Non-minor injuries include serious physical injuries such as fractures, nerve damage or organ damage, or psychological injuries such as diagnosed PTSD or depression. For non-minor injuries individuals can claim:
- Ongoing medical, home care and income support.
- Lump sum compensation payment for loss of past and future income
When the injured person has suffered a whole person impairment of greater than 10%, as assessed by a medical specialist, then they would be eligible for additional benefits, including:
- A lump sum compensation payment for loss of past and future income
- A lump sum compensation payment for pain and suffering
If the injuries are very severe, such as a spinal cord injury, moderate to severe brain injury, multiple amputations, severe burns or blindness, then the individual may be eligible for assistance under the Lifetime Care and Support (LTCS) scheme. This is intended to provide ongoing care and support for people who have been very seriously injured in a vehicle accident, regardless of who was at fault.
To receive a free, no obligation assessment of your CTP motor accident rights contact us on 1800 122 555 or complete our Free Claim Advice Form.