Motor vehicle accidents can have a profound impact on the life of an injured person. They create physical and mental impediments that can render an individual with less capacity than they had before. An impact like this affects every facet of a person’s life, from their personal relationships to their health and financial security. Treatment for injuries can also be extremely expensive, between GP consultations, physiotherapy and radiology scans, the price of taking care of one’s health can really add up.
Therefore, if there are avenues for assistance available to an injured person, they should consider exploring their options to ease the burden on their health and finances. In Queensland, claimants are fortunate to have a system that promotes the recovery of those injured on the roads.
What types of claims can you make?
If you are injured in a motor-vehicle accident which was not your fault, the most common type of claim made is a CTP claim. This type of claim includes lodging a claim against the relevant CTP insurer of the driver identified as at-fault for the subject incident. This type of claim can assist in providing funding for rehabilitation treatment as well as enable the injured person to recoup lost wages, both past and into the future.
If the injury sustained is significant enough to render the injured person unable to work for an indefinite period, they may be entitled to make a Total and Permanent Disability claim. Total and Permanent Disablement Insurance (TPD) is a type of insurance that is most commonly found attached to superannuation or life insurance policies. However, it may also be held as standalone insurance. TPD claims may apply to those who are either unable to work or are unlikely to return to their usual field of work for the foreseeable future. The conditions for making a claim and the insured amount will vary depending on the specifics of the individual policy.
Likewise, if an injured person is unable to work for an extended period of time, they may need to rely on income protection insurance. Like TPD, income protection insurance is often held under a superannuation policy, but may also be held in a standalone policy. It can cover either all or a percentage of the injured person’s pre-accident wage for a set period. Again, the conditions, applicable waiting periods, and insured amount will vary depending on the specific policy.
If your motor vehicle accident took place whilst you were on your way to or from work, or while driving in the course of your work duties, you may be entitled to lodge a workers’ compensation claim. This is referred to as a workers’ compensation “journey claim”. Under this type of claim the insurer, typically WorkCover Queensland, will assist in funding rehabilitation expenses and your loss of income if you are unable to work. They will assist you in your return to work when the time comes.
It is helpful to note that unlike CTP claims, TPD, income protection, and workers’ compensation journey claims are available to injured people regardless of whether they caused the motor vehicle accident in which their injuries were sustained.
Can I claim from multiple insurers at the same time?
In theory, you could have a CTP claim, TPD claim, Income Protection claim and workers’ compensation journey claim all at the same time, if you met the relevant conditions and thresholds under the applicable policies. Hence, there are a number of options available for injured Queenslanders to rely on for assistance with their rehabilitation from injury, or to alleviate the financial burden that their injuries may cause.
Different threshold and definitions can apply to qualify for each of the types of claims listed above. Therefore, for advice on which claim would be the best fit for you, it is always best to contact a personal injury lawyer, who can explain the complexities, and the way these claims interact, in words you can understand.
If you have any queries regarding the article, please contact via Free Claim Checker or email us.
