As a personal injury lawyer, I frequently encounter clients who have been involved in car accidents and are unaware of their entitlements. If you’ve sustained injuries in a car or motor vehicle accident in Perth that was not entirely your fault, you can make compensation claim regardless of whether you were the driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian.
Understanding Compensation in a Car Accident - Perth
1. Medical expenses
ambulance transport, hospital, nursing and medical services, scans, medication, equipment hire or purchase, dental services, medical aids, rehabilitation services;
2. Travel expenses
to travel to/from medical appointments relating to your motor vehicle accident;
3. Household domestic assistance expenses
; and
4. Past and future loss of income/opportunity
compensation to take into account your reduced future earning capacity.
Depending on your specific your claim, you may also be entitled to claim compensation for pain and suffering, if you exceed a minimum threshold. You can contact our Perth car accident lawyer for more information during our free claim assessment.
Catastrophic injuries
When it comes to catastrophic injuries, the impact can be life-changing and devastating, requiring ongoing care and financial support for the injured person. Catastrophic injuries can include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Severe burns
- Permanent blindness
- Wrongful death
If you have catastrophic injuries, you can claim for treatment, domestic care and support, regardless of whether you were at fault in the accident.
How To Make a Compensation Claim In Perth
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, here’s how you can claim compensation in Perth:
- Report the motor accident to the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA). The simplest way to do this is through their online portal. You will need to complete the Crash report by filling in the details of the accident including the drivers’ names, licence plates and contact details of all the parties involved. Within 14 days, you will be provided with a claim number to enable you to get treatment.
- Submit a Notice of Intention to Make a Claim Form as soon as practicable, which puts ICWA on notice that you intend to claim compensation beyond treatment cover. Our experienced compensation lawyers do this on behalf of our clients so if you need our assistance contact us on 1800 952 898.
- Negotiate a settlement with the ICWA in relation to how much compensation you are entitled to for your motor vehicle accident compensation claim. Remember, this payout is to take into account your future and cannot be reopened.
Negotiating a Car Accident Compensation Settlement
Although it is not a requirement to negotiate a settlement with ICWA, it can give you peace of mind and help to understand ICWA’s views of your car accident claim. As your lawyers, we are required to act in your best interests and advocate on your behalf to get you the best possible outcome, on your instructions. We’re here to help you, every step of the way.
Free Consultation & Advice with Our Experienced Team
We understand that compensation claims can be complex and complicated, especially when you are already going through a difficult time, that’s why our Perth car accident lawyer is here to guide you through the process and ensure that all your losses are taken into account, to help you receive the compensation payout you’re entitled to. Whether you’re ready to commit or not, call us for a free consultation and we’ll answer your questions. Call us today on 1800 952 898.
Frequently Asked Questions about Car Accident Compensation in Perth (FAQs)
In Perth, the amount of compensation you can receive for a car accident claim varies depending on the specific circumstances of your claim. Of course, every case is different, and there is no set amount of compensation that is guaranteed.
Generally however, compensation amounts in Perth can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars (to even millions in some circumstances). The more severe and impacting the injuries and losses, the higher the compensation is likely to be.
If you were partly at fault in a car accident, it could affect the amount of compensation you receive. In Perth, the compensation will be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to you. For example, if you’re found to be 25% at fault for the accident, your compensation will be reduced by 25%.
Even if you were partly at fault, you may still be entitled to some compensation. It’s best to speak with a lawyer who is experienced in car accident claims to understand your entitlements and how to maximise your compensation. Call our experienced Perth car accident lawyer on 1800 952 898..
In Perth, not wearing a seatbelt doesn’t automatically mean you can’t claim compensation however how much compensation you receive may be impacted or reduced. The ICWA may argue that your injuries would not have been as severe had you been wearing a seatbelt and as such apply a deduction of liability.
Strict time limits apply. You have 3 years to commence court proceedings for your motor vehicle accident claim. If you don’t commence court proceedings within that time, you will be out of time and unable to commence court proceedings, unless there are special circumstances which are limited. Contact our Perth car accident lawyer and we will see if your circumstances fit into that criteria.