If you or a loved one has been impacted by road trauma, we can help guide you as you begin your journey to recovery.
Get Support
Assess
✔ Call 000 for emergency services if needed
✔ Alert other motorist to danger: turn on hazard lights
✔ Prioritize safety: move vehicle to a safe location if possible and turn off ignition
✔ Check if anyone has been injured
Act
✔ Call for roadside assistance services if needed
✔ Provide assistance where safe
✔ Gather details such as: names & contact, vehicle registration, insurance details and take appropriate photos of the crash
Manage
✔ Look after your wellbeing: Crashes can be distressing, and emotional or psychological symptoms may appear immediately or later.
✔ You don’t have to accept any services, like tow trucks or hire cars, that you don’t want or need.
Inform
✔ Tell a loved one or support person.
✔ See your GP after the crash if you feel unwell, injured, or are struggling physically or emotionally.
✔ Contact police for an event number if they didn’t attend.
✔ Keep records of expenses and documents related to the crash.
✔ Notify the at-fault insurer – state entitlements vary; more info [here].
Support starts here:
When lives are impacted on our roads, the effects can be immediate and overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone.
This space is here to support you with:
– Trusted information
– Practical next steps
– Access to care and connection
No matter where you are on your journey, we’re here to help you find clarity, support, and a way forward.
Support Services
You may also wish to explore additional local services in your state or territory that could provide further support and assistance.
Lifeline provides access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond blue provides access to crisis support, suicide prevention and mental health support services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Call 1300 224 636 or visit www.beyondblue.org.au
For immediate mental health support or to find local treatment options, call the Mental Health Line at 1800 011 511
Information for:
If you were the driver in a crash, it’s normal to experience a wide range of emotions, such as shock, anger or guilt. Looking after your wellbeing, and that of your passengers and loved ones, is important. If you were injured, you may be able to access medical care, income support or other assistance, regardless of whether you were at fault. The type of support available depends on your state or territory.
- If you’re making an injury compensation claim, it’s best to do so as soon as possible and provide as much information as you can. Depending on where the crash occurred, you may lodge your claim through: Your state‑based motor accident scheme or regulator,
- Or an insurer of a vehicle involved in the crash. More information for your state is available below.
- If you were the at‑fault driver and sustained catastrophic or life‑changing injuries, you may still be able to access treatment, care and support through your state or territory’s motor accident or injury support scheme. Eligibility and support vary by location. See your state or territory below for more information
- If you were injured in a crash but were not driving, support may still be available to help with medical treatment, recovery and other needs.
- You do not need to know exactly what happened or who caused the crash before seeking help.
- Depending on your state or territory, you may be able to access support through:
– your state‑based motor accident scheme or regulator, or
– an insurer of a vehicle involved in the crash
- If the vehicle involved was uninsured or cannot be identified, you may still be able to access support through a nominal defendant or similar scheme in your state. Links below can help you find the right organization to contact.
For more specific services in your state or territory, including state‑based motor accident regulators and schemes, follow the links below.
In Queensland, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance is included with your vehicle registration. It helps cover people who are injured in a motor vehicle crash.
Queensland operates a fault‑based (common law) CTP scheme. This means compensation is generally available where another person was partially or fully at fault for the crash
If you were injured in a crash in Queensland where someone else was at fault, you may be able to make a CTP claim to access treatment, rehabilitation and other support while you recover.
The Queensland CTP scheme is regulated by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC). Claims are managed by three licensed CTP insurers ( Suncorp, Allianz and QBE), and are generally made through the insurer of the vehicle most at fault.
If you have suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident on or after 1 July 2016, you may also be able to access lifelong treatment, care and support through the National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ), regardless of who was at fault.
For more information about QLD CTP head to the MAIC website Home - MAIC
In New South Wales, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, often called a Green Slip, must be purchased before you can register your vehicle. It covers people who are injured or die in a motor vehicle crash in NSW.
NSW operates a hybrid CTP scheme that focuses on early support and recovery. This means most people injured in a crash can access medical treatment, care and income support regardless of who was at fault, particularly in the early stages after an accident.
If you were injured in a crash in NSW, you may be able to access statutory benefits such as treatment and weekly income support to help you recover and return to daily activities. How long support is available will depend on who was at fault for the crash and the extent of your injuries.
The NSW CTP scheme is regulated by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA). Claims are managed by six licensed CTP insurers: AAMI, Allianz, GIO, NRMA, QBE and Youi. Claims are generally made through the insurer of the vehicle considered to be most at fault for the crash.
For more information about the support available and to understand the next steps, visit the SIRA website at Motor crash compensation – SIRA.Motor crash compensation – SIRA
Victoria, motor accident claims are managed by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC). The TAC is a no‑fault insurance scheme owned and operated by the Victorian Government. When Victorian motorists pay their vehicle registration, they also pay an insurance premium called the TAC charge, which is used to support people injured in transport accidents.
The TAC can cover reasonable medical costs, rehabilitation and income support for people injured or killed in a transport accident, regardless of who caused the accident.
This means that if you are injured in a transport accident in Victoria, you can make a TAC claim to help pay for the treatment and support you need, even if the accident was your fault. Because the TAC is a government‑run scheme, there are no private insurers involved in the claims process and claims are lodged directly with the TAC.
For more information about the support available and to understand the next steps, visit the Transport Accident Commission website What is a TAC claim? - TAC - Transport Accident Commission
In the Australian Capital Territory, Compulsory Third Party insurance operates under the Motor Accident Injuries (MAI) Scheme, which commenced on 1 February 2020. MAI insurance is included with your vehicle registration and covers people who are injured in a motor vehicle crash in the ACT.
The ACT operates a no‑fault motor accident injuries scheme that focuses on early support and recovery. This means people injured in a crash can access medical treatment, care and income support regardless of who was at fault.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in the ACT, you may be entitled to receive treatment, care and lost income benefits for up to five years, depending on your circumstances and the nature of your injuries.
The ACT MAI scheme is regulated by the Motor Accident Injuries Commission (MAIC). Claims are managed by four MAI insurers, AAMI, GIO, APIA and NRMA and are generally made through the insurer of the vehicle most at fault for the crash.
Support services are available to help you identify the right insurer and understand the next steps. For more information about the support available and to understand the next steps, visit the Motor Accident Injuries Commission website.
Tasmania, motor accident injury claims are managed by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB). The MAIB administers Tasmania’s compulsory third party motor accident insurance scheme and is a Tasmanian Government enterprise.
When Tasmanian motorists register their vehicles, they pay an insurance premium that funds the MAIB scheme. Tasmania operates a no‑fault motor accident injury scheme. This means people injured in a motor vehicle accident can access benefits regardless of who caused the crash.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident in Tasmania, you may be able to access medical treatment, rehabilitation and income support to assist with your recovery. Support is available to eligible people even if they were at fault for the accident.
The MAIB manages claims directly. There are no private insurers involved in Tasmania’s motor accident injury scheme, and claims are lodged directly with the MAIB.
For more information about the support available and to understand the next steps, visit the Motor Accidents Insurance Board website at maib.tas.gov.au
Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance in South Australia is a mandatory insurance scheme included with vehicle registration. It covers liability for injuries or deaths caused to others in a motor vehicle accident and can provide compensation for necessary and reasonable medical treatment, rehabilitation and loss of income.
South Australia operates a fault‑based CTP scheme. This means compensation is generally available to people injured in a motor vehicle accident where another person was at fault.
The South Australian CTP scheme is regulated by the CTP Regulator, an independent statutory body that oversees insurers, monitors claims performance and supports the fair operation of the scheme. CTP insurance in South Australia is provided by AAMI, Allianz, NRMA Insurance, QBE and Youi. Claims are generally lodged with the insurer of the vehicle that was at fault for the accident.
Separate to the fault‑based CTP scheme, all children under the age of 16 who are injured in a motor vehicle accident that occurred in South Australia on or after 1 July 2013 are entitled to necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support regardless of who was at fault, and whether the at‑fault vehicle was registered in South Australia or interstate.
If you sustain very serious, lifelong injuries in a motor vehicle accident that occurred in South Australia on or after 1 July 2014, you may also be entitled to necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support under the Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS), regardless of who was at fault. The Lifetime Support Scheme is delivered by the Lifetime Support Authority (LSA).
For more information about South Australia’s CTP insurance scheme, insurers and your rights and responsibilities, visit ctp.sa.gov.au.
Northern Territory, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance is automatically included with vehicle registration and operates under the Motor Accidents Compensation (MAC) Scheme. The MAC Scheme covers all road users, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorbike riders and cyclists, regardless of who was at fault.
As a no‑fault scheme, eligible people injured in a motor vehicle accident in the Northern Territory can access treatment and support even if they caused the accident. The MAC Scheme is primarily a benefit‑based scheme, providing necessary and reasonable medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of earnings support and other benefits to assist recovery and return to health and work.
Claims under the MAC Scheme are managed by the Territory Insurance Office (TIO). If you make a claim, a TIO MAC case manager will work with you to coordinate treatment and support your recovery goals.
For more information about the Northern Territory MAC Scheme, including eligibility and how to make a claim, visit MAC Scheme Coverage | Northern Territory at ntmacc.com.au
Understanding Your State
Understanding CTP / Motor Accident Injury Insurance in your state
In Australia, each state and territory has a different way of supporting people injured in motor crashes. The types of support available, and who can access them, can differ depending on where the crash occurred. Find out more by selecting your state or territory on the map.
Click on the state to open information on a state or territory, and click on the state again to close the text box.
Next Steps
There can be a lot to process after a crash, and it can be difficult to know exactly what needs to be done, and when.
If the injuries do not require emergency services, contact the insurer state regulator as soon as possible. Depending on your state or territory, you may need to know who was at fault for the accident and lodge your claim through the relevant insurer. You can find out more by selecting your state on the map in the ‘Understanding Your State’ section.
If you’re lodging an injury compensation claim, there are a few common steps you’ll likely need to take:
- Notify the police of the incident.
- Seek medical treatment and obtain medical evidence of your injuries.
- Complete the notification or claim forms specific to your state or territory. You can find out more about these below.
Once your notification or claim has been received, the insurer or regulator will be in touch with you. In most cases, you will hear from them relatively quickly after you lodge your claim. They will explain to you what happens next. Generally, this involves reviewing information about the crash and the nature and extent of your injuries, so they can determine what support, benefits or compensation may be available to you. In some cases, fault or liability may be considered, depending on your state or territory and the type of claim.
Journey to Recovery Assistance
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Journey to Recovery Guide.
If you have lodged a claim, the relevant CTP insurer or scheme administrator will manage the claim and pay any approved benefits. Each state and territory has different rules about what support is available, who can receive it, and when payments are made. To find information that applies to you, select the state or territory where the crash occurred.
CTP (also called Motor Accident Injury Insurance in some states) is compulsory and is designed to cover injuries caused to other people in a crash, and to protect vehicle owners/drivers from the financial impact of causing injury. If someone else is injured, they may lodge a claim against your vehicle’s CTP cover, and the insurer/scheme administrator will manage that claim. If you were also injured, access to support depends on the state or territory where the crash happened. In some fault-based schemes, at fault drivers may have limited or no entitlements, except in cases of very serious/catastrophic injury.
If you are injured in a crash while travelling interstate, the laws of the state or territory where the crash occurred apply. This means your eligibility for support under Compulsory Third Party (CTP) or motor accident injury schemes is determined by where the crash happened, not where you live, where your licence was issued, or where your vehicle is registered.
In interstate crashes, the vehicle’s CTP insurer usually manages the claim, even if the vehicle is registered in another state. However, that insurer must apply the laws and rules of the state or territory where the crash occurred, including how fault is assessed and what benefits may be available.
In fault-based CTP schemes (Qld, SA, WA), compensation generally depends on who caused the crash. If another driver or rider was at fault, you may be eligible for compensation. If you were at fault, you are usually not eligible for compensation for your own injuries, including in single vehicle crashes.
In no fault CTP schemes (VIC, NSW, Tas, ACT & NT) you may be eligible for some benefits regardless of who caused the crash, although the level of support varies depending on the circumstances.
In all states and territories, access to benefits may be limited or not available where injuries result from serious wrongdoing, such as criminal activity, extreme negligence, intoxication or intentional self harm.
If your injuries are very serious or catastrophic, for example spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, major amputation, severe burns or permanent blindness, you may be eligible for long term treatment, care and support in the state or territory where the crash occurred, regardless of fault.
Each state and territory has its own rules, including time limits for lodging a claim, and in some places delays may affect what support is available. To understand the timeframes that apply to you, select the state or territory where the crash occurred.
You should lodge your claim as soon as possible after a crash. Ideally you should lodge your claim within 28 days, where possible. Lodging early can help you access treatment, rehabilitation and other support sooner.
If your injuries from the crash mean you can’t work, you may be entitled to income support or compensation through the CTP or motor accident scheme in the state or territory where the crash occurred. This depends on factors such as who was responsible for the crash, the severity of your injuries, and the rules of the local scheme.
To find out what support may be available to you, select the state or territory where the crash happened.
If you’re not eligible for support through a motor accident scheme, or while your claim is being assessed, you may also be eligible for Centrelink support.
Disclaimer: The content on this website is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, financial, or other professional advice. The information presented on this website is intended to support awareness on the topic discussed.