All personal and fatal injury claims resulting from motor vehicle accidents that involve a Western Australian registered motor vehicle are insured by a Third Party insurance policy which is combined with the motor vehicle licence of every Western Australian registered motor vehicle.

WHAT TO DO FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

If you are injured or one of your family or friends is injured in a motor vehicle accident you should:

  • Record the date, time and location of the accident;
  • Record the name, registration number and address of the driver of the other vehicle or vehicle involved in the accident;
  • Obtain names and addresses of all persons who witnessed the accident;
  • If the accident results in damage greater than $1,000 or in injury to any person, report the accident to the nearest police station; and
  • Consult one of our Kott Gunning personal injury team members about your potential rights to claim compensation as soon as possible. The first consultation is obligation free and free of charge if you do not elect to proceed with a claim.

WHAT YOU CAN CLAIM

If you are injured as a result of the accident you can claim the following:

  • Damages for pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life and/or restriction in your daily living or sporting activities. These are assessed as a percentage of the "worst case" scenario and certain deductions are made to claims.
  • Medical expenses. All reasonable medical expenses associated with the treatment and/or rehabilitation including physiotherapy are paid at the prescribed rates.
  • Loss of wages directly attributable to the accident (including overtime or penalty payments).
  • Loss of future earning capacity. If you are injured and you are unable to continue in your chosen career or are restricted in the employment options that are available to you. You may be able to claim a future loss of earning capacity.
  • Travelling expenses to doctors.

Please note that this is only a summary of the damages that you can claim and there are many other aspects, which you may wish to consult Kott Gunning about.

IMPORTANT

The laws about motor vehicle accidents are much more complex than this simple overview above and are regularly changing. It is important that if you are injured in a motor vehicle accident you consult Kott Gunning for advice about your rights and to ensure that you receive your entitlements in a cost efficient and timely manner.