Macarthur & Wollondilly · Car accident claims

Car accident claim in Currans Hill: which kind do you have?

Just had a crash? Sort out the claim first, then the paperwork.

Most people have never made a claim after a crash and don't know where to begin. For people in Currans Hill, we start with the basics: were you hurt, was a vehicle damaged, and can the other vehicle be identified? The answers decide who you deal with. Many injury claims run smoothly without a lawyer. When yours needs one, we'll connect you with an independent lawyer.

Postcode: 2567

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  • Helping people in Currans Hill & Gregory Hills

Currans Hill: where crashes happen and what to record

The Hume Motorway, Narellan Road and Camden Valley Way carry long commutes. A crash on the motorway may involve a vehicle heading interstate, so the registration and the driver's details matter. Around Narellan Town Centre, many crashes happen at low speed in car parks, drop-off zones and side streets. A slow bump can still hurt someone, and the kind of claim depends on who was hurt and what was damaged. Hospitals serving the area include Campbelltown Hospital. If pain started after you got home, see a GP and mention the crash. That first record is the starting point of any injury claim.

Region
Macarthur & Wollondilly
Postcode
2567
Local landmarks
Narellan Town Centre
Main roads
Camden Valley Way · Waterworth Drive
Nearest public hospital
Campbelltown Hospital

An injury claim and a damage claim are different claims

A crash can create two quite separate claims. One is for injuries to people, which in NSW runs through CTP insurance, the Green Slip every registered vehicle carries. The other is for damage to vehicles and property, which runs through property insurance. They involve different insurers, different forms and different rules. Settling one does nothing to settle the other.

Read next:Which help do I need? Quick check

Small crashes and symptoms that show up later

People often decide not to claim because they 'only' had a small crash, then find weeks later that the injury isn't settling. By then the deadlines have been running since the day of the crash. If you were sore after a collision, it's sensible to see a GP, keep the record and at least find out what claim you have, even if you never end up needing it.

Deadlines run from the crash

Even if you're not sure the injury is serious, check your deadlines early. They start on the day of the crash, not when you first notice symptoms.

Read next:The 28-day rule for CTP claims

Sort your crash into the right claim

An injury, a damaged car and a missing driver are three different problems. The cards below show where each one generally goes. If more than one fits, you may have more than one claim running at once.

  • You were injured

    An injury goes to a CTP insurer

    If anyone in the crash was hurt, even slightly, there is an injury claim to consider. It runs through a CTP insurer, separately from any damage to the cars, with its own forms and deadlines.

    CTP claims in Currans Hill
  • Your car was damaged

    Car and property damage is a separate claim

    A damaged car, bike or fence is a property claim. It generally goes to your own insurer or the other driver's property insurer, not to CTP, and we don't handle it. Keep it apart from any injury claim.

    What CTP does and doesn't cover
  • Hit-and-run or uninsured

    A driver who fled or had no Green Slip

    If the vehicle drove off and can't be identified, or had no CTP insurance, you can claim against the Nominal Defendant, a NSW Government-backed fund. Report the crash to police promptly and make due inquiry and search for the vehicle.

    Uninsured or unidentified vehicles
  • Driving for work

    Driving for work usually brings another scheme first

    If you were driving for work, you generally need to claim workers compensation through your employer's insurer first, and CTP benefits are generally not paid on top. A CTP damages claim against an at-fault driver may still be possible, so get advice.

    Crash while working? Quick check
  • Someone died

    When someone died in the crash

    The family of someone who died in a NSW crash may be able to claim funeral expenses and, for dependants, the financial support they lost. Support is available through CTP Assist whenever you're ready to talk.

    After a fatal crash

General information, not legal advice. Some crashes involve more than one claim. Time limits apply.

When a car accident claim needs legal help

Many car accident injury claims are lodged and run without a lawyer, and property damage never comes through us at all. A lawyer is most useful when the kind of claim is unclear or the facts are complicated. These lists give a rough guide.

Often worth talking to a lawyer

  • A property insurer wants a signed release that may mention injuries
  • The other driver disputes that the crash happened the way you say
  • The other vehicle turned out to be unregistered or uninsured
  • The vehicle drove off and you're unsure what 'due inquiry and search' needs

You may not need one

  • The other vehicle is identified and insured, and your claim is lodged
  • The insurer has accepted your injury claim and treatment is approved
  • You just need to know which form to fill in

If a small crash has left you sore, a doctor's record is what makes it an injury claim. Ask us about doctors and allied health who understand CTP claims and the Certificate of Fitness.

Not quite your situation?

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We'll check the injury side of your crash, flag any deadlines, and point you to a lawyer or doctor only if your claim needs one.

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Damage to your car: a separate claim

Your car and your injuries run on separate tracks. The car side goes to a property insurer, usually your own if you have comprehensive cover, or the other driver's if they were at fault and insured. The injury side goes to a CTP insurer. An offer about the car says nothing about your injuries, so don't treat it as the end of the matter.

If you don't have comprehensive insurance and the other driver was at fault, their property insurer is usually the first place to ask about repairs. Where the other driver has no property cover at all, the options are narrower and may involve dealing with them directly. None of this changes your right to make an injury claim through CTP.

Hit-and-run and uninsured vehicles: the Nominal Defendant

For an unidentified vehicle, you must make 'due inquiry and search' to try to find it. In practice that means reporting to police promptly, asking witnesses, checking for camera footage and noting anything you remember about the vehicle. Keep a record of each step you take. The Nominal Defendant will want to see that a genuine effort was made.

  • Report it to police promptly and keep the event number
  • Write down whatever part of the plate you saw
  • Note the colour, make, model and direction of travel

Read next:Uninsured or unidentified vehicles

What to collect before the details fade

Keep one folder, paper or digital, for everything about the crash from the first day. Put in the other driver's details, photos, the police event number, any hospital or GP paperwork and receipts for costs like medication and travel. If the claim turns out to be simple, it saves time. If it becomes complicated, you'll be glad you started it early.

  • The other driver's name, address, licence and registration
  • Any police event number you were given
  • A written note of what happened, made that day
  • Hospital or GP paperwork from the first visit

Read next:Checklist for the first 30 days

Reporting the crash and swapping details

A police report made close to the time is useful evidence that the crash happened when and how you say. If police came to the scene, ask for the event number before they leave. If they didn't, report it yourself as soon as you can. Insurers generally treat a claim with no police record more cautiously, so it's worth the effort even for a small crash.

A driver who won't cooperate at the scene doesn't stop your claim. What matters is the vehicle, not the driver's attitude. A number plate lets the vehicle's CTP insurer be identified. Without one, the claim may need to go to the Nominal Defendant instead, which is why a prompt police report and a record of what you saw matter so much.

Read next:CTP claim forms

Not sure which claim you have? Start with a free check

A claim check is a short conversation, by phone or online, about your crash. We look at who was hurt, what was damaged and whether the other vehicle can be identified, then explain where each part goes. Many injury claims never need a lawyer. When one does, for example because the facts are unusual, we'll connect you with an independent lawyer.

Frequently asked questions

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CTP Lawyer is not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice; the independent lawyer you speak with can advise on your own situation.

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