Central Coast · Car accident claims

Car accident claim in Green Point: which kind do you have?

An injury claim, a damage claim and a hit-and-run claim each go somewhere different. We help you tell which you have.

After a car crash in Green Point, the first question is often simply what kind of claim you have. Injuries go to a CTP insurer. Damage to your car goes through property insurance, which isn't something we help with. If the other driver drove off or had no insurance, a different body steps in. Our free claim check sorts out which applies to you, then points you to the right help.

Postcode: 2251

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Starting a claim after a crash in Green Point

The M1 and the Central Coast Highway carry heavy commuter traffic to and from Sydney. If a crash there damages your car and hurts your neck, you have two claims to keep separate. A crash in a car park or private driveway can still lead to an injury claim through CTP. Where exactly it happened matters, so write it down while you remember. On a road as busy as Avoca Drive, drivers sometimes move off before details are swapped. If that happens, the number plate is what matters most, so photograph or write it down before anything else.

Hospitals serving the area include Gosford Hospital. You don't need an ambulance or an emergency visit to have an injury claim, but a doctor should record your injuries and link them to the crash.

Region
Central Coast
Postcode
2251
Main roads
Avoca Drive
Nearest public hospital
Gosford Hospital

An injury claim and a damage claim are different claims

People often ring about the car first because the damage is visible and the tow truck is waiting. The injury side can seem less urgent, especially if the pain comes later. Yet the injury claim has its own deadlines, running from the date of the crash. Treat the two as separate jobs from day one, even if you only need to act on one of them.

Read next:Which help do I need? Quick check

What to collect before the details fade

The first days set up whichever claim you end up making. Take photos of both cars, the road and any injuries you can see. Write down what happened in your own words while it's fresh. Keep the other driver's details, the police event number if you have one, and every receipt. Then see a doctor and tell them it was a car accident, so the link is recorded from the start.

  • Photos of both vehicles, the scene and any injuries
  • 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

Read next:Checklist for the first 30 days

What kind of claim is this?

After a crash, the kind of claim depends on what happened: who was hurt, what was damaged, whether the other vehicle can be found, and whether you were working. Pick the card closest to your situation. Some crashes fit more than one.

  • You were injured

    An injury goes to a CTP insurer

    Injuries from a crash in NSW are generally claimed through CTP insurance, whoever caused the crash. The claim usually goes to the insurer of the vehicle at fault. Lodging early matters, so start once you've seen a doctor.

    CTP claims in Green Point
  • 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

    A missing or uninsured vehicle doesn't end an injury claim. The Nominal Defendant stands in for the missing insurer. You'll need to show you tried to identify the vehicle, starting with a prompt police report.

    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

    If someone died, CTP generally covers reasonable funeral expenses regardless of fault. Close relatives who depended on them may also be able to claim. CTP Assist on 1300 656 919 can put you in touch with support.

    After a fatal crash

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

Do you need a lawyer for a car accident claim?

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

  • The crash happened in a car park or driveway and cover is questioned
  • The other vehicle turned out to be unregistered or uninsured
  • Someone died in the crash and the family needs guidance
  • The vehicle drove off and you're unsure what 'due inquiry and search' needs

You may not need one

  • Treatment and a clear medical record are what you need most right now
  • You just need to know which form to fill in
  • Your symptoms are settling and you're back to your usual routine

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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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

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.

  • Write down whatever part of the plate you saw
  • Note the colour, make, model and direction of travel
  • Take the details of anyone who stopped or saw it

Read next:Uninsured or unidentified vehicles

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.

If a driver refuses to swap details, don't argue. Note the plate and a description of the car and the driver, and ask anyone nearby whether they saw it. Report the refusal to police with those details. A vehicle's CTP insurer can usually be found from its registration later, provided someone wrote it down.

Read next:CTP claim forms

Repairs, write-offs and hire cars

CTP insurance covers injuries to people. It doesn't pay for repairs, write-offs, towing or hire cars. Those costs usually go through your own comprehensive policy, or a claim against the at-fault driver's property insurer. If the at-fault driver has no property insurance, you may have to pursue them directly. This isn't something we help with, but it's worth knowing where it sits.

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.

Let us sort out the kind of claim with you

If you've read this far and still aren't sure which claim you have, that's normal. Our free claim check starts with what happened and works out which claim, or claims, the facts support. We'll tell you plainly if something isn't a CTP matter, such as car repairs. If it is, we'll point you to the next step, which is often simply lodging the injury claim yourself.

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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