Eastern Suburbs · Car accident claims

Car accident claim help after a crash near Kensington

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

Some crashes leave a clear path: an identified driver, an insured car, an injury to claim for. Others don't. The driver may have left the scene, the car may have been unregistered, or the crash may have happened in a car park. We help people from Kensington work out what kind of claim the facts support, and where it should go first.

Postcode: 2033

  • Free claim check, no obligation
  • By phone & online, no office to visit
  • Helping people in Kensington & Zetland

Kensington: where crashes happen and what to record

On Anzac Parade, Southern Cross Drive or New South Head Road, crashes often happen in heavy queues. If the other driver pulls away before swapping details, the number plate is the key to your claim. Around the University of NSW and Randwick Racecourse, 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 Prince of Wales 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
Eastern Suburbs
Postcode
2033
Local landmarks
University of NSW · Randwick Racecourse
Main roads
Anzac Parade · Todman Avenue
Nearest public hospital
Prince of Wales Hospital

What kind of claim does a crash near Kensington give you?

Most car accident claims fall into a few types. There's the injury claim, made to a CTP insurer. There's the damage claim, made through property insurance. And there are the harder cases: a vehicle that drove off, a vehicle with no insurance, or a crash while you were working. Each goes somewhere different, which is why sorting yours out comes first.

Read next:Which help do I need? Quick check

Damage to your car: a separate claim

If only property was damaged and nobody was hurt, there is no CTP claim, and the matter is between the drivers and their property insurers. We don't handle those claims. If someone was hurt as well, keep the two apart in your paperwork and your head. The repair claim can take weeks; the injury claim has deadlines that keep running regardless.

Keep the damage records even though CTP doesn't pay for them. Photos of the vehicles, repair quotes and assessor reports can show how hard the impact was and from which direction. They sometimes help the injury claim, for example when an insurer questions whether a low-speed crash could have caused your injuries.

Which claim do you have?

Most crashes lead to one or more of the claims below. They go to different places and run under different rules. Start with the card that matches what happened, then follow its link.

  • 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 Kensington
  • Your car was damaged

    Car and property damage is a separate claim

    CTP covers people, not cars. Repairs usually go through your own comprehensive insurance or a claim against the at-fault driver or their insurer. It isn't something we help with, but it shouldn't delay your 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.

A car accident claim without a lawyer: when it works

Whether you need a lawyer depends on the kind of claim you have and how smoothly it's going. A straightforward injury claim against an identified, insured vehicle often doesn't need one. The points below show when advice is commonly worth it.

Often worth talking to a lawyer

  • A property insurer wants a signed release that may mention injuries
  • You were driving for work and aren't sure which claim comes first
  • The other vehicle turned out to be unregistered or uninsured
  • The other driver disputes that the crash happened the way you say

You may not need one

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

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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When the other vehicle drove off or wasn't insured

A vehicle that can't be identified, or one with no CTP insurance, doesn't leave you without someone to claim against. The Nominal Defendant, a NSW Government-backed fund, stands in for the missing insurer. The injury claim then works in much the same way as any other, and the usual time limits apply from the date of the crash.

  • Report it to police promptly and keep the event number
  • Ask nearby businesses and homes about camera footage
  • Take the details of anyone who stopped or saw it

Read next:Uninsured or unidentified vehicles

Sore days after the crash? It can still be a claim

A crash doesn't need to be dramatic to cause an injury. Low-speed bumps, especially from behind, can strain the neck and back, and some people also feel anxious about driving afterwards. If you're hurt, it's an injury claim, however small the damage to the cars. What matters is that a doctor records your symptoms and links them to the crash.

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

When the other driver won't give their details

At the scene, swap names, addresses and registration numbers with every driver involved, and ask for their insurer if they know it. Photograph the other vehicle's plate and the driver's licence if they agree. If the other vehicle is a work, rental or rideshare car, note the company too. These details are what connect your injury claim to the right insurer.

Sometimes the other driver refuses to give details, gives a false name or drives off before you can ask. Stay safe and don't follow them. Photograph or write down the number plate, the make, the colour and anything else you noticed, then report it to police. If the vehicle can be traced from its plate, the claim can go to its insurer as usual.

Read next:CTP claim forms

What to collect before the details fade

You don't need everything worked out in the first week, but some things are much easier to collect then than later. Photos, the other vehicle's registration, the names of witnesses and a written note of what happened all help. So does an early visit to a GP, even if you feel mostly fine, because it creates a record that ties any injury to the crash.

  • 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

Why a claim check comes before the paperwork

Getting the claim type right early saves time and avoids missed deadlines. There's no charge for the claim check and no obligation to go further. It covers the injury side of a car accident, and it can also point you to doctors and allied health if treatment is what you need first. Property damage we'll simply point back to your insurer.

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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