Motor Vehicle
This chapter provides practical information on what happens when a person is involved in an accident and how to handle an insurance claim. Information is also provided for circumstances where there is personal injury, insurance does not cover the accident and determining whether to sue another person as a result of a motor vehicle accident as well as the different types of insurance available and claiming compensation.
What to Do After an Accident
Practical Steps When a driver is involved in an accident, the following steps should be taken if practicable: take the names and addresses of any witnesses; if possible, make handwritten notes of any conversation with the other person involved in the accident. Make a sketch plan includin...
Whether to Sue
After a vehicle has been damaged, a person generally has three options: claiming on their own policy; paying their own costs of repair; or demanding payment from the other party, and suing them if necessary. In deciding what to do, a number of factors must be considered, including w...
Self-Help Handling a Claim
Preliminary Steps The person should have found out the other party's name and address at the scene of the accident. If not, it may not be easy to discover it as there are privacy considerations. The Registrar of Motor Vehicles has a discretion to release this information. It is suggested that a ...
Claims Contested in Court
Need for a Lawyer Court proceedings are quite often complicated and can be stressful. If a person has to go to court to prove their claim, they should consider instructing a lawyer to handle the case. This is especially so if the other party has a lawyer. If they have organised their own letters...
Types of Insurance
When a motor vehicle is registered, part of the payment is received by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB). This payment allows a person to be paid benefits if they are injured in an accident. These benefits include hospital, medical and ambulance expenses and may also include allowances c...
Comprehensive Car Insurance
If a vehicle is covered by a comprehensive insurance policy, it is generally best to let the insurer handle the claim. The person can decide not to claim on their insurance, and instead handle their own claim (see below). Either way, they should be aware of the following factors. Advantages of C...
Claiming Compensation
Fatal Accidents Act - Rights to Claim Under the Fatal Accidents 1934 (Tas), the following relatives of a person who died as a result of injuries received in a motor vehicle accident may, in Tasmania, be entitled to recover damages against the person responsible: wife husband de facto ...
Losing Insurance Cover
Once an insurance policy has been taken out it is advisable to read it carefully. Most comprehensive and third party property policies contain special conditions, and failure to comply with them can result in the insurance company refusing to accept a claim. Here are some common problems. Failin...
Page last updated 19/03/2018