Posted on 15 Feb 2018
A welcome change for Victorians injured on the road
By Slater and Gordon
This week the Victorian Government passed legislation to remove a costly medical excess for those injured on Victorian roads as part of changes to the TAC injury claim process.
As of Wednesday 14th February, Victorians injured in a motor vehicle accident who make a claim through the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) will not need to pay a $651 medical excess.
Before the introduction of the Compensation Legislation Amendment Act 2018, injured motorists, cyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and public transport users – who were not admitted as inpatients to hospital after an accident – were required to reach the medical excess.
They were also required to complete a medical excess declaration form as well as providing the TAC with their original receipts, accounts, health insurance documents and Medicare statements of benefits.
Under the new legislation these requirements have been removed.
An important step
The removal of the medical excess is an important step in supporting people who are already dealing with the trauma and pain from their road accident.
It allows people in this most stressful time immediately following a transport accident to focus on their recovery and receive the treatment they are entitled to without worrying about footing the bill and cumbersome paperwork.
We know from years of experience in transport accident claims that many clients struggle to pay their medical bills, especially when their injuries require them to take time off work. This update is a welcome move to help reduce some of this financial strain whilst also giving people timely access to treatment and services.
What does it mean for you?
If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident on or after the 14th February 2018, you will no longer need to pay the medical excess for your TAC claim or complete the medical excess declaration form.
The medical excess will still apply to all motor vehicle accidents which occurred prior to the 14th February 2018.
Get independent advice
Whilst this amendment is a welcome change for people injured in a transport accident, it’s important that you seek independent legal advice to ensure you are getting access to your full benefits and entitlements from the TAC.
We’re here to help. If you would like to enquire about a motor vehicle accident claim, simply get in touch online or call us on 1800 555 777.
Find out where you stand for free in 2 – 3 minutes
If you or a family member have been injured in any kind of road accident, you might be entitled to a range of compensation benefits. Answer a few simple questions to find out where you stand and, if eligible, book a free appointment with one of our caring and experienced lawyers.
The contents of this blog post are considered accurate as at the date of publication. However the applicable laws may be subject to change, thereby affecting the accuracy of the article. The information contained in this blog post is of a general nature only and is not specific to anyone’s personal circumstances. Please seek legal advice before acting on any of the information contained in this post.
