Been injured in a motor vehicle?

If you were involved in a transport accident in Victoria caused by the driving of a motor vehicle (including a car, motorcycle, bus, train or tram) and you were physically injured or someone died, you may be able to make a TAC claim.

If you’re not 100% sure whether your incident “counts” as a transport accident (especially with public transport, cyclists, or complex situations), use our Free Injury Claim Check to quickly confirm where you stand before you miss critical deadlines.

TAC claims can apply across many accident types—commonly including:

• car accidents
  
• truck accidents
  
• motorcycle accidents
  
• pedestrian accidents
  
• cycling accidents involving motor vehicles
  
• public transport accidents (train/bus/tram)

Not sure whether your crash type is covered (or whether there are multiple potential pathways)? Start with Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to get clarity on what compensation streams may apply.

Yes—TAC eligibility for compensation is not based on who was at fault when determining whether you can access TAC compensation (for core benefits).

Fault can still matter later (for example, common law damages). If you’re unsure where fault sits, or whether it even matters for what you need right now, chat to one of our claim check team members to assess whether an obligation free consultation with a lawyer is right. A personal injury lawyer can help you map out your likely options.

Depending on your circumstances, TAC entitlements can include:

• Medical expenses and supports (allied health, ambulance, hospital, surgery and other medical costs)
• Income support (payments to cover loss of earnings while you’re unable to work)
• Permanent impairment benefits (a lump sum in eligible cases)
• Common law compensation (a lump sum for more serious cases, where eligibility requirements are met)

Many people only claim the “obvious” benefits and miss others. If you’re unsure what you might be entitled to, use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to help identify what you should be asking the TAC about.

TAC claims can cover physical injuries and significant mental injuries.
Common examples after transport accidents include brain/head injuries, spinal/back injuries, fractures, neck/soft tissue injuries, and in some cases psychological injuries.

Even if your symptoms feel “minor” early on, the long-term impact can become clearer later. If you’re unsure whether your injury is serious enough to pursue compensation pathways, use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to get a clearer starting point.

You can lodge a TAC claim yourself. But the TAC process can be detail-heavy, and missing key information or not having injuries assessed properly can affect what you receive.

If you’re not sure whether you’re lodging correctly—or whether you might be missing entitlements—start with Injury Claim Check’s free claim check first. It’s a simple way to reduce uncertainty before you commit to anything.

TAC guidance states a new claim should be lodged within 12 months of:

• the accident date, or
  
• the date the injury first becomes evident/first manifests.

TAC may consider a late claim up to 3 years after the relevant date if reasonable grounds exist for the delay.

Time limits are where people lose claims they otherwise would have had. If you’re unsure about dates, delays, or whether an injury “manifested” later, use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check immediately so you can act fast.

TAC states it should provide a decision on a new claim within 21 days of receiving the claim—either accepting/rejecting, requesting further information, or asking you to attend a medical examination.

If you’re approaching (or past) that timeframe and you’re unsure what to do next, run Injury Claim Check’s free claim check so you can get clarity on escalation options and what evidence to prepare.

TAC explains that common law compensation (common law damages) is a payment recognising the long-term impact of the accident and can cover:

• loss of past and/or future earnings, and
• pain and suffering
  

TAC also states common law compensation is paid on behalf of the person/party/organisation who is at fault.

Common law can be significant, but it’s not automatic—and people often don’t realise when they might qualify. If you’re unsure whether you have a common law pathway, use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to help identify whether it’s worth exploring.

TAC states a Serious Injury Certificate is a document that legally recognises you have a “serious injury” as a result of your transport accident and can be used to start the process to claim common law compensation.
TAC also notes it may provide a Serious Injury Certificate, or a letter stating your injury meets an impairment rating of 30% or more.

If you’re unsure whether your injury might meet the serious injury threshold (including longer-term mental harm), use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to get an early read on whether a serious injury pathway might be relevant.

TAC explains that an impairment benefit is a one-off lump sum for permanent impairment caused by transport accident injuries.
TAC says you may be eligible if you:

• are over 18, and
• have a permanent physical or psychological condition caused by your transport accident injuries, and
• have an impairment assessed at 11% or more.

People often underestimate (or misunderstand) impairment thresholds. If you’re unsure whether your injury could meet the 11% requirement—or whether your physical + psychological impacts matter—use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to get a clearer direction before you potentially leave money on the table.

In Victoria, there can be multiple lump-sum pathways depending on your situation, including:

• Common law compensation (where eligibility requirements are met)
• Permanent impairment benefits (where impairment is assessed at 11% or more)
  Some firms also note a possible TPD claim through super if you can’t return to work (separate to TAC), and that it may be one of the pathways considered after a serious accident.

If you’re unsure whether you have one lump sum option or multiple, use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check so you can understand the pathways that might apply before you make decisions.

Some accident scenarios can overlap. For example, if you’re injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to TAC compensation—and if you were working when the accident occurred, you might also be entitled to workers compensation, but this does not mean overlapping payouts. How support applies is assessed across the schemes based on your specific circumstances.

These overlap cases are where people most commonly miss entitlements. If your crash happened “on the job” (deliveries, driving between sites, rideshare, tradie work vehicle, etc.), use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check to see which pathway applies to you & how support is worked out across the systems.

If you disagree with a TAC decision, TAC outlines review pathways. For example:

• TAC’s dispute/review policy indicates a person dissatisfied with a TAC decision may apply for a pre-issue review (dispute application) within 12 months of becoming aware of the decision.
• TAC also states you can request a VCAT review within 12 months of the day you become aware of the decision.

A rejection or payment stop isn’t always the end—it’s often the point where your evidence and next steps matter most. If you’ve been declined, your payments were reduced/stopped, or you’re unsure whether the decision is fair, use Injury Claim Check’s free claim check so you can quickly understand what options may exist and what to do next.