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Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

In NSW, if you sustain an injury as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle while a pedestrian, you can make a claim for compensation under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017.

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The Act applies to injuries sustained on or after 1 December 2017 and applies to all injuries sustained within NSW.

Of course, you should immediately seek medical treatment for any injuries you have sustained and obtain the registration number of the car involved. You must report the accident to the police within 28 days and get an event number from the police.

If it was a hit and run, you can still make a claim even if you do not know the details of the car. This claim is made against the nominal defendant and again will need to be reported to the police.

What Pedestrian Accidents Can You Claim Compensation For?

You can make a claim for compensation under the Motor Accident Injuries Act NSW 2017 if you have been hit by a car as a pedestrian. It doesn’t matter if the accident is wholly, partially, or not your fault. If you have been struck by a motor vehicle and sustained injury you can make a claim. You can make a claim if you are a pedestrian hit by a car, truck, bus, taxi, motorcycle or even a forklift.

What if I was at fault in the accident?

In most accidents where a pedestrian is hit by a car, it is the driver of the car who is considered to be at fault. Drivers have a duty to avoid hitting pedestrians, even when the pedestrian may be considered partly at fault.

Almost all pedestrians who have sustained an injury by being hit by a car can make a claim for compensation. There may be some reduction for “contributory negligence” however, you are still likely to be able to obtain significant compensation for your injuries.

What if it was a hit and run?

If you are injured in a hit and run and cannot identify the vehicle which caused the accident, then you can still make a claim under the NSW CTP scheme. You make a claim against the “Nominal Defendant”, which is a government insurer and will pay you any compensation even where the vehicle which caused the accident cannot be identified.

How to make a claim for compensation if injured as a pedestrian

To claim compensation benefits for injuries received after 1 December 2017, you need to complete an Application for Personal Injury Benefits. You will find this on the SIRA website, www.SIRA.nsw.gov.au.

To complete the Application for Personal Injury Benefits form you will need the following information:

  1. The police event number.
  2. The registration number of the vehicle that hit you.
  3. A Medical Certificate of Fitness from your general practitioner, which outlines the injuries you have sustained.
  4. Accounts/receipts for any medical treatment you have incurred.

You can complete the form online or forward a copy to the CTP insurer of the vehicle which struck you. You can find out the third party CTP insurer by contacting CTP assist on 1300 656 919 and providing them with the registration details of the vehicle which hit you.

How long do you have to make a pedestrian injury claim?

You must make an Application for Personal Injury Benefits through the SIRA within 28 days to be eligible for payment of loss of income and medical expenses. You also need to have reported the accident to the Police and obtain an event number within 28 days of the accident.

How long does a pedestrian injury claim take?

Once you submit the Application for Personal Injury Benefits the insurer will review your claim and will within days make payments for compensation and medical expenses. It is important to therefore make the application for personal injury benefits as soon as possible.

The insurer is then required, within 26 weeks, to decide the following:

  1. Whether the driver of the motor vehicle was at fault and caused the accident.
  2. Whether you have a “minor injury.”

This decision by the insurer is important. If the insurer finds that the driver of the vehicle was not at fault or that you as the pedestrian were mostly at fault, then the loss of income, payments, and medical expenses will cease after 26 weeks.

If the insurer finds that you have a “minor injury” as defined in the Act, loss of income and medical expenses will cease as at 26 weeks.

If the insurer decides that the driver of the vehicle was at fault and you have more than a “minor injury”, then you are entitled to claim further compensation after 26 weeks including the following:

  • Loss of income payments for up to five years.
  • Medical expenses and care for life.
  • Claim common law damages.

If you disagree with the decision of the insurer, you will need the assistance of a lawyer to challenge that decision through a Dispute resolution System known as DRS.

Common-Law Damages

A claim for common law damages entitles you to claim lump-sum compensation for the injuries you have sustained as follows:

  1. Damages for non-economic loss – this includes an amount of compensation for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. It is is a lump sum payment, which is usually in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The extent of the payment depends on the nature and extent of the injuries and how they affect you.
  2. Damages for economic loss – payment of past and future loss of income and superannuation. From the date of the accident up until retirement.

Both of the above amounts are payable as a one-off lump sum amount to compensate you for your injuries. Once you have received compensation under a common law damages claim, then you are entitled to weekly payments for loss of income will cease.
You continue, however, to be entitled to payment of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment and care for the remainder of your life.

If you require any legal advice in relation to pedestrian accident claims, please hesitate to contact Garling & Co Lawyers and speak to one of our accredited specialists in personal injury law on 02 8518 1120 or info@garlingandco.com.au

Would you like assistance with your claim?

Complete our free, no obligation confidential case assessment form and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

Alternatively, we are available to talk by phone and email. Please contact our experienced accredited specialist personal injury lawyers to find out how we can help.

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Angie & Brian M.
00:58 18 Sep 24
We cannot recommend Garling and Co. Lawyers highly enough! Our principal solicitor, Matthew Garling, was absolutely outstanding throughout our entire legal journey. He, along with the fantastic team... in the office, especially Allison, provided outstanding support. They were always responsive, willing to listen, and took the time to thoroughly explain the entire process. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, we achieved a brilliant outcome.read more
Yanthi S.
11:22 12 Sep 24
I engaged with Garling and Co to assist me for my weekly payment dispute with the insurance. I was upset with Natasha, as she didn't prepare me to the worse outcome or told me about the kind of... negotiation in the hearing. I assumed that as a Lawyer she should have an experience with the process or the way to solve the case. Even though I asked her what should I do or what would be happened in the hearing a week before but she didn't mentioned anything, and told me not do anything. But in the hearing she and the Barrister only gave me less than 5 minutes to make decision and pushed me to accept the disappointed outcome and what she said in the hearing totally different with what she said earlier. I don't trust her at all, her words is not consistent.I would like to express my appreciation to Matthew Garling who had stepped in to handle my weekly payment issue with the insurance. He is very professional, knowledgeable, easy to talk to and very humble. My disappointment earlier has melted away by his kindness and caring to resolve my issue which has came out the great outcome. Now I am satisfied with his expertise therefore I would not hesitate to let him to handle the case I might have in the future.As I said before I would not hesitate to let my other claim to be handled by a professional as Matthew Garling. I would like to thank him for his time and effort to settle my case smoothly and I trusted him to give me the best outcome. Also I appreciated his support and his patience to answer my questions from the time I signed the agreement up to the day before the mediation. He did not promise the unrealistic outcome but what ever he promised that what the result was according to his experiences. And I would not forget to Alison, Nathan who also have assisted this matters, by gathering all documents and answering my questions.Also my appreciation to a Barrister Mr Dallas Morgan.So, in summary I am really grateful to have Garling and Co as my lawyer to handle my damaged claim.read more
Tina S
07:45 29 Aug 24
Thank you for the great outcome!
Lisa L.
05:18 13 Jul 24
Outstanding service and commitment to my case was delivered from the first point of contact right until the end of my successful case.Highest recommendations to the team at Garling and Co. Matthew... got me an excellent result and was available and informative throughout the entire foreign process of legal proceedings. He was wonderful and so was his team.If i could rate higher than 5 stars i would!read more
J B
07:12 02 Jul 24
Matthew Garling and all of the team were extremely professional and supportive throughout what was a very long and arduous CTP battle. I am happy with the result and feel that their fees were fair... and well deserved.read more
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02:11 30 Jun 24
Professional, prompt & honest service
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07:33 13 Jun 24
Matthew Garling and Team are kind, patient, polite, professional, empathetic and efficient. I was treated terribly by the at fault insurer. Garling and Co. had my back. Matthew gently and patiently... kept me up to speed on all the steps to go through. From my personal experience I recommend these guys. They are safe hands. Thank you team.read more
Jo L.
05:58 07 May 24
So very impressed with the professional team who looked after me throughout the last 4 and 1/2 years. A special mention to Kerry and Nathan who navigated each request to fight for my right to gain... access to further treatments and physio and to ensure medical treatment would be covered moving forward. I was so grateful I could hand it all over to you and not have to go through this very challenging time without your support.I thank you for the compassion you have provided to me, from the first contact with Matthew and Natasha, to finalisation with Kerry and Nathan.I highly recommend the team at Garling and Co for any third party compensation claims. You are in good hands with them all.read more
Linda O.
21:53 06 May 24
Emma, Rebecca and the team at Garling and Co have worked diligently throughout my workers compensation claim. The level of professionalism, support and communication has been faultless. Of particular... note has been the sensitivity displayed to me throughout the lengthy process. Worker’s compensation claims are complex and not easy to navigate, particularly when you are unwell. I do not hesitate to recommend Garling and Co to help you find a way through this otherwise unfathomable system.read more
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20:51 23 Apr 24
After my case stalled with another firm, I decided to give Matthew Garling a call. He took my case and not only won, but achieved an outcome that far exceeded my expectations. This firm is the best... in the business in my opinion and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone.read more

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a claim for common law damages?

You can claim common law damages if the insurer has accepted that the driver of the motor vehicle was at fault, and you have more than a “minor injury.”

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