What Is A Traffic Collision
We are sorry to hear that you or someone close to you was in a traffic collision. We recognise that accidents like this can be stressful. Our lawyers specialise in traffic collision claims and are here to listen to your situation and offer their expertise. A traffic collision occurs when a vehicle collides with another object. This could be another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, tree, pole, or building. On many occasions, road traffic collisions result in personal injuries, disabilities, death, property damages, or psychological damages. In this article we cover the following queries on what to do after a traffic collision: When to Report a Traffic Collision to the Police Report the traffic collision to the police when there has been: If you have already left the scene, report the matter to your local police station. They will investigate your concerns. Otherwise, it is possible to exchange information with the other people involved in the traffic collision and leave the crash site. Why Report a Traffic Collision to the Police Reporting the traffic collision to the police provides proof that your loss occurred and a summary of information regarding the circumstances around the traffic collision. When a traffic collision requires police assistance, the insurer can request the police report. Without the police report, the insurer can decline your claim. If you did not require police assistance, the insurer is not in the right to request this report number from you. If you have not been given or forgot the identification number of the police report, our lawyers can assist you in locating the report. Contact us now for assistance. How to Report a Traffic Collision to the Police In Queensland, there are a few ways you can report a traffic collision to the Police. You can do it online, by phoning Policelink (131 444), or at your local police station. If anyone is seriously injured or in immediate danger, call 000. A reportable crash is when there has been a death or injury that requires medical attention, a driver fails or is refusing to provide the required details, or there are vehicles that need to be towed or carried away by another vehicle. If none of these circumstances exist and you still want to report the traffic collision to the police, go to your nearest police station or call Policelink (131 444). If you are from Queensland and had the traffic collision interstate, call the Queensland Police Service on (07) 3055 6206. They should help you get in touch with the relevant local law enforcement agency. No matter what kind of personal injury you have sustained from the traffic collision, our No Win No Fee lawyers are experts in personal injury law. FAQs on Police Reports After Traffic Collisions Do Police Send Accident Reports to Insurance? Yes – Your insurer can request the police report from the police. If your traffic collision fell under the ‘police attendance criteria’, they have the legal right to ask you for the police report number to acquire the police report from the police. How Do I Find My Police Report Number? The police assisting at the scene of the traffic collision should hand you a receipt with the police report number. If you have lost the police report number, call Policelink (131 444) and provide your name, and the date, time, and location of the traffic collision. If you have made a police report at a police station or online, you should receive your police report number within 5 days after preparing the police report. How Long to Get a Police Report After Accident? The Queensland Police Service will be able to provide you a copy of the police report (with a small admin fee) when you reference your police report number. Another way you can obtain the police report (free of charge) is by asking your insurer. Do Car Accidents Need to be Reported to the Police? You must report the traffic collision to the police when there was been a death or injury, the driver fails or refuses to provide the required information, or the vehicle must be towed away. If none of these circumstances exist, you are not required to report the traffic collision to the police. If you wish to report the traffic collision and the police did not attend, you can report the matter at a police station. Why Report a Traffic Collision to your Insurance Provider Many insurance companies will have time limits to when you can lodge an insurance claim for your losses from the traffic collision. Reporting the traffic collision on the day or within the week to your insurer will better your chances of getting your insurance claim approved and quickly. Before settling your claim with your insurance company, consider speaking to an experienced traffic collision lawyer to maximise the number of losses you recover. Our lawyers will make sure your rights are protected in your claims process. Have questions about how to report a traffic collision to your insurer? Contact our lawyers now for answers. FAQs on Insurance After Traffic Collisions Do I Have to Report the Traffic Accident to My Insurance? Yes – You have the duty of disclosure to report the traffic collision to your insurer. It is also better to report the traffic collision to your insurance because the other driver might decide to make a claim against you.
Whiplash Symptoms And Recovery
Sustaining whiplash can have an extremely negative outcome on your standard of living. This type of neck injury is notorious for causing chronic pain and reduced mobility in the neck, head and shoulders. Knowing how to recognise the symptoms of whiplash is essential to the recovery process. Personal Injury Helpline can tell you how to spot the warning signs. What is whiplash? Impacting the muscles, ligaments and bones in the neck and shoulders, whiplash occurs when a person’s head is forced into an abrupt back-and-forth movement. This can damage the internal structure of the neck, resulting in pain and restricted movement. Covering a broad range of injuries, whiplash can vary in severity depending on how much force the neck has been exposed to. No two cases of whiplash are the same – some people recover in a matter of weeks, whereas others may experience chronic pain for several years. Since all whiplash injuries are unique, recovery time and treatment methods can differ between cases. What causes whiplash? Car accidents are one of the leading causes of whiplash. Rear-end collisions have especially high rates of whiplash injuries, as the passengers of the vehicles involved are usually thrown backwards and then forwards. In addition to car accidents, it’s not uncommon for this type of neck injury to also occur in contact sports. The pain associated with whiplash is triggered by the soft tissue damage that occurs when a person’s head is forced backwards and then forwards at high speed. This movement throws the neck into a hyper-flexed position, stretching the top half of the spine far beyond its usual range of movement. In extreme cases, whiplash can rupture ligaments and even break bones, prolonging the recovery process even further. What are some whiplash symptoms? Even though whiplash is categorised as a neck injury, symptoms can be felt throughout the entire upper body. These are some of the most immediate symptoms people with whiplash experience: It’s important to note that whiplash symptoms can get worse with time. If you think you may have injured your neck, always see a doctor. Ignoring your symptoms and delaying treatment can prolong the recovery process. In severe and chronic cases of whiplash, symptoms can also be psychological. People with whiplash often find it difficult to recover their former quality of life, leading to the following symptoms: These symptoms are no less serious than the physical side effects of whiplash, and should be treated accordingly. How is whiplash treated? Whiplash is usually treated through a combination of pain management and physical therapy. Surgery may be required in severe cases. After sustaining whiplash, it’s crucial to stabilise the person’s neck until their injury has been assessed by a medical professional. Once a diagnoses has been made, an appropriate treatment plan can be identified. Although it’s important to keep the upper body as still as possible following a whiplash injury, leaving the neck immobile for too long can make the injury worse. With the approval of their doctor, people with whiplash should start doing physical therapy sooner rather than later. Moving the neck can help ease stiffness in the muscles and tendons. How long does it take to recover from whiplash? Whiplash recovery times can vary, but most mild cases usually heal within 6 weeks. More severe whiplash injuries can take months or even years to heal. Due to the amount of time it takes to recover from chronic whiplash, this injury can impact a person’s ability to earn income. If you’ve sustained whiplash in an accident that you weren’t responsible for, you may be entitled to compensation. Claiming damages for a whiplash injury can provide you with a financial safety net while you recover. Contact Personal Injury Helpline to find out what your rights are today.
Everything You Need To Know About A Motor Accident Compensation Claim
Would you know what to do if you sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident? Accidents happen on the road every day, and if you’re a victim, you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injuries. Being involved in a motor accident can be overwhelming, so we have taken the confusion out of it for you. With our experience in motor accident compensation claims, we share advice for what to do when you have been involved in a motor accident, and shed some light on the claim process. What to do when you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident Report the incident to the police Remain at the scene and call 000 if necessary. In Queensland, you are legally required to call the police in the event that death or injury (requiring medical attention from a qualified ambulance officer, nurse or doctor) has occurred, or if a dangerous environment or risk to public safety exists (e.g. traffic congestion, fuel spill or broken power lines). You are not required to call the police if the accident didn’t result in injury or a towed vehicle. You must phone Policelink on 131 444 in the case that there is a suspected involvement of drugs and/or alcohol, a driver is failing or refusing to provide their details, or a driver with an impairment or disability requires police assistance. Inform your vehicle and health insurance providers You may be required to report any incidents within a certain timeframe in order to be eligible depending on your insurance company, so be sure to inform them of your accident as soon as possible. Get a medical examination When you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident, chances are your body will be feeling it. Even if you don’t experience immediate pain, you will need to be checked out by a medical professional. Whether that is by a paramedic at the scene of the accident or your local GP the next day, you need to be examined as soon as possible. You will also require documentation of your injuries to support a compensation claim. Get your vehicle checked out Even if your vehicle appears to be in good condition, you will need to have it examined by a professional to ensure it’s safe to hit the road again. Take it to your dealership or mechanic to make sure everything is in working order. Seek advice from a motor accident compensation lawyer If you’re injured in a motor accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s actions or negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your situation and determine whether you have grounds to proceed with a claim. Who is entitled to claim compensation in a motor accident? You will usually be eligible to partial or full compensation if you are not completely at fault for the accident. You may be required to provide evidence to prove you are not entirely at fault, so it’s a good idea to photograph the scene of the accident and the damage caused. What can you claim? Depending where you live in Australia, you are generally entitled to compensation to cover expenses such as: Types of motor accidents that are covered in Queensland Some of the types of accidents covered in Queensland include: The specific circumstances of your accident can have an impact on whether or not you are eligible for compensation and the amount you receive. How to make a motor vehicle accident compensation claim Making a compensation claim isn’t something you do every day, and the process can be confusing. Make a start by following these steps: Be sure to make contact with a personal injury expert as soon as possible following your accident, as time limits may apply for making a claim, depending on where you are located. If you’ve been injured in a motor accident, our experienced personal injury lawyers can provide you with free, no-obligation advice. Fill out our online form or call us on 1800 435 754 to discuss your situation.
