Car Accident Medical Bills - Who Pays?

Medical costs and expenses arising from the treatment of injuries following a car accident can be claimed back under the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance Scheme.

Medical bills - who is liable to pay?

Anyone who sustains a physical or psychological injury in a road accident may make a claim against the at fault driver. The at fault driver is not required to pay for your claim, their CTP insurer covers this. However if the at fault party’s vehicle is unregistered or the at fault driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident the CTP insurer may attempt to seek reimbursement from the at fault driver.

Get expert advice now: Smith's are Queensland's only 100% risk-free injury compensation lawyers. Insist on our 'No Win. No Fee. No Catch' ® promise. Check your rights with no risk or obligations now and talk direct to our Principal lawyer, Greg Smith. Call 1800 266 801 OR  check if you can claim

I've paid my medical bills - how do I get reimbursed?

To have your medical bills reimbursed, you will need to make a CTP claim. This is done by lodging a claim form with the CTP insurer of the vehicle who was at fault for the accident.

The CTP insurer will examine the evidence to determine whether their driver was at fault, and investigate your claim.  You may be required to attend medical examinations to assess the extent and long term impacts of your injury. A CTP insurer is required to advise within 6 months whether they admit that their driver was liable for your injuries.

How long will I have to wait to be reimbursed?

CTP claims usually take between 12 and 18 months to settle, however it can take up to 3 years. A CTP insurer is required to tell you within 6 months whether they admit that their driver was liable for your injuries.

Claims may take longer where liability is disputed and where injuries are complex and difficult to assess.  It is important that time is allowed for your injuries to stabilise before the claim is resolved so that the long term impacts can be assessed and you receive an appropriate amount of compensation.

Strict time limits apply - seek legal advice ASAP - In most circumstances, the time limit to start a compensation claim is 3 years from the date of incident. Some processes need to be started much sooner. Seek expert legal advice ASAP. Call us on 1800 266 801 or start a live chat

Can I get reimbursed upfront?

There is no obligation for a CTP insurer to reimburse you for your medical costs before they have admitted or denied liability, 6 months after you file your claim. However if the circumstances of the accident are quite straight forward, some CTP insurers will offer to reimburse some of your treatment costs up front.

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