Psychological injury after witnessing a motor accident

How this accident occurs

• A person witnesses a collision, aftermath or serious injury scene.
• Symptoms develop after exposure to the motor accident event.
• The insurer questions whether the person has a diagnosed injury or only ordinary distress.

Who may claim

A person who witnessed a motor accident, arrived during the immediate aftermath, or was otherwise directly affected may need advice. Eligibility is not assumed: the claim must establish a recognised psychological or psychiatric injury, causal connection to the motor accident and the statutory requirements that apply.

Realistic examples

• A pedestrian witnesses a severe collision at an intersection.
• A family member arrives shortly after a serious crash and later receives a diagnosis.
• A person develops PTSD, major depression or anxiety symptoms that require treatment and work-capacity assessment.

Common injuries

• Diagnosed PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder or another recognised psychiatric condition.
• Sleep disturbance, avoidance, panic, concentration problems and work-capacity effects need clinical context.
• Physical injury is not required for this page, but medical diagnosis and causation are critical.

Accident-specific fault issues

• Whether the motor accident caused or materially contributed to the diagnosed psychological injury.
• Whether the person’s exposure to the accident event is sufficiently evidenced.
• Whether the insurer classifies the injury as threshold or non-threshold.
• Whether damages can be considered separately from statutory benefits.

Evidence to preserve

• GP, psychologist, psychiatrist and hospital records showing diagnosis and accident causation.
• Witness statements, police event details and evidence of what was seen or experienced.
• Income records, work certificates, treatment plans and medication history.

How can a NSW CTP claim be lodged?

A NSW CTP claim is not one single form for every entitlement. Statutory personal injury benefits, common law damages and death-related claims have different approved forms, evidence requirements and legal tests.

• Statutory personal injury benefits are claimed from the relevant CTP insurer using the current approved Application for Personal Injury Benefits or the NSW Government online claim process. A treating medical practitioner certificate and police event details should be provided where available.
• A common law damages claim is separate. It uses the current Application for Damages Under Common Law and depends on fault, injury classification and statutory requirements. Receiving statutory benefits does not automatically create a damages entitlement.
• A claim may be lodged directly with the insurer through accepted channels such as the NSW Government online claims system, an insurer online claim system, or the written approved form sent by email, personal delivery, facsimile or post where available.
• If a lawyer is instructed, the lawyer can help identify the insurer, prepare the approved forms, gather medical and accident evidence, and lodge the claim or dispute on the client's behalf.
• Where the registration number is known, insurer details can usually be checked through Service NSW registration information or SIRA CTP Assist. If the vehicle is uninsured or unidentified, the claim may need to proceed through the Nominal Defendant pathway.
• For a child or a person unable to make the declaration, the approved forms allow an appropriate parent, guardian, relative, friend or legal personal representative to assist or sign, with their relationship and reason for acting identified.
• If the accident occurred while working, a separate workers compensation claim may also be required and the CTP and workers compensation pathways should be coordinated.
• CTP covers personal injury or death arising from a motor accident. It does not cover ordinary vehicle repairs or property damage, which usually sit with property damage, comprehensive insurance or other recovery pathways.

Time limits, police reporting and late claims

The current NSW scheme has several different timing rules. The safest approach is to report the accident, obtain medical evidence and lodge the correct claim form as early as possible.

• Police reporting: the current SIRA personal injury benefits form says the accident must be reported to police within 28 days. A police event number should be provided, but the form also says a claim can still be submitted while that number is being obtained.
• Statutory benefits: a claim for statutory benefits is generally required within 3 months after the motor accident. A later claim needs a full and satisfactory explanation and must satisfy the Act's late-claim conditions.
• 28-day significance: if a statutory benefits claim is not made within 28 days, weekly payments are generally not backdated for the period before the claim is made unless the Regulation permits it.
• Accidents on or after 1 April 2023: backdated weekly payments may still be considered if the claim is made within 3 months and a full and satisfactory explanation is provided. The Regulation sets factors such as awareness of the right to claim, legal incapacity, illness or injury preventing earlier lodgement, and a 14-day deemed-acceptance rule if the insurer does not reject the explanation.
• Damages: a common law damages claim is generally required within 3 years after the motor accident. A late damages claim requires a full and satisfactory explanation and is assessed separately from any statutory benefits claim.
• Older scheme: accidents before 1 December 2017 were handled under the previous NSW motor accidents scheme and different forms/time limits, including older six-month claim concepts, may apply. This accident-types cluster is written for the post-1 December 2017 scheme unless a page says otherwise.
• Review and dispute deadlines can be shorter and decision-specific. Internal review, medical assessment, merit review and PIC steps should be checked as soon as an insurer decision is received.