Physiotherapy for Cycling Accidents (CTP Claim)
Can Cyclists lodge a CTP Claim?
CTP (Compulsory Third Party) insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage for personal injury claims arising from a motor vehicle. This includes cars, trucs, motor bikes, cyclists and pedestrian accidents. Essentially any accident caused due to a motor vehicle is covered under a CTP Claim.
Cyclists can lodge a CTP claim if they are injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle. If you’ve been injured on your bike through being hit from behind, a driver failing to give way, a close pass, or dooring, it’s likely you can lodge a CTP claim.
Knocked off your bike:
This is the most common scenario for cyclists. A driver was too close to the bike and caused them to get knocked off their bike, resulting in an injury. You should lodge a CTP claim for personal injury benefits as soon as you can. This will allow for lost wages and essential medical treatment under the CTP claim to start sooner rather than later.
Knocked off your bike in a hit and run:
If you’ve been knocked off your bike in a hit-and-run accident in NSW, where the driver failed to stop and can’t be traced, you may still be able to claim bike accident compensation. The NSW CTP scheme allows you to apply for compensation from the ‘Nominal Defendant’ where the at-fault vehicle can’t be identified.
When can you lodge a CTP Claim for a bike accident?
In NSW, it’s likely you can lodge a CTP claim if you meet the following two conditions:
- There was a car or another vehicle involved in your cycling accident
- You’ve had time off work to recover, been admitted to hospital, or incurred any medical or treatment expenses due to the accident
- The NSW CTP scheme is a no fault scheme. Even if you were at fault or partly at fault, you may still be able to lodge a CTP claim and receive essential treatment.
Common cycling accident injuries that qualify for a CTP claims:
- Broken collar bone or separated shoulder
- Fractures
- Broken or bruised ribs
- Cuts and abrasions
- Head or brain injury
Threshold Injuries
Your injuries will be classified as ‘threshold’ or ‘above threshold’, and this classification will determine how your claim is assessed.
- Threshold injuries are less serious cycling accident injuries like bruising, cuts, and abrasions, but not fractures. Threshold injuries include musculoskeletal conditions such as general muscular pains due to the accident.
- Above-threshold injuries are more serious cycling injuries which include fractures, head or brain injuries, or injuries that require surgery.
How do I claim my full cycling accident compensation entitlements?
- Report the accident to the police. This is important, as you’ll need a police event number to claim your entitlements. This can also depend on the insurer, not all insurance companies will require you to provide a police event number.
- You’ll need details of the vehicle involved to identify the CTP insurer. However, you can still lodge a CTP claim provided you have other evidence to substantiate your claim.
- Keep records of any witnesses and photos of the accident scene. Helmet or bike camera footage can be especially helpful with cycling accident claims.
- See your GP and get a full medical assessment. Even if you don’t need to go to hospital, it’s important to get a medical assessment as some injuries can worsen over time, and if your injuries do worsen you might need time off work or further treatment. It’s paramount your GP lists all of your symptoms on your medical certificate, regardless of how minor the symptom may be. Symptoms can worsen days or even weeks after the accident.
- If you need any time off work or treatment, submit an ‘application for personal injury benefits’. This will allow you to receive 80-95% of your lost wages, covered by the CTP claim.
- It’s important to submit your claim within 28 days of the accident to be eligible for your lost wages to be backdated to the date of the accident. The final date for lodgement is three months from the date of the accident.
Physiotherapy Treatment for CTP Claims:
- Physiotherapy treatment is covered under your CTP claim with no out of pocket charges to the patient
- We directly bill the insurer once you have been issued with a claim number
- We provide in clinic sessions in our Parramatta clinic
- We also provide mobile Physiotherapy services for CTP claims.
- We are passionate about helping patients reach their pre injury levels.
- Reach out to us if you have any questions.
Contact Us:
Do you need assistance with your CTP Claim? We are an experienced team of Physiotherapists specialising in the treatment of CTP Claims. You can call us anytime to have a confidential discussion with our Physiotherapists. For more information on how we can further assist you, please call our clinic number on 0479 080 800 or send us an email on [email protected] for further details. Our Physiotherapists are Medicare, NDIS, and Work Cover approved, specialising in injury management and rehabilitation to get you back on track.
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