By: barristar
Most people assume a car accident claim runs against the other driver and stops there. In practice, liability can extend to an employer where the driver was working, to a vehicle owner who lent the car knowing it was unroadworthy, to a manufacturer where a defect contributed, and to a road authority where signage or surface conditions played a part.
In Victoria, the Transport Accident Commission covers medical costs and income support regardless of fault, but a common-law damages claim requires both fault and a serious injury determination. Those are separate tests and they are assessed at different times.
If you were injured, take photographs before the vehicles are moved, get the names of anyone who stopped, and see a doctor the same day even if you feel able to walk away. Gaps in the medical record are the single most common reason a genuine claim becomes difficult to run.
Liability after a car accident is rarely limited to the other driver.
