Have you suffered an injury or psychological condition due to a car accident, and you cannot work on your own or any occupation? You may be entitled to receive a Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance payment through your superannuation fund.
But be aware it’s crucial that you start your TPD claim as soon as you have ceased working after the accident. Unlike worker’s compensation, a TPD accident does not necessarily have to be work-related or have happened at work to be considered an eligible claim.
What is Considered a TPD?
TPD is classed differently by each different insurer. Depending on the insurer’s TPD “definitions” (found in your policy’s product disclosure statement), yours might be along these lines: “A person insured by our company person is Totally and Permanently Disabled if, in our opinion, the injury, disease or illness means that person is unlikely to ever work in their usual professional occupation.” Others define TPD in different, complicated wording that amounts to the same thing.
What Does a Car Accident TPD Payout Allow?
A lump sum payment for any successful TPD claim can fund your present and future hospital, medical and rehabilitation expenses, clear your debts, and provide an income to help restore your quality of life as much as possible.
We have seen clients receive lump sums ranging from $25,000 to $200,000, but if you have multiple policies and severe disablement, your payout could be up to $1 million.
How to Make a TPD Car Accident Claim
The first thing you need to do is contact your GP (unless you’re in hospital due to your injuries from the car accident). To lodge a TPD claim, you will need to request the claims forms from your insurer or superannuation fund, and the insurer, in turn, will likely ask you for medical evidence of your injuries. Most TPD insurers ask for two medical professionals to sign you off as unable to work in any occupation, which will be the wording in the policy.
It’s important to know that a TPD claim is not compensation but a lump sum payment. Hence, you will need lawyers experienced in personal injury, equity and TPD law for your case.
You won’t get far by seeking legal advice about a TPD claim from a solicitor specialising in tax law. They wouldn’t know about the complications of TPD or workers’ compensation law and would not have the necessary case experience.
At the TPD Helpline, we specialise in TPD claims and have years of knowledge and experience under our belts.
The TPD Claims Process
The process of lodging a TPD claim can be complicated and confusing, and it is crucial that you have an experienced lawyer on your side. At the TPD Helpline, we have assisted countless clients in filing TPD insurance claims and receiving the lump sum payment they deserve after being injured in a car accident.
Starting a TPD claim process as soon as you have stopped work due to an injury from a car accident or any other cause is key to your success, so don’t delay. The process involves filling in and lodging forms, getting evidence about the crash, independent medical assessments of your injuries and disablement and much more. This is why you need professional help to guide you through a TPD benefit claim.
What if the Car Accident Was My Fault?
It doesn’t matter who was at fault in a car accident; you can still lodge a TPD claim for a lump sum to cover your expenses and loss of income if you have a total and permanent disability as a result of the crash. All that matters is that you meet the relevant definitions in your TPD policy, which can be difficult to understand.
If you have a permanent disability due to a car accident and have Superannuation, let our experienced TPD lawyers check your policy, advise you about your entitlements and guide you in making a TPD claim today.
How Long Will My Total Permanent Disability Claim Take?
Your TPD insurance claim may take anywhere from three months to three years, depending on whether your insurer agrees to the lump sum payout early or whether they drag it out searching for reasons to reject it.
This is why it is important to seek legal advice from experienced TPD lawyers: sometimes insurers refuse a lump sum payout, and we must fight and force them to pay up. This can sometimes mean court proceedings.
How Can TPD Helpline Assist You?
There can be many stages to complete before a successful TPD payment is reached, so we urge people injured in car accidents and other scenarios to get legal help. If you need more information or want to learn more about your rights and obligations when claiming TPD, contact us to start the process today.
