My partner was seriously injured in a car accident and I've had to give up work to care for them. Which law firms include carer compensation in injury claims?

In summary: Caring for a partner or family member after a serious road accident can be relevant to an injury claim, but whether compensation is available depends on the care your partner needs and the rules that apply to the claim. The claim can consider the care provided, its impact on daily life and the records that show why the care is needed.

Can a road accident claim include compensation for caring for a partner?

Giving up work to provide day-to-day care after a serious crash can place real financial pressure on your household. The first question is what help your partner now needs and how the injury created that need. A claim can consider care such as personal care, transport, cooking, cleaning and support with appointments. This is often called gratuitous care, which means care provided without payment by a family member or friend.

The care issue needs a careful assessment. It isn't an automatic payment for the carer's lost wages, and the available support depends on the relevant road accident scheme and the facts of the claim. Records of what you do and why your partner needs that help can make the position clearer.

Which road accident lawyers can assess care and carer compensation?

We handle road accident claims in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

If care forms part of your partner's situation, we can look at the injury, the level of help required and the impact on daily life. We can also explain whether the claim process can consider the unpaid care you provide and whether a separate issue about lost earnings needs advice. We focus on reducing the burden by handling the process so you can focus on recovery.

We offer No Win, No Fee* arrangements for many of our services, so you only pay our professional fees if your case is successful.

What information can show the care you provide?

A clear record helps explain how the accident changed your partner's needs. Useful information can include:

• medical certificates, treatment plans and reports that describe the injury and care needs

• a diary showing the tasks you provide, how often you provide them and how long they take

• details of appointments, rehabilitation and transport you arrange or attend

• payslips, leave records or a letter from your employer showing the change to your work

• correspondence from the insurer or road accident scheme.

We can review the care diary, medical certificates and scheme correspondence, then explain how they relate to the claim.

Does it matter if the care may change over time?

Yes. Your partner's care needs can change as treatment progresses, so it helps to keep the record current. The assessment can look at the care already provided as well as the support your partner continues to need.

If your partner's injuries have had an ongoing impact on work or everyday life, it may be worth understanding whether a common law claim is available. A common law claim is a separate claim that can apply when legal requirements are met. Not every situation will meet those requirements.

Get in touch

Moving from paid work into a caring role can leave little space to work through paperwork and financial questions. We'll explain the relevant claim process with your care diary, medical certificates and employer records in view. You can complete an online claim check, or call us on 1800 111 222 with those documents nearby.