Have you been injured in a car accident? You may be eligible to make a claim. What is a CTP claim?

A CTP (Compulsory Third Party) claim is an insurance claim for a lump sum to compensate you for injuries sustained in a car accident and the effects of those injuries, including but not limited to:
– Medical and rehabilitation costs to treat your injuries; and
– Lost income resulting from the injuries.

Can I make a CTP claim?

In Queensland, you can make a CTP claim if you:
1. Were injured in a car accident; and
2. The car accident was not your fault, or only partially your fault.
If you are a passenger in the at-fault car, you can still make a claim.
Who do I make a claim against?

CTP claims are made against the CTP insurer of the at-fault car. CTP insurance is compulsory with car registration. Every registered car has a CTP insurer.

In Queensland, we have a voluntary CTP insurance scheme in that you can nominate which insurer you would like your CTP policy with. As such, there are a number of different CTP insurers in Queensland that we deal with, such as Suncorp, RACQ, Allianz and QBE.

Why should I make a CTP claim?

Why should you be out of pocket for expenses and losses associated with an injury that was not your fault?

1. Making a CTP claim allows you to access funding for medical and treatment expenses from the CTP insurer. If your claim is accepted and your medical treatment approved by the insurer, they will usually fund most of your medical and treatment costs as verified by your doctor. These expenses include items such as:
– GP consults
– Physiotherapy
– Investigations such as X-Rays, CT scans, Ultrasounds, MRIs
– Psychological treatment
– Medications
– Travel associated with treatment. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

2. If your injuries are long-term, that is, they persist after 9-12 months, then a CTP claim can also serve to compensate you for possible future expenses and losses arising from those injuries.

Sometimes, an injury can be serious enough to affect your earning potential, which will result in future losses of income. This can happen due to reasons such as:
– You can no longer do your usual job and require retraining and reskilling
– Your injury prevents you from heavy lifting and manual handling
– You can only work part-time instead of full time
– You will need time off work to rest
– Your general productivity, efficiency and capacity has decreased

What can I claim for?

1. Pain and suffering from the injuries themselves (this will be a fixed amount depending on the severity of your injuries and the medical evidence)
2. Past and future medical and rehabilitation costs
3. Past economic loss
4. Future economic loss
5. Past and future care costs (if applicable).

Past economic loss is the income you have lost as a result of your injuries – eg. due to time off work.

Future economic loss typically makes up the largest portion of your lump-sum payment. It is an amount paid to compensate you for the risk of future lost income due to your injuries. How much will depend on the impact of your injuries on your ability to work.

The amount of compensation available to an individual in each of these areas is dependant on the evidence. The injured party needs to show through documentation and medical records their losses and how they have been affected. If you are ever involved in a car accident, it is a good idea to keep
copies of all documents and make notes from the time of the accident onwards.

Why should I use lawyers for my CTP claim?

The CTP process is complex and may take 12 – 18 months or more. As your representatives, we will guide and support you through this process so that it is as easy as possible and you can focus on your treatment and recovery.

Most importantly, we will gather evidence to prove your case and provide you with advice so that you can make informed decisions throughout the process and regarding any offers of settlement made to you.

How much the CTP insurer will pay you is determined by:
– Evidence of your injuries and impact on your work;
– Evidence of expenses and any other losses;
– Your personal circumstances and history;
– Previous Court decisions in matters with similarities;

The negotiation stage is where we really shine. We will prepare your evidence, your case, and advocate and negotiate on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
Have any questions? Call our friendly team for a free of charge and a no-obligation initial consultation.
Phone 1800-GET-HELP (1800 438 435)

Lunar New Year is on Friday 12 February this year and it’s the lucky Year of the Ox.

It’s called the Lunar New Year because it marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars which are regulated by the cycles of the moon and sun. The Lunar New Year (often called Chinese New Year) is celebrated by many East Asian countries.

The zodiac sign of the Ox occupies the second position in the Chinese Zodiac. Those born under the influence of the Ox are fortunate to be stable and persevering.

The typical Ox is a tolerant person with a strong character.

Oxen are the hard workers in the background, intelligent and reliable, but never demanding praise. Years of the Ox are: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021. Were you born in the “Year of the Ox”?

Members of our team born in the year of the Ox are your best advocates, intelligent, reliable, guiding you in your legal and life decisions.   At Phoenix Law & Associates, we have a multilingual team to help you rise from the ashes.

Chinese Zodiac Calendar
While you may have heard of the 12-year Chinese zodiac calendar, represented by 12 different animals, it’s actually far more complicated. A year isn’t just categorized by its zodiac animal. There’s also a complex sexagenary cycle — a combination of one of 10 heavenly stems and one of 12 earthly branches.
For example, February 12 marks the beginning of the xin chou year, according to the sexagenary cycle. “Xin” represents the heavenly stem for the element metal, while “chou” is the earthly branch symbol for ox, making it the Year of the Metal Ox.
Thierry Chow, a Hong Kong-based feng shui master
“The year of xin chou will have a strong emphasis on the yin metal element,” she says. “The metal element represents anything sparkly from jewelry to the needle of a syringe. So we can see a bigger emphasis on industries related to metal in 2021.
“The ox, in Chinese culture, is a hardworking zodiac sign. It usually signifies movements so, hopefully, the world will be less static than last year and get moving again in the second half of the year.”
Many people take the 60-year calendar very seriously and believe each person’s own birth sign will be affected differently by the year’s heavenly stems and earthly branches. So the calendar plays an important role in making huge life decisions for the year ahead, such as whether they should get married or start a business.

Lunar New Year 2021 The Year of the Ox

February 12 marks the start of the Year of the Metal Ox.
Normally, Lunar New Year fairs will be set up during the last days of the lunar year, most selling trinkets and flowers for the new year. But because of the pandemic, many cities have downsized or cancelled their festivities.
The year usually wraps up with a big family reunion dinner on Lunar New Year’s Eve, which falls on February 11 this year.
The Menu
The menu is carefully chosen to include dishes associated with luck, including fish (the Chinese word for it sounds like the word for “surplus”), puddings (symbolizes advancement) and foods that look like gold ingots (like dumplings).
Do wear red, don’t wash your hair. or buy shoes.
Families tend to have different sets of rules and traditions, but most will bless each other with auspicious words like “san tai gin hong” or “shen ti jian kang” (wish you good health).
There are plenty of other rules and superstitions attached to the Lunar New Year. For instance, don’t wash or cut your hair on the first day of the new year. The Chinese character for hair is the first character in the word for prosper. Therefore washing or cutting it off is seen as washing your fortune away.
You’ll also want to avoid purchasing footwear for the entire lunar month, as the term for shoes (haai) sounds like losing and sighing in Cantonese. Do, however, wear red. It’s associated with luck and prosperity.
All year round,  Phoenix Law & Associates work hard to help you with your prosperity, business decisions and legal needs. 

 

Aussie Road Etiquette Guide

Your blinker is your best mate. Always let others know you’re changing lanes, snapping a park or turning into a driveway.

A smile and wave goes a long way. It’s nice to be nice, so give thanks to fellow drivers.

Don’t be a tailgater, hater. People like their personal space. So do cars.

Want to be seen? Dim your high beam. No one likes a blinding light heading their way.

You go, I go. When merging, let other cars in and they’ll return the favour.  It’s all in the karma.

Park as if you’re passing your Ps. Be careful, precise and give other cars their space.

It’s wrong to be right. Unless you’re overtaking, stay in the left lane.

Turn the other cheek, resist the beep. Take a breath before hitting that horn. It can stress out other drivers and we don’t want that.

No one likes a backseat driver. Not driving? No worries, sit back and relax.

Everyone’s on their own journey. Literally. Remember we’re all trying to get to where we’re going in the safest possible way. ( With thanks , ING Insurance)

Our Personal Injury Lawyers Are Here for You  When you have suffered losses due to the actions of someone else, it’s important to know what you’re entitled to in terms of compensation. If you’re not sure what to do in this frustrating time, the Brisbane personal injury lawyers at Phoenix Law are here to help.

Whether you were injured in a car accident, at work, or on private or public property, our knowledgeable and compassionate lawyers can help you understand and uphold your rights.

Get In touch anytime – info@phoenix-law.com.au 1800GETHELP
or +61 (07) 3180 0908 . #phoenixlaw #accidentinjury #roadetiquette #roadsafety

At Phoenix Law, We Speak Your Language, and we understand your customs.  

“In Japan, the New Year is the biggest celebration of the year. We have a proverb in Japan, “the total for the year is on New Year’s Day”. In other words, we symbolise the first of January of each year as being your new year coming. So most Japanese people will visit their local temples and shrines to pay respects to their ancestors and gods and pray for the prosperous year.

Traditionally the New Year dish In Japan is called “Osechi”. Osechi are traditional foods which are the variety of Japanese traditional foods packed together in “Jubako” which is special box that resembles bento boxes. It is prepared before the New Year so that the kitchen would not be used to give “the Kitchen God” rest during the new year festive period.

All of the ingredients in Osechi are meant for good health, fortune and prosperity for a year. For example, “Black beans” are eaten to encourage work and academic achievement. Prawns have long hair with bended backs, so that it symbolises old people and you eat them to pray for longevity.

Salted Herring Roe is eaten to pray for the prosperity of descendants. Mashed sweet potato with chestnuts is believed to raise money luck and fortune, and  Sweet Omelet is eaten to improve your knowledge. ” Hideki Shimizu,  Legal Practice Director, Lawyer , Registered Migration Agent (MARN 9900985)

Japanese Lawyers plus thirteen other languages 

In today’s transnational world, finding advisors and Japanese lawyers that can communicate with you about your legal needs in the language you’re most comfortable speaking is a must. At Phoenix Law, we are proud to be a multilingual law firm that celebrates diversity. We strive to assist you with your domestic and international affairs in the language you prefer speaking. At Phoenix Law, we speak thirteen languages in addition to English.  CALL US anytime at 1800GETHELP –  or read more at https://www.phoenix-law.com.au/