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You have received medical treatment that was negligent?
Our specialized and experienced team of medical negligence lawyers will fight for the compensation you deserve.

“Motor vehicle accidents” cover accidents involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, buses and even trains.
Anyone injured in a motor vehicle accident, including pedestrians, drivers, riders, passengers, pillion passengers, cyclist or anyone else who uses our roads, for example skateboarders and riders of electronic scooters, may be entitled to receive monetary compensation for the injuries and losses caused by the use of operation of another vehicle.
Compensation is also available to dependants of anyone killed in a road accident or family members of someone who has been seriously injured or killed and who have suffered a psychiatric injury “nervous shock”.
Compensation is available to an injured road user even if the road user was partly to blame for the accident. This is called “contributory negligence”. Claims can also be made where the injury has been caused by an unidentified motor vehicle, for example a hit-and-run, or where the vehicle responsible for the accident is unregistered and uninsured.
All vehicles registered to be driven on our roads are covered by compulsory third party insurance, also known as “green slip insurance”. The insurance cover provides compensation for people who are injured on our roads. There is no cover for the damage caused to vehicle. These are property damage claims and not personal injury cases.

Compensation for road accidents in New South Wales

Currently there are two compensation schemes which operate in New South Wales, depending on when the accident occurred.

Accidents before 1 December 2017

Compensation is paid by a single, “once and for all” tax-free lump sum, which is paid by the insurer to the injured person at the end of the claim.
In most cases the injured person bears the onus of proving that his or her injuries were caused by the fault, i.e. negligence, either totally or partially, of the driver or rider of a “motor vehicle”.
In some cases compensation is paid to the accident victim even if no one is at fault. This is called a blameless accident. An example is an accident involving a car hitting a young child who has darted out from behind a parked car. Another example is if the driver of the car which caused the injury fainted or died of a heart attack.

After 30 November 2017

For injuries suffered in road accidents after 30 November 2017 compensation is paid in two parts.  The first part is a claim for Statutory Benefits to cover medical expenses and partial loss of earnings.  Under the Statutory Benefits scheme, fault is irrelevant.  Medical expenses for injuries which are not classified as being “minor” can be paid indefinitely.  Other claims include partial loss of earnings and the provision of domestic and other assistance where the injuries are extremely severe.
The second part of the 2017 scheme is for Damages to compensate an injured person for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of amenities and loss of earnings and earning capacity, both past and future. These claims do not however include claims for the cost of care such as domestic and external assistance at home, or medical expenses.
A claim for Damages must not be made within 20 months of the date of the accident.
A claim for Damages can only be made if the injured person’s whole person impairment is greater than 10%. Injuries have to be serious for the injured person’s whole person impairment to be greater than 10%. The whole person impairment for physical injuries cannot be added to the whole person impairment for psychiatric injuries. Both must be assessed separately. The percentages cannot be combined.
The amount of compensation paid for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life etc, also known as damages for non-economic loss, depends on many things, including the age of the injured person, the change to the injured person’s lifestyle caused by the injuries, the seriousness of the injuries and so on.
The amount payable for pain and suffering etc is subject to a maximum.  The maximum in 2019/20 was $565,000.  The maximum sum is increased each year on 1 October.

Motor vehicle compensation claims for accidents outside New South Wales

Every state and territory in Australia has its own compensation laws, some are more generous than others. Some schemes are no-fault, for example in Victoria. Some schemes still require fault to be proved, for example in Queensland South Australia.

Time limits

Time limits apply to both schemes for accidents which have occurred in New South Wales.
The time limits can be quite strict. However it is possible to bring claims after the time limits have expired, in exceptional circumstances.

Legal costs

Stacks Goudkamp represents accident victims on a “no win, no pay” basis.  Most of our legal costs are paid at the end of the cases by the insurance company.
No legal costs are payable at all in relation to claims for statutory benefits.  It is in effect a free service.
Stacks Goudkamp pays all the disbursements involved in presenting a claim.  These include fees for medical reports, please reports etc.  Our clients pay nothing.  We obtain a refund of the disbursements we have outlaid from the insurer on the successful conclusion of claims.
The law requires clients and their lawyers to enter into a Costs Agreement. This agreement ensures that you are fully protected from being charged unreasonably high costs. It also provides protection because it entitles you to challenge your lawyers’ legal costs and to have them formally assessed.
In my experience cost disputes with our clients are extremely rare.

Who decides the outcome of claims?

Most compensation claims for injuries suffered in road accidents are decided by Claims Assessors.  These Assessors are appointed by the State government.  They are generally lawyers experienced in handling these type of cases.  I have been a Claims Assessor since 2001.
Where liability is fully disputed by the insurer and/or the injured person lacks the capacity to give instructions because of age or a serious traumatic brain injury claims are decided by a judge in the District Court.
In practice, the vast majority of compensation claims involving motor vehicle accidents are settled out of court, without anyone actually having to give evidence.
For settlements involving accident victims who lack capacity to give instructions e.g. infants or accident victims who have suffered severe brain injury, any settlement must be approved by a judge in the District Court.  This gives the injured person added protection.  If the judge who considers the application for settlement concludes that the proposed settlement is too low he or she will not approve the settlement.

What if the injuries suffered are catastrophic? 

Certain categories of cases, namely quadriplegia, paraplegia, severe brain injury and bilateral amputations qualify for payment of medical expenses, care, accommodation etc for life under the Lifetime Care and Support Scheme (LTCS). This is a no fault scheme.
For accident victims who are accepted into Lifetime Care and Support and who can prove that their injuries were caused by the fault of someone else through the use and operation of a motor vehicle a claim, separate to the benefits from Lifetime Care and Support, can be made for damages, namely compensation for non-economic loss and past and future economic losses, including loss of working and earning capacities. They may also be able to claim the additional expenses of home modifications and travel.
Damages are not available to participants in Lifetime Care and Support if they can’t prove fault.
Stacks Goudkamp’s motor accident team is experienced in serious injury claims and catastrophic claims including amputations, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries (including paraplegia and quadriplegia) and life changing psychiatric conditions. We work with the injured person and their family to build a picture of their life and how the accident has affected them. Our expert personal injury lawyers are passionate about helping their clients, and will treat you with empathy and respect at all times.
To read some examples of the successful claims that we have brought for seriously injured clients, visit our case studies page.

Contact us now to speak to a friendly expert about your or your loved one’s rights to compensation following a serious injury.

Types of Motor Vehicle Accident Compensation Claims

Anyone who has been injured in a motor vehicle accident should contact us no matter what their role in the accident and what the type of vehicle that was involved. Compensation claims can be made for a very wide variety of motor vehicle accidents, and our specialist compensation lawyers are experts in the following areas:
Contact your local team for a personal consultation to find out if you are eligible to make a claim. Call 1800 251 800 or contact us today.

I would just like to thank Tom and Megan, as well as anyone who has been involved behind the scenes. From the get go you have all made me feel well informed & well supported. There was never a moment where I doubted that you all had my best interests at heart & that I could be confident

I would just like to thank Tom and Megan, as well as anyone who has been involved behind the scenes. From the get go you have all made me feel well informed & well supported. There was never a moment where I doubted that you all had my best interests at heart & that I could be confident

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in being guided by your recommendations. I personally have struggled with the process of continuously recounting my experiences and focusing on the prospective issues I am likely to have from my injuries, but I am glad that we all stuck it out to the end & got a result I am very happy with and thankful for.

I could write a book as to how the last 4 years would have been so different if not for Tom and all the team at Stacks and Goudkamp. I was referred to Stacks by a friend while lying in hospital after an accident. Being a working husband, father of 4 and very active,the accident and what the future held was extremely frightening until I spoke with Tom and his team.

I could write a book as to how the last 4 years would have been so different if not for Tom and all the team at Stacks and Goudkamp. I was referred to Stacks by a friend while lying in hospital after an accident. Being a working husband, father of 4 and very active,the accident and what the future held was extremely frightening until I spoke with Tom and his team.

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The support, assistance, advice from the first conversation till even after the settlement was second to none from the team at Stacks. I actually felt part of a family that was there to really help.

Four years on and after the many downs, my children and I have our lives back. We have been able to rebuild a life that now suits us post accident.

We are unable to THANK YOU all enough, but know that you have changed our lives for the better in so many ways since the accident.

Wishing you all the best in everything to you and your team.

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My case looked destined for an average result many times, but this was where Cali dug in. She probably wouldn’t want me to say this (so as not to set a precedent), but the late-night calls and emails only demonstrated to me how hard working and dedicated to her work she is.

My case looked destined for an average result many times, but this was where Cali dug in. She probably wouldn’t want me to say this (so as not to set a precedent), but the late-night calls and emails only demonstrated to me how hard working and dedicated to her work she is.

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She surprised me many times by knowing things about my file that I wouldn’t have expected her to know. And most importantly, she was personally responsible for a late negotiation which saw my settlement amount increase significantly. There is no way of avoiding how scripted this might sound, but it’s an absolute fact. Cali, changed my life, by allowing me to find a way to get my life back.

Forever Grateful

I am so thankful there are people like Tom and Karina who help families like mine. We had a terrible car accident with the whole family which killed my father and seriously injured my little brother and me. Our dream holiday in Australia turned into a nightmare and when we got back home to Germany we did not even get time to grieve.

I am so thankful there are people like Tom and Karina who help families like mine. We had a terrible car accident with the whole family which killed my father and seriously injured my little brother and me. Our dream holiday in Australia turned into a nightmare and when we got back home to Germany we did not even get time to grieve.

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Our life changed completely in one second. We were so lucky Tom was recommended to us by one of his former clients! Tom and Karina were very understanding and we felt that they really care about their clients. When we met them in Germany they took a lot of time for us and answered all our questions. They were also very patient when we took ages to answer emails because it sometimes was too hard for us to focus on the accident. I have to admit I was a bit worried at the beginning because I did not know anything about laws in Australia but Tom and Karina took a lot of time to explain everything to me and made sure I understood. In the end everything happened exactly as they had been telling us or it even turned out better.

I would like to sincerely thank Tom and Karina for their incredible advice, support and expertise provided to me and my family throughout our claim process journey. We were provided an exceptional level of service throughout my motorcycle accident claim. Every step of the process both Tom and Karina communicated openly so we were well aware of what was happening along the way.

I would like to sincerely thank Tom and Karina for their incredible advice, support and expertise provided to me and my family throughout our claim process journey. We were provided an exceptional level of service throughout my motorcycle accident claim. Every step of the process both Tom and Karina communicated openly so we were well aware of what was happening along the way.

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Karina and Tom were kind, empathetic and caring. They made multiple home visits to our home 6 hours away from their office and were very genuine in wanting to know our story.

We will never be able to thank them both enough for guiding and representing me. I was awarded an excellent outcome based on the hard work of this incredible team.

My family and I are now able to move on with our lives. We will be forever grateful for their amazing professionalism and dedication to my case.

I’d like to pass on my sincere thanks and appreciation for all the hard work and support that I have received over the years during a very difficult time after my career came to a grinding halt in the NSW Police Force. I was privileged to have been provided with excellent legal advice and care during my Work Injury Damages and my TPD claims.

I’d like to pass on my sincere thanks and appreciation for all the hard work and support that I have received over the years during a very difficult time after my career came to a grinding halt in the NSW Police Force. I was privileged to have been provided with excellent legal advice and care during my Work Injury Damages and my TPD claims.

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Cali Baldwin went above and beyond for me at all times, her level of compassion and empathy was amazing during my darkest days. Cali successfully settled a very difficult matter with the Insurer and never wavered in her approach. I am very grateful for the service and level of care that Cali and her team provided me during very difficult periods.

I would highly recommend Cali as finding someone who is empathetic and sincere to advocate for you when your knowledge of litigation is limited. Cali guided me out of some very difficult circumstances as my case was quite complex and still managed to successfully claim. I can now move on with my life in a positive sense and am very grateful to have met such a wonderful woman.

It is hard to put five years into one letter of how thankful I am to have had you by my side. You have been my rock in this very difficult time. You have been so understanding, compassionate, and professional. Karina, you have been so driven to making sure my injury wouldn’t affect my entire life and determined to get the best outcome for me and my family.

It is hard to put five years into one letter of how thankful I am to have had you by my side. You have been my rock in this very difficult time. You have been so understanding, compassionate, and professional. Karina, you have been so driven to making sure my injury wouldn’t affect my entire life and determined to get the best outcome for me and my family.

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There were many times I wanted to give up and was very close to ending it all for a less than ideal amount, but your support and compassion restored my faith in the system. I can’t describe or show how thankful I am for all the work you and the team put in, the weekend emails and late night calls to keep me in the know.

When it was time to settle, your fearlessness in negotiating an amount showed as we were able to settle for more than we could ever of dreamt of. You have set us up for life, and made it a lot easier to re-establish my life with my injury.

It is bittersweet as I feel like I’m saying goodbye to a dear friend and support network even though you have said you’re still here if I’m in need.

For loss of a better word, Thank you so much for everything!

My apologies for not having written earlier, to be honest I was taking a big break from having to think about our case. Firstly, I would like to thank you for being such a genuine and approachable person during what has been possibly the most stressful time of our life.

My apologies for not having written earlier, to be honest I was taking a big break from having to think about our case. Firstly, I would like to thank you for being such a genuine and approachable person during what has been possibly the most stressful time of our life.

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You were always available to explain and advise us of different issues as they arose, and your demeanour was reassuring at times when we both felt quite overwhelmed. You were far superior to both of the barristers and we appreciate having had you on our team.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE COMPENSATION CLAIMS

During the course of your personal injury claim Stacks Goudkamp will not ask you to pay any fees and/or expenses associated with your claim.

No win no fee means we will only be paid for the work that we do and the expenses we incur if you win your case, i.e receive compensation.

Stacks Goudkamp offers no win no fee in all personal injury cases. These include

  • Medical negligence
  • Motor accident injuries
  • Workers compensation
  • Public liability
  • Superannuation claims and TPD
  • Travel accidents
  • Sexual abuse claims

No win no fee does not apply to Employment Law matters.

In workers compensation claims once a matter has been accepted by the Independent Review Office (IRO, formerly WIRO) our fees are normally paid by IRO – not you – irrespective of the outcome.

Yes, at your free initial consultation and as part of our initial claim advice, one of our expert personal injury lawyers will explain our no win no fee agreement to you.

The amount of compensation you are able to claim varies from case to case. Some relevant factors include: The types of injuries you have sustained and the severity of those injuries.
  • Your age
  • Where and how the accident occurred
  • Past and future income losses and loss of work and earning capacity
  • Personal care, domestic, handyman and/or gardening assistance required because of your injuries and restrictions
  • Special equipment and assistive devices you require because of your injuries
  • Medical and associated expenses, including medication and ongoing medical reviews
  • Pain and suffering, and any permanent impairment, disabilities and restrictions that you suffer

Stacks Goudkamp’s expert personal injury lawyers always fight for their clients to achieve the best possible outcome and to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve!
Our fees are based on the amount and complexity of work involved in your claim as well as the level of expertise of the people working on your claim. Our full bases for charging legal fees will be discussed with you at the start of your claim. Any amounts to be deducted for our fees will be clearly explained to you before your case is finalised. One of the important matters always considered in determining our fees is the net amount of compensation you will receive (the amount you receive in your pocket). We are always flexible and reasonable when it comes to our fees.

MEET THE TEAM

Tom Goudkamp OAM

Managing Director
Tom is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law. He has had over 40 years of experience successfully acting for seriously injured accident victims.

Anna Tavianatos

Practice Group Leader
Anna is an experienced and personable personal injury lawyer who specialises in assisting injured workers. Anna primarily handles Workers Compensation

Karina Goodall

Practice Group Leader | Director
Karina joined Stacks Goudkamp in 2014. She manages one of the firm’s four practice groups under Managing Director, Tom Goudkamp.

WHAT CAN I CLAIM COMPENSATION FOR?

Being a victim of medical negligence can have a severe impact on your life and financial position. If you have been injured due to negligent medical treatment you may be entitled to claim the compensation.

It is important to understand that compensation is awarded for the way you are worse off as a result of the medical negligence, and not just for the fact that negligence occurred. For this reason, Stacks Goudkamp will take the time to understand your circumstances before, and after the medical incident so that we can better craft your claim for compensation.

Once we truly understand your personal, family, and working circumstances we can maximise the compensation that you can claim under the various heads of damages that are available. In NSW damages for medical negligence claims are assessed under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW).

These include allowances for actual losses, including both past, and likely future losses.

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Being a victim of medical negligence can have a severe impact on your life and financial position. If you have been injured due to negligent medical treatment you may be entitled to claim the compensation.
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Such as:

The Stacks Goudkamp way

We are dedicated and the leading No Win, No Fee personal injury lawyers in NSW. For over 40 years, Stacks Goudkamp has been helping injured Australians to receive the compensation they need and deserve.

We are dedicated and the leading No Win, No Fee personal injury lawyers in NSW. For
over 40 years, Stacks Goudkamp has been helping injured Australians to receive the
compensation they need and deserve.

Reach Out

Call or Email us to start the process and to receive expert legal advice for personal injury or compensation claims. Seek the professional support you deserve on (02) 4058 2715 or enquire online through our website.

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We are just a call or email away. Do not struggle with complex personal injury claims processes and in dealing with insurance companies on your own. We are here to listen and to help you to get the compensation you deserve.

Free Initial Consultation

We will not charge you for a comprehensive initial consultation where we will listen to your needs and provide you with free detailed advice. Compassion is what drives us. You can be sure that your questions will be answered.

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Here, we will explain the next steps and what it takes to achieve the best possible outcome.

No Win, No Fee

We will not require you to pay our legal fees, or any expenses (disbursements), unless we win your personal injury claim i.e you receive compensation. We know that being injured can result in terrible financial pressures.

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We pride ourselves on giving every injured Australian the peace of mind that we will look after them by acting on a no win no fee basis for their compensation claims.

CONTACT US

Contact your local team for a free consultation to find out if you are eligible for compensation

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I could write a book as to how the last 4 years would have been different if not for Tom and his team.
The support, assistance, advice from the first conversation till even after the settlement was second to none from the team at Stacks Goudkamp.
Four years on and after many downs, my children and I have our lives back.
We are unable to THANK YOU enough, but know that you have changed our lives for the better in so many ways since the accident.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Most medical negligence claims are not clear cut. The way we determine whether a person has a medical negligence claim is by conducting a thorough investigation. This investigation involves taking a detailed history from the person involved and any witnesses available. We then request a complete copy of their medical records. Once we have all the material we require, we analyse it carefully. We then qualify an independent like-trained expert to comment on whether they consider the standard of treatment and care provided to that person was acceptable.

If that expert is prepared to criticise the treatment or care as being below an acceptable standard, then it is only at that time that we can establish that a person actually has a medical negligence claim.

A medical negligence claim can be brought against any person or entity who has a duty of care in providing competent and reasonable medical treatment to a patient. Medical negligence claims are most commonly brought against public and private hospital medical and nursing staff, as well as specialist doctors. However, claims can also be brought against:
  • General Practitioners
  • Radiologists
  • Dental Professionals
  • Chiropractors and Osteopaths
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Facilities responsible for a person’s care such as a Correctional Centre
A claim can be made a against more than one person or entity should multiple medical professionals breach their duty of care towards a person.
Medical negligence is a complex and highly technical area of law, and making a medical negligence claim requires experienced and expert lawyers to assist you with the process.
In New South Wales, there is a time limit in which a person can bring a medical negligence claim. This time limit is 3 years from the date of discoverability, which is the first date a person ought to have known:
  • That an injury has occurred.
  • That the injury was caused by the fault of another person.
  • That the injury was sufficiently serious to justify bringing a claim.

As can be seen, there are some circumstances in which a person can bring a claim for an injury which occurred more than 3 years ago. However, to determine whether this is possible requires a detailed understanding of your situation to help us advise you further.

Every medical negligence claim is uniquie, and brings its own challenges with individual facts and issues. Therefore, there is no typical timeframe within which medical negligence claims may resolve. In our experience, medical negligence claims can take anywhere from 2 to 4 years to resolve. How long each claim takes to resolve depends on a lot of different factors, many of which are outside our control. The main factors which impact how long a medical negligence claim can take to resolve include:
  • The time taken to access medical records
  • The complexity of the medical issues involved in the case
  • The availability of experts
How vigorously the claim is defended by the defendant lawyers.

Being injured as a result of a medical professional’s negligent treatment and care can be life changing. Unfortunately, it often results in permanent pain and suffering, ongoing treatment expenses, requirement for care and loss of income. Bringing a medical negligence claim is about your future financial security.

Although, compensation is unable to change what has happened to a victim of medical negligence, it can go a long way towards alleviating any financial stresses which people often find themselves in as a result of the injury they have suffered.

Stacks Goudkamp are highly experienced and specialised personal injury lawyers. Our medical negligence lawyers specialise only in medical negligence litigation. This means they are a dedicated expert in the area and can ensure you receive the very best outcome to which you are entitled.

I could write a book as to how the last 4 years would have been different if not for Tom and his team.
The support, assistance, advice from the first conversation till even after the settlement was second to none from the team at Stacks Goudkamp.
Four years on and after many downs, my children and I have our lives back.
We are unable to THANK YOU enough, but know that you have changed our lives for the better in so many ways since the accident.

CONTACT US

Contact your local team for a free consultation to find out if
you are eligible for compensation