The Importance of Third Party Insurance

It’s a concern for every motor vehicle owner in South Australia that it is lawful to be on the road without third party property insurance, writes TGB Personal Injury Lawyer Barney Gask.

The insurance included in your registration covers any damages for injuries caused by your negligence, but if you have an accident, it’s not your fault and the other vehicle is uninsured, you then have to chase up the driver to recover costs for the damage to your vehicle.

If you are not insured, you could be the one being chased for thousands of dollars in damages.

Can I pursue legal action to recover my costs?

The first step taken is we send a letter to the responsible person encouraging them to have their insurer contact us. If they are uninsured it is common to have no response at all.

The only option in that case is to issue court proceedings, and if it’s under $6,000 of damages it is a minor civil claim. This means that if you’re the one chasing the money, you have to run the claim yourself without legal representation. This process can be a big time waster for everyone involved. Having third party property insurance solves the problem.

In my view, it should be compulsory for every motor vehicle owner to have at least third party property insurance. While it does cost a little more, it is imperative and something every motor vehicle driver should have to ensure they are protected from a potential bill of thousands of dollars.

For help with your insurance claim, other legal assistance or further information contact your nearest TGB office.