Worried about how you will pay for care years after a serious accident?
Running up big medical bills is one of the greatest fears after a crash on Victoria's roads. They don't end just because you leave the hospital.
Here's the problem:
Most people focus on the payout number. They fail to consider what happens in 10, 20 or 30 years when you will still require:
- Daily care
- Therapy and rehab
- Equipment and home changes
Your future needs matter just as much as your needs today.
In this guide, you'll see how long-term care is accounted for (or not) in compensation in Victoria. And what you can do about it.
Ready? Here goes...
Inside This Guide:
- Why Future Care Costs Matter So Much
- How TAC Compensation Is Split
- How Long-Term Needs Get Assessed
- What TAC Serious Injury Payout Examples Show
- 4 Ways To Protect Your Future Care
Why Future Care Costs Matter So Much
Major injuries are very unlikely to heal within a predictable timeframe. Spinal or brain trauma can alter your lifestyle, occupation and level of independent care forever.
The figures are large. In 2024-25, the TAC funded $1.87 billion in care and benefits for over 43,000 people injured on Victorian roads.
That's a ton of support. But it also shows how expensive recovery really is.
Hospital stays are also getting longer. The latest TAC stats indicate that 14.5% of people are hospitalised after single vehicle crashes for 14 days and more.
Extended hospital stays lead to prolonged recovery periods... And prolonged recoveries create lasting expenses that can span years.
How TAC Compensation Is Split
Here's something most people don't realise...
In Victoria, compensation after a transport accident usually comes in two parts:
- No-fault benefits: Reasonable medical treatment, care and support costs are covered by the TAC regardless of who was at fault for the accident.
- Common law damages: A lump sum you may be entitled to claim if someone else was to blame and your injury is deemed "serious".
This split matters a lot for future care. Why? Because most of the time a common law lump sum will include pain and suffering and lost earnings. Future medical and care expenses are generally dealt with separately. The TAC pays those as you require them.
That's also why you'll see such a wide range in TAC serious injury payout examples Victoria-wide. The lump sum you receive from a serious injury claim compensates you for your pain and suffering and lost wages. Long-term care is often funded by the TAC in addition to the settlement. Two people with the same injury can receive vastly different payouts depending on age, profession and how it impacts their day to day life.
Makes sense, right?
How Long-Term Needs Get Assessed
So how does the TAC work out what you will need in the future?
Everything begins with comprehensive medical documentation. Your doctors, therapists and care providers can establish your needs over time. They will typically focus on:
- Your type of injury: Injuries to your brain, spinal cord or multiple trauma may require ongoing care for the rest of your life.
- Your daily living needs: Help with showering, dressing, cooking and getting around.
- Your home and transport: Ramps, rails, modified cars and special equipment.
- Your life expectancy: The longer the care period, the bigger the total cost.
Care plans for the most seriously injured clients can span years into the future. As your situation changes, your plan can change with it. If your injury deteriorates, or you develop a new issue years down the road, your support can be amended to match.
And here's the kicker...
Your needs at 30 will not be the same as your needs at 60. Careers age. Equipment gets worn. Properties need adapting again. Good assessments plan for everything.
What TAC Serious Injury Payout Examples Show
Look at enough of the TAC serious injury payout examples Victoria has seen, and a clear pattern appears.
The biggest payouts usually go to people who:
- Were young at the time of the accident
- Lost the ability to work for many years
- Have injuries that affect almost every part of daily life
For example, consider a young tradie who injures his spine. He could potentially lose out on decades of income. This increases the loss of income component of the payout. However, the TAC may pay for his lifetime of care, equipment and house modifications.
Conversely, a person who is nearing retirement age at the time of their accident may receive a lower lump sum... Even if their injury is equally serious. The reason for this is that there are fewer working years to compensate for. However, their care needs may be met by the TAC for their lifetime.
The takeaway? The headline number can be deceptive. You can't look at one without the other. Consider the lump sum AND continuing support together.
With Victoria Police reporting 288 lives lost on Victorian roads in 2025 (up from 284 in 2024), it seems road trauma isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Which means more and more families are being faced with these questions following serious crashes.
4 Ways To Protect Your Future Care
Looking to see if your long-term needs are being taken care of? Read on...
Keep Every Record
Keep every receipt, medical report and letter from your treating doctors. Medical notes and records of care are evidence of how your injury impacts you. Without them, it can be difficult to prove what you will need in the future.
Be Honest About The Bad Days
Many folks minimize their discomfort for fear of appearing burdensome. Don't do this. Be honest with your physicians and therapists about how you feel. Whether you're having a good day or a bad day. Your treatment will only be as effective as your team's knowledge of your situation.
Think Long-Term
Ask yourself questions like:
- Will you need more help as you get older?
- Will your home need changes later on?
- Who will care for you if your family can't?
These questions help shape a care plan that actually lasts.
Get Expert Advice Early
Compensation under TAC can be complex. There are maximum amounts, time limits and qualifying criteria to consider. Early advice can prevent expensive errors. It also ensures your future care needs are considered from the start, rather than being an afterthought once it's too late to remedy.
(There's that "plan ahead" rule in action again.)
The Road Ahead
Future care costs are one of the most significant components of any award you may receive following a serious accident. In Victoria, they are generally dealt with by means of:
- Ongoing TAC benefits -- for treatment, care and support
- Common law lump sums -- for pain, suffering and lost earnings
Learning how these two pieces fit together is essential for securing your future. Document, advocate, plan for the long term.
Because a serious injury isn't just about today... It's about every year that follows.
