Transport Accidents refer to injuries sustained during the operation of personal and commercial motor vehicles, bicycles, trams, and motorbikes. Transport Accidents can affect the drivers of vehicles, pedestrians, bystanders, and responders to accidents. Transport Accidents can affect many people, and we are all at risk of experiencing one in our lives, due to the extent to which we are dependent on road-based transportation to engage with the spatial demands of our lives. Given this dependent relationship between cars and the community, the Transport Accident Commission was established in 1987, to provide compensation "in respect of persons who are injured or die as a result of transport accidents."

 

A key feature of the Act establishing the Transport Accident Commission, being the Transport Accident Act 1986, was the combination of no-fault and common law benefits. The term "No Fault" means that care is provided regardless of who was at fault in an accident, a concept which first emerged in 1971 with the establishment of the Road Accident Hospital Accounts Committee, or the RAHAC, which paid 70% of an injured person's hospital bills through two insurers (SIO and RACV) before compensation matters were considered by the courts. This notion led to the formal establishment of the Motor Accident Board in 1974, which enshrined the no-fault concept into law and allowed payment of both medical expenses and weekly income, until such time as the accident victim's common law claim was settled. The MAB was disbanded following financial insolvency, but the notion of a no-fault provider of medical and support services was effective enough that the TAC was established in 1986. 

Transport Accidents have the potential to cause a broad spectrum of injuries. When two vehicles strike each other, when a vehicle strikes a body, or when a body comes to rest abruptly as a result of the rapid deceleration of its transport or due to impact with an external object, the relative momentum of those bodies at the time of impact generates physical force that has the potential to cause injury. The fragility of the human body in movement has been well-understood throughout history, regardless of whether the injury was caused by fall from height, fall from a horse, or tumbling. Understanding this fragility and minimising the risks it presents while using cars and machines has been an ongoing endeavour. From the introduction of seatbelts in the 1960s, to the development of roll-cages in 1979, and the deployment of airbags in the 1990s, the first line of managing the injury risk posed by Transport Accidents has been to modify the vehicle to minimise the effect of physical force on the human body. 

From this point, management of Transport Accidents is dependent on the nature of the injury to the human body and its severity. Physical injuries require management as per best practice guidelines to promote healing of the tissues and structures as well as functional rehabilitation. Headstrikes and trauma to the neck require focused intervention to minimise the risk of whiplash or cervicogenic complicating elements. Rapid deceleration can cause concussion, internal visceral injury, and damage to the organs of the abdomen. Traumatic force can result in symptoms similar to traumatic encephalopathy. All of these elements, big and small, are taken into consideration when developing a program of rehabilitation that is designed to manage the injury, its impact on the life of the person, and the barriers it presents to recovery. 

Managing discomfort starts with understanding how your pain feels and changes through the day, what helps or aggravates it, and how long you’ve been living with it. Your first assessment will cover all of these details, setting the foundation for a plan that reduces pain, restores comfortable movement, and lowers the chance of future flare-ups.

At Atlas Physio, your treatment is tailored to your specific needs. We focus on easing pain, improving mobility, and giving you practical strategies to stay active with confidence. You’ll receive clear education, structured management, and ongoing support both in the clinic and at home.

We make care accessible: with bulk-billing available, open doors seven days a week and weekends, and with no gap for WorkCover or TAC clients. Get in touch today and take the first step toward living more comfortably, safely, and well, with care that’s straightforward, effective, and designed for lasting results.