New South Wales Consolidated Acts

MOTOR ACCIDENTS COMPENSATION ACT 1999 - SECT 132

132 Assessment of impairment required before award of damages for non-economic loss if dispute over impairment threshold

(1) If there is a dispute about whether the degree of permanent impairment of an injured person is sufficient for an award of damages for non-economic loss, the court may not award any such damages unless the degree of permanent impairment has been assessed by a medical assessor under Part 3.4 (Medical assessment).

Note : The assessment of the medical assessor under Part 3.4 is conclusive in proceedings before the court--see section 61.

(2) The court may, at any stage in proceedings for an award of damages for non-economic loss, refer the matter for assessment of the degree of permanent impairment under Part 3.4.

(3) A medical assessor may decline to make an assessment under Part 3.4 of the degree of permanent impairment of an injured person until the assessor is satisfied that the impairment caused by the injury has become permanent. Court proceedings with respect to any such matter may be adjourned until the assessment is made.

(4) Nothing in this section prevents--

(a) the degree of impairment being re-assessed under Part 3.4, or

(b) a claim from being settled at any time.