Accident claims help more than 600,000

Press, 2 August 1979, Page 4

Accident claims help more than 600,000

PA Wellington I One New Zealander in every five has claimed accident compensation since the scheme began five years ago, iccording to the Accident Compensation Commission. i More than 600,000 people i had benefited from claims, said the commission in its 'annual report tabled in Parliament yesterday.

Many of these people would nave suffered financial tragedy before accident compensation, it said. “Several million others have had their accident injuries treated by the medical profession at no direct cost to themselves.” A total of S9BM was spent on compensation and medical treatment in the last year, compared with SB9M in the previous year. The cost of medical treatment had again risen substantially, and at $14.8M represented 15 per cent of all compensation and medical spending for the year, the commission said. The number of claims lodged during the year increased by 2931, but the number arising from motorvehicle accidents fell slightly. A total of 11,422 claims were made on the commission’s motor-vehicle, fund, 141 less than the previous year. The total number of claims was 135,369, of which 5000 were declined either fully or in part. During the year 4506 applications for a review of a claims decision were lodged.

Decisions were revised in 865 cases after additional information, nearly 1500 were withdrawn, and of those that went to a hearing about half were decided in favour of the applicant. The commission’s report said that the number of claims requiring a permanent disability assessment remained high, but the previous substantial backlog was eliminated. “It is impossible to translate pain, suffering, and the loss of capacity to enjoy life into monetary terms,” said the commission.

“Many injured persons will continue to dispute

such awards, but while the present provisions remain in force the commission must accept the heavy administra. tive burden of these assess, ments and reviews.” The commission had had difficulty finding jobs for partly disabled people. It said that many employers were unwilling to re-employ partly fit workers when healthy people were unemployed. ■'Employers have to be told about the assistance avail' able in rehabilitating dis< abled workers,” it said. The commission has asked the Labour Department to help find jobs for accident victims.