Transport Accident Commission

The TAC is a Victorian Government-owned organisation set up to pay for treatment and benefits for people injured in transport accidents promote road safety and improve Victoria's trauma system.

The TAC is a Victorian Government-owned organisation whose role is to promote road safety improve the State's trauma system and support those who have been injured on our roads.

The funds the TAC needs to perform these functions come from payments made by Victorian motorists when they register their vehicles each year with VicRoads.

Delivering benefits
The TAC covers transport accidents directly caused by the driving of a car motorcycle bus train or tram. The TAC can provide support services for people injured in a transport accident as a driver passenger pedestrian motorcyclist or in some cases a cyclist.

The TAC is a 'no-fault' scheme. This means that medical benefits will be paid to an injured person regardless of who caused the accident.

The TAC can also pay income support while you recover and in the case of some serious injuries a lump sum payment may also be payable.

For more details about the medical rehabilitation income and lump sum support the TAC can offer visit the 'What the TAC can pay for' page.

The TAC is committed to delivering these benefits to injured people in a caring efficient and financially responsible way.

Accident prevention
The TAC is unique among personal injury compensation schemes in that one of our key roles is to promote road safety.

Working closely with Victoria Police the Department of Justice and VicRoads the TAC develops campaigns that increase awareness of road safety issues change behaviour and ultimately reduce the incidence of road trauma.

The number of lives lost on our roads each year across Victoria is a third of what it was back in 1989. This has been achieved in part through sustained campaigning to reduce road trauma and death on Victoria's roads. Victoria now has one of the best road safety records in the world.

Reducing the frequency and severity of transport accidents not only saves lives and avoids serious injuries it also reduces claims. This provides savings to the Victorian community and ensures the long-term financial viability of the transport accident scheme.

The economic and social costs associated with road accidents have made the issue of road safety a major concern for the community.

The TAC pays an average of $150000 each road death and an average of $1500000 for each serious injury (eg. traumatic brain and spinal injuries). In the 2011/12 financial year the TAC paid out $1.01 billion in benefits and compensation to 44410 people which represents a direct cost to the Victorian community funded by premiums paid by vehicle owners.

By preventing accidents lives will be saved injuries will be reduced and savings to the Victorian community will be made.

Towards Zero
At the heart of Towards Zero is the belief that human health is more important than anything else. It acknowledges that as people we all make mistakes. However when mistakes happen on our roads they can cost us our lives or cause serious injury. Our bodies are strong up to a point but if we're hit at high speeds there's only so much force we can withstand before we break. And that's why we need to build a safer roads system for everyone.

Transport Accident Commission
Call 1300 654 329 (local call) 1800 332 556 (toll-free outside the Melbourne metropolitan area)
8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday

Interpreting services
For information in a different language call 1300 139 075.