Peter Hunt
Principal
The Personal Injury Commission (PIC) published its decision in Atkinson v Insurance Australia Limited t/as NRMA Insurance [2025] NSWPIC 134 on 24 April 2025.
The Claimant was injured in a motor accident on 6 September 2020 whilst riding a motorcycle.
Importantly, the Claimant had stolen the motorcycle from the Insured owner shortly before his accident.
The Insured owner saw the Claimant riding his stolen motorcycle in Condobolin and made the decision to chase him in his car. The Insured drove his vehicle diagonally across the Claimant’s path in an attempt to block his passage and retrieve the stolen motorcycle. The Claimant collided with the Insured vehicle and suffered serious injuries.
The Insurer subsequently served a Liability Notice in which it denied liability for the Claimant’s injuries, on the following grounds:
The Insurer subsequently sought a discretionary exemption from the PIC processes pursuant to s 7.34(1)(b) of MAIA.
In general terms, the Insurer argued that the damages dispute was unsuitable for assessment by the PIC because the claim involved complex legal issues, particularly relating to liability.
The Claimant did not oppose the Insurer’s application.
The PIC Member made a preliminary finding that the matter was not suitable for assessment by the PIC for the following reasons:
The PIC Member, therefore, recommended that the PIC Division Head exempt the matter so that the parties to litigate the damages dispute in the District Court.
The decision in Atkinson provides a useful example of how the Commission will assess applications for discretionary exemption based on a claim that the dispute is unsuitable for assessment by the PIC.
In this case, complexity arose from issues arising from the Insurer’s Liability Notice. It is important to note that it is not the role of the PIC Member, dealing with an exemption application, to assess the dispute or even to assess whether the Insurer’s argument is likely to succeed. The Member’s role is limited to assessing whether the PIC is a suitable forum for the dispute and to make a recommendation to the PIC Division Head.
If you would like to discuss this case note, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with CTP Insurance Principal Peter Hunt today.