News

Fiji Accident Compensation Commission to be established

July 1, 2017 5:18 am

Accident victims will now be able to claim for compensation without having to prove fault or negligence.

The current Third Party Insurance Law will be replaced by the Accident Compensation Act from January 1st and under the Act a Fiji Accident Compensation Commission will be established.

Economy Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says victims of motor vehicle accidents have often waited for years to get compensation if any.

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“The current third party insurance law which requires all motor vehicles to have third party insurance with an insurance company is filled with limitations and exclusions and as a result many Fijians who have been victims of motor vehicle accidents have been denied compensations.”

Under the new law motor vehicle owners will no longer have to pay third party insurance with an insurance company.

The Consumer Council of Fiji, Chief executive, Premila Kumar welcomes this move.

“In a way it is good, it is a fair system and it will bring about more justice to the accident victims and particularly I think the beauty of that commission is it is a no fault commission, in other words if you get into an accident, you don’t have to go to the court for any verification for anything, you are compensated for no fault.”

The government has allocated one million dollars for the Fiji Accident Compensation Commission.