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Lifetime Support Authority urges farmers to register on-farm vehicles

Lifetime Support Authority urges farmers to register on-farm vehicles
Lifetime Support Authority urges farmers to register on-farm vehicles

This is advertiser content for Lifetime Support Authority.

South Australian farmers have been encouraged to register their on-farm vehicles, so they are covered for very serious injuries if they are in an accident involving those vehicles.

The advice comes from the Lifetime Support Authority (LSA), which delivers the South Australian government’s Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS).

The LSS provides high-quality treatment, care and support for people who have brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, burns and blindness from motor vehicle accidents.

LSA Chief Executive, Tamara Tomic, wants to raise awareness about the importance of registering on-farm vehicles, even if they are only used on private property.

“It’s not necessarily something that you would think about and it’s not unusual for people to use an unregistered vehicle on-farm,” she said.

“But people who have motor vehicle accidents that happen on private property – which most farms are – can only be considered eligible for the LSS if the vehicle is registered.

Lifetime Support Authority urges farmers to register on-farm vehicles
Lifetime Support Authority urges farmers to register on-farm vehicles

The criteria for defining use of a motor vehicle for the LSS follows the rules in place under legislation for the state’s Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme.

The LSS Rules reflect the Motor Vehicles Act 1959, which governs CTP insurance.

LSS participants receive necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support for the rest of their lives when they become eligible for the LSS.

Ms Tomic said one participant who came into the LSS following a vehicle accident on a farming property, was only eligible because it occurred off designated land that had a council permit to be used as a registered road.

“If the accident had occurred on a different location on the property, the participant would not have been eligible,” she said.

“The financial impact on him and his family would have been huge as he would have had to pay for all of his treatment, care and support ranging from rehabilitation, equipment, home modifications, and assistance to live independently.

“It’s important that farmers are aware of the rules in case something does go wrong,” she said.

The LSS is funded by the LSS Fund levy, paid by motor vehicle owners registered in South Australia, on renewal of registration each period.

For more information visit the Lifetime Support Scheme or call 1300 880 849.

This is advertiser content for Lifetime Support Authority