Nervous Shock Claims in WA
Perth-based, Real Outcomes for WA Families
If you suffered a nervous shock in WA, we help secondary victim clients through ICWA (car crashes), Public Liability, and Criminal Injuries Compensation (CIC), and coordinate with WorkCover WA if work overlaps.
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Yes — you can claim for nervous shock in WA if you have a recognised psychiatric injury and meet the close-tie and exposure tests.
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Who qualifies for a nervous shock claim in WA
We understand you may feel overwhelmed – our expert team gives you honest, pressure-free advice in plain English, at your pace. There’s never any obligation.
Qualifying tests in WA
You may qualify if you have:
- A close tie/close relationship (close relationship test WA) to the person injured or killed.
- You witnessed the event or its immediate aftermath.
- You suffer from a psychiatric illness (e.g., PTSD, MDD).
- Your harm was foreseeable for a person of normal fortitude.
→ Applies to ICWA secondary victim crashes, public place trauma claims in WA, and violent acts in CIC.
Eligibility examples
- Road crash (ICWA): You arrived minutes after a fatal collision — compensation for witnessing an accident may be available.
- Public place (PL): You saw a traumatic incident in a shopping centre and suffered mental harm caused by the negligence of another person.
- Violent crime (CIC): You witnessed an assault on a family member and developed PTSD.
Time limits — nervous shock WA
- Court actions (WA): generally 3 years under the Limitation Act 2005 (WA). Longer if under the age of 18 years.
- ICWA nervous shock claim process: notify and lodge as soon as practicable with the Insurance Commission of Western Australia.
- CIC (WA): 3 years to apply under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 2003 (WA); extensions can apply.
Contact Foyle Legal early – early advice avoids costly mistakes, maximises your total entitlements, and ensures you don’t accidentally give up essential claims.
Real Results in WA Nervous Shock Claims
We act for victims who have suffered nervous shock injuries across WA. WA injury claims are decided on actual medical evidence, work impact, and realistic results—not every case is a best-case payout. Below are real examples from typical nervous shock compensation claims in WA.
$40,000 – Father informed son had died in road accident – nervous shock
- Situation:
Client’s young son died in a vehicle accident. - Injury:
Client suffered nervous shock including prolonged grief disorder, anxiety and depression. - Result:
$40,000 compensation won after successful argument regarding general damages.
$80,000 – Driver witnessed road accident fatality – nervous shock
- Situation:
Client’s son was missing. Client drove about trying to find son. Witnessed a road accident fatality and mistakenly thought it was her son. - Injury:
Client suffered nervous shock including PTSD. - Result:
No economic loss. $80,000 in compensation won after a successful argument focusing on the client’s pain and suffering.
$45,000 – Mother informed son had died in road accident – nervous shock
- Situation:
Client’s son died in a vehicle accident. - Injury:
Client suffered nervous shock including PTSD and major depressive disorder. - Result:
$45,500 compensation won after successful argument regarding pain and suffering.
Disclaimer – At Foyle Legal, we handle all common injuries and publish authentic nervous shock injury payouts that reflect what most everyday West Australians can expect. Cases have been anonymised and are illustrative only. Past results don’t guarantee future outcomes.

How to Prove Your WA Nervous Shock Claim?
Successfully proving a nervous shock claim in WA requires specific evidence. Our role is to take on this burden for you, carefully assembling the necessary documents to build a strong case.
- Medical diagnosis linking the mental harm to the traumatic event (from your GP, psychologist or psychiatrist)
- Evidence of your relationship or close tie
- Police, ICWA, or crash/exposure documents
- Treatment trail and work impact
- All compensation for witnessing an accident will require medical and event records
- Travel & Out-of-pocket receipts
We assemble all of this with you, step by step.
What Nervous Shock Compensation Can Cover
Nervous shock compensation in WA may cover:
- Medical Treatment & Counselling: Costs for GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists, medication, and future therapies.
- Past & Future Lost Income: Wages you have lost and may lose if you cannot work.
- Care & Assistance: Costs for any help you need with daily life.
- Travel Expenses: Reimbursement for travel to and from medical appointments.
- Pain & Suffering: For the psychological trauma and loss of enjoyment of life (legal thresholds apply).
Valuation drivers: severity, treatment course, work impact, prognosis. Avoid “average payout” promises — the law values evidence.


How a Nervous Shock Claim Works in WA
While every case is unique, the process generally follows these confidential steps:
Which path? ICWA vs CIC vs Public Liability / Insurers
The right path for your claim depends on how the traumatic event occurred. We will discuss the best way forward with you.
- When it’s used: Public place & Workplace trauma (non‑MVA/CIC)
- Who pays: Insurer
- First step to lodge: Notice of claim / pre‑action steps
- Time limit: Court limit generally 3 years, 12 months to make WC claim.
We have helped 10,000+ Western Australians with their legal matter. Let’s help you to progress with confidence.
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WA Specialists in Nervous Shock Claims & Serious Psychiatric Injury Compensation
If you or a close family member has suffered a recognised psychiatric injury—such as PTSD or major depressive disorder—after witnessing a fatal or traumatic event in Western Australia, Foyle Legal’s expert lawyers can guide you through a nervous shock claim. Our team understands the impact of sudden mental harm following motor vehicle accidents, public place trauma, violent crime, or workplace incidents.
We specialise in secondary victim and nervous shock compensation under ICWA, Criminal Injuries Compensation (CIC), and Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA) Part 1B. Our WA-based lawyers provide No Win No Fee representation for eligible claims and offer a confidential, obligation-free assessment to help you understand your options.
Common scenarios for nervous shock claims in WA include:
- Witnessing a fatal car accident, truck accident or motorcycle crash (ICWA fatal dependency/nervous shock)
- Exposure to workplace deaths, severe injuries, or mining/farming accidents
- Trauma as a bystander to violent crime in WA public places (criminal injuries compensation)
- Witnessing catastrophic public transport, pedestrian, cyclist, or school/childcare incidents
- Being present for tragic medical emergencies or failed resuscitations
- Experiencing or arriving at the scene of house fires, property accidents, or multiple fatality events
- Family attending immediately after a suicide or sudden violent death
We help assemble all required medical and exposure evidence, including:
Psychiatric assessment and diagnosis of recognised psychiatric illness
Proof of close relationship or close tie
Police, ICWA, or incident reports confirming sudden event exposure
Foyle Legal’s nervous shock claim lawyers in Perth are here to support you—ensuring your compensation claim is handled with care, discretion, and WA legal expertise.
We make the process simple for you.
- Most effort goes into evidence (psychiatric, relationship, exposure, loss of earnings).
- We handle the insurer and paperwork where possible.
- You set the pace; we protect your privacy.
Top-rated legal help for your nervous shock claim.
Speak with a senior WA lawyer who understands nervous shock claims. Your first chat is private, friendly, and no obligation.
- Private consult today with a senior lawyer.
- Fast eligibility check to confirm your secondary victim compensation WA options.
- No Win No Fee for eligible cases.
We help you to avoid these common mistakes.
The best, quickest and cheapest way to find out where you stand is to organise an obligation free consultation with a specialist personal injury lawyer at Foyle Legal. This is particularly important to complex nervous shock claims.
- Waiting too long — time limits are strict in WA.
- Skipping your GP/psych appointments.
- Posting details publicly online.
- Trying to manage ICWA, insurers, or CIC alone under stress.
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Legal Review
- Reviewed by Christian Foyle, Principal Lawyer.
- Admitted to the Supreme Court of WA as barrister & solicitor in 2008.
- The current WA practising certificate, verified via the Legal Practice Board WA practitioner search.
- Member of The Law Society of Western Australia.
- Top-rated senior personal injury lawyer in WA, featured by Doyle’s Guide, ThreeBestRated, local news, and more.
- Practice Areas: catastrophic injury, serious personal injury, motor vehicle, workers’ compensation, public liability, fatal injury claims, medical negligence
Editorial Policy
- Plain‑English drafting by Dr. Ida Ma (PhD, MBA), reviewed for accuracy.
- WA‑specific citations. Reviewed before publication.
- See editorial policy.
- For corrections or feedback, email contact@foylelegal.com
Relevant Resources
- Limitation Act 2005 (WA)
- Civil Liability Act 2002 (WA)
- Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943
- Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 (WA)
- Insurance Commission of WA (ICWA)
- WA Police Force
- WorkCover WA
- Legal Practice Board WA
- The Law Society of Western Australia
- Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 2003 (WA)
Talk to a Real WA Lawyer Today
- No win no fee lawyers – nothing to pay upfront, no hidden costs, and disbursement assistance.
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- We help clients to fight back against insurers every day – 100+ years of combined personal injury experience.
Offices in Perth CBD & Malaga. Serve all WA.











