Ways to pay
Chiropractic After a Motor Vehicle Accident
After a crash, most people want two things: to know what is going on, and to know who pays for sorting it out. In Western Australia the second question runs through the Insurance Commission of WA, and the answer depends heavily on who was at fault.
Can I see a chiropractor after a car accident in WA?
Yes — you can seek assessment and treatment for musculoskeletal injuries at any time. Whether the cost is covered is a separate question. In Western Australia, motor injury insurance through the Insurance Commission of WA is fault-based: you can generally claim where another driver was wholly or partly at fault. Your claims officer approves which treatment is covered, in writing, and a gap may be payable.
How it works
- 1
Get assessed
See a GP or emergency department first if the crash was significant, or if you have head, neck or neurological symptoms. Musculoskeletal assessment can follow. Do not wait on a claim before getting looked at.
- 2
Lodge your claim with the Insurance Commission of WA
Claims are lodged with ICWA. They will assess it and either accept or deny it, and will tell you in writing.
- 3
Treatment is approved by your claims officer
Once a claim is accepted, your claims officer advises which treatment is approved. Treatment is not automatically covered simply because a claim exists — approval is specific.
- 4
Understand the gap
ICWA pays up to maximum amounts set by the AMA or WorkCover schedules. Where a provider charges above that, there may be a gap payable by you. Ask about this before starting a course of treatment.
- 5
Bring your claim number
For treatment to be billed directly to your claim, we need your claim number and your claims officer's details. Without those, appointments are charged at the standard fee and you would need to seek reimbursement yourself.
- 6
Progress documentation
Insurers commonly ask for progress information during a claim. Where a report is required, that can be arranged separately — see medico-legal reporting.
Frequently asked questions
Does ICWA cover chiropractic treatment?
Treatment is covered where your claim has been accepted and your claims officer has approved that treatment. Approval is specific rather than automatic, and ICWA pays up to the maximum amounts in the AMA or WorkCover schedules, so a gap may apply. Your claims officer is the person who can confirm what is approved.
What if the crash was my fault?
WA's motor injury insurance is fault-based, so a claim generally requires another driver to have been wholly or partly at fault. There is a separate no-fault Catastrophic Injuries Support scheme for people catastrophically injured, which applies regardless of fault where the eligibility criteria are met.
Do I need an ICWA claim number?
For treatment to be billed directly to your claim, yes — we need your claim number and your claims officer's details. You can still be assessed and treated before that comes through; those appointments are charged at the standard fee.
Can my chiropractor communicate with my insurer?
With your written consent, yes. Insurers commonly request progress information during a claim, and treating practitioner reports can be prepared where requested.
How soon after an accident should I be assessed?
Get medical assessment promptly if the crash was significant or if you have head, neck or neurological symptoms. For musculoskeletal complaints that emerge over the following days, earlier assessment generally makes management simpler and keeps the record clear.
Will my symptoms definitely be attributed to the accident?
Not automatically. Symptoms appearing after a crash do not by themselves establish that the crash caused them. Assessment records what is found; causation is a matter for the claim, and it is not something a clinician asserts on your behalf.
Where this information comes from
Funding rules change. The statements on this page were checked against the responsible authority in August 2026. If you are reading this much later, verify anything that matters.
Related pages
Last reviewed . General information about funding pathways, not financial, legal or individual health advice.
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