Uninsured Driver Denied Compensation in Dispute with QBE

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) has ruled in favour of QBE Insurance in a case where an uninsured driver attempted to secure compensation following a collision involving a fire truck.

The incident occurred when the QBE-insured driver paused at an intersection to allow a fire truck to pass, leading to the uninsured driver impacting their vehicle.

The uninsured motorist, disputing QBE's decision to hold him responsible and requiring payment for damages, sought redress through AFCA. He claimed the QBE-insurer's customer triggered the incident by stopping abruptly, without warning, following the fire truck's activation of sirens and lights.

Despite lacking dashcam footage, AFCA reviewed a Queensland Fire Department statement suggesting the distraction and subsequent collision were foreseeable due to the fire truck's presence at a blind corner. Although acknowledging that the QBE customer was potentially negligent for stopping suddenly without adequate warning, AFCA maintained the road rules require drivers to maintain a safe distance to prevent such accidents.

The adjudication concluded that a sufficient following distance was lacking, which could have otherwise allowed the uninsured driver to avert the collision, rendering the complaint unsubstantiated for coverage of his damages. Consequently, the tribunal found him responsible for a portion of the crash alongside the QBE-insured driver.

The ruling bars the uninsured from receiving compensation for his vehicle damage, legal fees, or money paid to QBE, citing jurisdiction limits. Yet, it mandated QBE to issue a $500 compensation for originally misleading the uninsured driver with incorrect statements regarding cost bearing.

Published:Friday, 21st Mar 2025
Author: Paige Estritori

Please Note: We do not endorse any specific products or companies. Some content is sourced from third parties, including press releases, and may not be independently verified for accuracy or completeness.

Share this news item:

Rate this article

0 Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.

Insurance News

APRA's Intervention: Halting Unjustified Premium Hikes in Commercial Auto Insurance

24 May 2026: Paige Estritori

In March 2026, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) took decisive action to address significant premium hikes in the commercial auto insurance sector. Responding to widespread industry concerns, APRA issued emergency regulations to freeze unjustified baseline premium increases exceeding 25%, pending external review. This intervention aims to protect independent transport operators and logistics enterprises from immediate financial strain. - read more

HESTA to Reduce Insurance Fees by 12% Starting July 2026

24 May 2026: Paige Estritori

HESTA, a leading Australian superannuation fund, has announced a significant reduction in insurance fees, averaging 12% across all cover types. This change is set to take effect from 1 July 2026 and is part of a broader initiative to make insurance more accessible and affordable for its members. - read more

Government Announces Major NDIS Cuts to Save Over $36 Billion

24 May 2026: Paige Estritori

The Australian government has unveiled plans to significantly reduce the growth of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), aiming to save $36.2 billion over the next four years. This decision marks the largest single savings measure in the 2026 federal budget. - read more

Australian Insurers Highlight Key Risks for 2026

24 May 2026: Paige Estritori

As 2026 unfolds, Australian insurers have identified three primary challenges: rising premium costs and shrinking insurability, ongoing cyber and data risks, and increasing difficulty in hiring and retaining skilled workers. These insights are drawn from industry feedback cited in Gallagher Bassett’s upcoming report, 'The Carrier Perspective: 2026 Claims Insights.' - read more

Click for more Insurance News

Life Insurance Articles

Start Here !

Apply now for your free Insurance assessment and price comparisons!

All quotes are provided free and without obligation. We respect your privacy.

Knowledgebase

Whole Life Insurance:
A type of life insurance that provides coverage for the insured's entire lifetime, with a savings component that builds cash value.

IMPORTANT: We are neither authorised nor licensed to provide finance or finance products. We do not recommend any specific financial products and we do not offer any form of credit or other financial advice. All product enquiries and requests for financial and/or other advice on this website are referred to third party, qualified intermediaries with whom you can deal directly. We may receive a fee or commission from these third parties in consideration for the referral. Before any action is taken to obtain a product or service referred to by this website, advice should be obtained (from either the third part to whom we refer you or from another qualified intermediary) as to the appropriateness of obtaining those products having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.