How Occupational Therapy may help after a motor vehicle accident

A motor vehicle accident can impact much more than the obvious injury.

It may affect how someone manages personal care, household tasks, mobility around the home, driving, transport, parenting, work routines, concentration, fatigue, pain, confidence and emotional adjustment.

Occupational therapy looks at the person, their injury, their environment and the activities they need or want to return to.

Support may focus on improving independence, modifying tasks, recommending equipment, supporting routines, building daily capacity and helping people return to everyday activities in a graded and realistic way.

When to consider Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy may be relevant if a person is experiencing difficulty with:

• Personal care, such as showering, dressing or toileting

• Household tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry or shopping

• Fatigue management and pacing

• Pain management and activity tolerance

• Driving, transport or community access

• Returning to work or study

• Parenting or caring responsibilities

• Managing daily routines after injury

• Cognitive changes, concentration or memory difficulties

• Psychological adjustment following an accident

• Upper limb function, hand function or fine motor tasks

• Home safety and falls risk

• Equipment needs

• Confidence participating in everyday life

Occupational therapy can also be helpful when there is a gap between what someone is medically cleared to do and what they feel confident or capable of doing in real life.

What Occupational Therapy support may include

Depending on the person’s injuries, goals and approval requirements, Occupational Therapy may include:

• Functional assessment

• Home-based assessment

• Activities of daily living assessment

• Personal care assessment

• Domestic task assessment

• Equipment recommendations

• Minor home modification recommendations

• Task modification strategies

• Energy conservation and pacing strategies

• Fatigue management

• Pain management strategies

• Graded activity planning

• Upper limb rehabilitation and functional retraining

• Cognitive and routine supports

• Driving and transport-related recommendations, where appropriate

• Return-to-work or return-to-study planning

• Communication with referrers, insurers and treating providers

• Progress updates and reports where required

The goal is to provide practical recommendations that support recovery, independence and participation.

Functional assessment after a motor vehicle accident

An Occupational Therapy functional assessment may help identify how a motor vehicle accident is affecting everyday life and daily capacity.

This may include looking at how the person manages:

• Personal care

• Meal preparation

• Household tasks

• Shopping

• Community access

• Transport

• Parenting responsibilities

• Work or study routines

• Physical task demands

• Cognitive or psychosocial barriers

• Pain, fatigue and activity tolerance

The assessment may be completed in the clinic, at home or in the community depending on what is most appropriate and approved.

Following assessment, the Occupational Therapist may provide recommendations to assist with therapy planning, equipment, task modification, daily routines, community participation or return-to-work planning.

Home-based Occupational Therapy assessment

A home-based assessment may be useful when a motor vehicle accident is affecting a person’s safety or independence at home.

This may be particularly relevant if the person is having difficulty with showering, toileting, dressing, meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, stairs, transfers, mobility around the home or managing daily routines.

Recommendations may include:

• Practical strategies to complete daily tasks more safely

• Assistive equipment

• Bathroom or toileting supports

• Kitchen and household task modifications

• Falls risk considerations

• Energy conservation strategies

• Temporary changes to routines while recovering

• Minor home modification recommendations where appropriate

The aim is to support the person to remain as safe and independent as possible while recovering.

Support for pain, fatigue and routine changes

Pain, fatigue and disrupted routines can make daily life difficult after a motor vehicle accident.

Occupational Therapy may support people to understand and manage their activity levels in a practical way.

This may include:

• Pacing strategies

• Energy conservation

• Graded activity planning

• Routine planning

• Rest breaks

• Task prioritisation

• Symptom monitoring

• Strategies to reduce flare-ups

• Confidence-building with daily tasks

• Education around sustainable participation

The goal is not just to do more, but to build capacity in a way that is realistic, safe and sustainable.

Communication and reporting

Motor vehicle accident claims may involve several people, including the injured person, GP, specialist, insurer, rehabilitation consultant, lawyer and other treating providers.

Occupational Therapists can provide clear communication and reporting to help support coordinated care.

This may include:

• Assessment summaries

• Functional recommendations

• Equipment recommendations

• Return-to-work or return-to-study recommendations

• Progress updates

• Communication with insurers or rehabilitation consultants

• Liaison with treating providers

• Goal-based therapy planning

Reports and communication are completed according to the referral request, funding approval and clinical need.

Who can refer?

Referrals may come from:

• The injured person

• A GP

• A medical specialist

• An insurer

• A rehabilitation consultant

• A case manager

• A lawyer

• Another treating health professional

Funding approval may be required before services commence. Our team can help guide referrers and clients through the intake process.

Where appointments can take place

Depending on the referral, approval and clinical need, Therapy may be available:

• At our Malaga clinic

• At home

• In the community

• In the workplace or study environment, where appropriate

• Via telehealth, where appropriate

The most suitable appointment location will depend on the person’s goals, injuries, functional difficulties and approval requirements.

Working together with other services

At Palms, Therapy can work alongside other allied health services where appropriate.

This may include Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Speech Pathology or other treating providers involved in the person’s recovery.

A coordinated approach can help support daily independence, physical recovery, communication, activity tolerance and return-to-work goals.

Getting started

To refer for Therapy following a motor vehicle accident, please complete our referral form or contact our team.

It is helpful to include:

• Client details

• Claim details, if available

• Insurer or case manager contact details

• Accident and injury details

• Current functional difficulties

• Reason for referral

• Approval information, if already obtained

• Relevant reports or treating provider information

Once received, our team will review the referral and contact you regarding the next step.

Support after a motor vehicle accident in WA

In Western Australia, treatment, care and rehabilitation expenses may be covered through the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA) for eligible people injured in motor vehicle crashes, depending on the type of claim and individual circumstances. Funding approval and claim decisions are made by the insurer, not by the therapy provider.

If you already have an approved claim, we may be able to provide treatment as part of your rehabilitation plan. If you are unsure what has been approved, our team can discuss the referral and invoicing process with you.

How we may help after a motor vehicle accident

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy may assist with:

• pain-related movement difficulties

• mobility and walking

• strength and physical function

• balance and confidence

• rehabilitation after fracture, soft tissue injury, surgery or hospitalisation

• graded return to activity

Treatment is tailored to the person’s presentation and may focus on restoring movement, rebuilding capacity and improving day-to-day function.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy may assist with:

• daily living tasks

• fatigue management

• home function and safety

• upper limb function

• return to routine

• equipment recommendations where appropriate

• practical strategies to improve independence

For some people, OT may be particularly helpful when the injury is affecting self-care, household tasks, work tasks or community access.

Exercise Physiology

Exercise physiology may be helpful where a person needs:

• structured reconditioning

• strength and endurance support

• supervised exercise after injury or inactivity

• physical capacity building

• support returning to exercise safely

Exercise physiology may be especially relevant in later rehabilitation phases where graded exercise and rebuilding confidence are priorities.

Speech Pathology

Speech pathology may be relevant for some people after a motor vehicle accident, particularly where there has been:

• brain injury

• concussion-related communication changes

• cognitive-communication difficulties

• voice changes

• swallowing or mealtime concerns

Support is based on the person’s individual needs and referral.

Who can refer?

Referrals may come from:

• The injured worker

• A GP

• A medical specialist

• An employer

• An insurer

• A rehabilitation consultant

• A case manager

• Another treating health professional

Funding approval may be required before services commence. Our team can help guide referrers and clients through the intake process.

Where appointments can take place

Depending on the referral, approval and clinical need, Speech Therapy may be available:

• At our Malaga clinic

• At our Noranda clinic, where suitable

• At home

• In the workplace

• In the community

• Via telehealth, where appropriate

The most suitable appointment location will depend on the person’s goals, injury, functional difficulties and insurer approval.

Working together with other services

At Palms, Speech Therapy can work alongside other allied health services where appropriate.

This may include Physiotherapy, Exercise Physiology, Occupational Therapy or other treating providers involved in the person’s recovery.

A coordinated approach can help support physical recovery, functional independence, activity tolerance and return-to-work goals.

Getting started

To refer for Speech Therapy under workers compensation, please complete our referral form or contact our team.

It is helpful to include:

• Worker details

• Claim details, if available

• Insurer or case manager contact details

• Medical certificate or capacity certificate, if available

• Injury details

• Current functional difficulties

• Reason for referral

• Approval information, if already obtained

• Relevant reports or treating provider information

Once received, our team will review the referral and contact you regarding the next step.

Our Therapy Services

Referrals, approvals and funding

If your treatment is being funded through a motor vehicle accident claim, services generally need to align with the claim pathway and insurer requirements. In WA, the relevant insurer is typically the Insurance Commission of Western Australia under the state motor injury insurance scheme. Rehabilitation and future treatment costs are recognised components of the scheme.

Please note:

• treatment may be funded if approved

• services are subject to insurer approval and claim requirements

• final funding decisions rest with the relevant insurer

Our approach

At Palms, we focus on practical, goal-directed rehabilitation. That means treatment is built around what matters most to the individual, whether that is:

• walking more confidently

• returning to everyday tasks

• rebuilding strength after injury

• improving balance and mobility

• managing physical limitations more effectively

• getting back to work, home or community routines

We aim to make therapy relevant to real life and tailored to each stage of recovery.

FAQ

Can I have physiotherapy after a motor vehicle accident?

Yes. Physiotherapy is commonly used as part of rehabilitation after a motor vehicle accident where the person has mobility, pain-related movement, strength, balance or physical function needs.

Can treatment after a motor vehicle accident be funded?

In WA, treatment and rehabilitation expenses may be paid through the Insurance Commission of Western Australia for eligible people injured in motor vehicle crashes, depending on the claim circumstances and approvals.

Do you offer clinic and home visits?

Yes. We offer clinic and mobile allied health services, depending on the person’s location, therapist availability and clinical suitability.

What services do you provide for motor vehicle accident recovery?

Depending on your needs, we may provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and speech pathology.

Can occupational therapy help after a motor vehicle accident?

Yes, where the injury is affecting daily living, independence, home function, upper limb use, fatigue management or return to routine.

Can exercise physiology help after a motor vehicle accident?

For some people, yes. Exercise physiology may be useful when graded reconditioning, strength, endurance and physical capacity-building are part of recovery.

Can speech pathology help after a motor vehicle accident?

Sometimes. Speech pathology may be relevant where a person has communication, cognitive-communication, voice or swallowing difficulties after the accident.

Do I need insurer approval before starting?

This depends on your claim circumstances and funding arrangements. If treatment is being funded through an insurer, approval requirements can apply and final decisions rest with the insurer.

Can you help with more complex injuries?

Potentially, yes. More complex injury presentations may benefit from a multidisciplinary approach, especially where mobility, daily function, communication or swallowing are affected.

Common issues after a motor vehicle accident

People recovering from a motor vehicle accident may experience a wide range of functional difficulties, depending on the nature of the crash and their injuries. These may include:

• neck or back pain

• reduced mobility

• weakness or deconditioning

• difficulties with balance

• reduced confidence with movement

• difficulty returning to work or usual activities

• challenges with self-care and home tasks

• cognitive or communication changes after head injury

• swallowing difficulties in more complex injury presentations

Not every person will need the same type of support. Therapy should always be based on the individual’s injuries, current function and goals.

Clinic and mobile rehabilitation options

In-clinic appointments

Clinic appointments may suit people who:

• prefer a dedicated therapy setting

• benefit from access to equipment and structured rehabilitation spaces

• want face-to-face support in a clinical environment
  
  

Mobile visits

Mobile visits may be appropriate for people who:

• have difficulty travelling

• need support in their home environment

• require assessment of function, safety or equipment in daily life settings

• benefit from therapy linked to real-world routines

The most appropriate format depends on the person’s injuries, mobility, location, goals and service suitability.

A coordinated allied health approach

Some people recover well with a single discipline. Others may benefit from a more coordinated team approach.

At Palms, our therapists can work together where appropriate to support goals such as:

• improving mobility

• returning to everyday routines

• rebuilding strength and endurance

• improving independence at home

• supporting communication or swallowing needs

• progressing rehabilitation over time

This can be helpful when recovery involves more than one area of function.

External Resources for Motor Vehicle Claims in Australia

Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA)
https://www.icwa.wa.gov.au

Motor Injury Insurance (MII) – ICWA
https://www.icwa.wa.gov.au/motor-vehicle-accidents

WorkCover WA
https://www.workcover.wa.gov.au

Western Australian Road Safety Commission
https://www.roadwise.asn.au

WA Department of Transport - Accident Reporting
https://www.transport.wa.gov.au

Australian Motor Vehicle Insurance Information
https://www.aaa.asn.au

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.