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Overview
If you have a life-changing injury, or someone you love has died because of dangerous driving, you and your whānau may be dealing with sudden loss, major changes and unexpected costs. Support is available, whether or not the driver has been charged with a crime.
You and your whānau may be experiencing shock, grief, anger, uncertainty or significant changes to daily life. These responses are common after a serious road crash.
Where to get support
A life-changing injury or the death of a loved one can affect many parts of your life. You do not need to wait for the driver to be charged with a crime before getting support.
Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support can provide practical and emotional support if you:
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have been injured
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have lost someone you love
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saw the crash happen
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are supporting someone affected by the crash.
For more information about how Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support can help, visit their website:
Road injuries and deaths | Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support(external link)
If you would like to do a karakia or a ceremonial blessing, Victim Support can help.
You and your whānau may choose to have a karakia or another ceremonial blessing at the place where the crash happened. For many, this is an important way to honour and process the loss of a loved one. Victim Support can help you arrange this.
How Police may be involved
Police investigate the crash and decide whether there is enough evidence to charge the driver with a crime.
During an investigation
Police examine the crash scene, speak to witnesses and gather other evidence. This means that Police may not lay charges straight away because they may need time to gather and consider this evidence.
Depending on the evidence, the driver may face one or more charges involving:
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careless driving, if the driver did not take the care a reasonable driver should have taken
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dangerous driving, if the way the vehicle was driven was, or might have been, dangerous to other people
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reckless driving, if the driver knew their driving could be dangerous but continued regardless of the risk
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alcohol or drugs, if it was involved
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failing to stop or help after the crash
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manslaughter in particularly serious cases.
After an investigation
After their investigation, Police decide which charges the evidence supports.
If the driver is charged with a crime, there may be criminal proceedings in court. If Police charge the driver with a crime, the case may be heard in the District Court or in some cases, the High Court.
Read more about criminal proceedings:
How the coroner may be involved
A road death may also be investigated by a coroner. The coroner looks at how, where, when and why the person died, it is not about determining criminal guilt. It can help answer questions about how the death occurred and identify ways to help prevent similar deaths in the future.
The Police investigation and the coroner’s inquiry serve different purposes. Both may take place.
Read more about Coroner's Court on the Victims Information website:
If you have suffered a life-changing injury
If dangerous driving has caused serious or life-changing injury, you can get support for the effects it has caused.
Depending on the situation, ACC may cover your medical treatment. ACC may also provide help with costs related to:
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rehabilitation
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help with lost income.
If a loved one has died
If you, your family and whānau are dealing with a sudden death of a loved one, ACC may be able to help cover:
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funeral or memorial costs
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support for some of the income the person would have earned
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some support relating to children.
The support available depends on what happened.
Read more about financial support if someone has died from an injury or an accident:
If criminal charges are likely or have been laid
If Police confirm that criminal charges for causing the death are highly likely, or charges have already been laid against the driver, family or whānau may be able to get help through the Victim Assistance Scheme.
Depending on the situation, this may include:
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help with immediate costs
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counselling or rongoā
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travel for nominated people to attend court proceedings in another city
Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support can talk with you about whether you may be eligible for assistance through the Victim Assistance Scheme.
Read more about the Victim Assistance Scheme:
Who can help
You do not have to navigate this alone. If you choose, you can contact Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support for more support. They can explain the support available, answer questions about the justice process, and connect you, your family and whānau with other support services.- Website: Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support(external link)
- Phone: 0800 842 846