Introduction to Part 6

6.1 'Part 6 of the Motor Accident Guidelines: Permanent impairment' has been developed for the purpose of assessing the degree of permanent impairment arising from the injury caused by a motor accident, in accordance with Division 7.5, section 7.21, and clause 2 of Schedule 2 of the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (NSW)(the Act).

6.2 This Part of the Motor Accident Guidelines is based on the American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, Fourth Edition (third printing, 1995) (AMA4 Guides). However, in this Part of the Motor Accident Guidelines, there are some very significant departures from that document. A medical assessor undertaking impairment assessments for the purposes of the Act must read this Part in conjunction with the AMA4 Guides. This Part is definitive with regard to the matters it addresses. Where it is silent on an issue, the AMA4 Guides should be followed. In particular, chapters 1 and 2 of the AMA4 Guides should be read carefully in conjunction with clauses 6.1 to 6.46 of this Part. Some of the examples in the AMA4 Guides are not valid for the assessment of impairment under the Act. It may be helpful for medical assessors to mark their working copy of the AMA4 Guides with the changes required by this Part.