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Car Accident Lawyers — CTP Claims. Maximum Compensation.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident — as a driver, passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian — you may be entitled to compensation under your state's compulsory third party (CTP) insurance scheme. CTP schemes are complex, time-limited, and state-specific. A car accident lawyer ensures you claim everything you are entitled to — treatment costs, lost income, and pain and suffering — without making costly mistakes early in the claim.
⚠ CTP claim time limits vary by state — as short as 28 days to report and 6 months to lodge in some schemes. Missing these deadlines can extinguish your right to compensation entirely. Get assessed today.
What We Help With
Car accident compensation — every claim type covered.
CTP claims cover a wide range of injury types and claimant categories. Whether you were the at-fault driver, a not-at-fault driver, a passenger, cyclist, or pedestrian, there may be entitlements available under the applicable scheme.
Not-at-Fault Driver or Passenger
Where another driver caused the accident, the injured party has the strongest CTP claim — covering treatment costs, past and future lost income, care expenses, and pain and suffering general damages up to the state cap.
At-Fault Driver Claims
In some states (including NSW and Victoria), an at-fault driver may still be entitled to statutory treatment and some income support benefits under the no-fault component of the scheme, even where general damages are unavailable.
Pedestrian & Cyclist Claims
Pedestrians and cyclists injured by a motor vehicle are typically entitled to CTP compensation as if they were a passenger — and may also have public liability or council liability claims where the road or footpath was poorly maintained.
Unregistered or Unidentified Vehicle
Where the at-fault vehicle was unregistered or the driver fled the scene (hit and run), claims can still be made against the Nominal Defendant in most states — the statutory insurer of last resort for exactly these situations.
Psychological Injury from Car Accident
PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other psychological injuries caused by or following a car accident are compensable heads of damage in most CTP schemes — including where the psychological injury is a secondary consequence of a physical injury.
Fatal Accident & Dependency Claims
Where a person has died as a result of a motor vehicle accident, their dependants — spouse, de facto partner, children — may be entitled to a dependency claim for past and future financial loss under the applicable CTP scheme.
What the Law Says
CTP insurance — how the schemes work by state.
Australia has no national CTP scheme. Each state and territory runs its own scheme with different insurers, forms, time limits, and compensation entitlements. The same accident can produce very different outcomes depending on which state it occurred in.
NSW — the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017
NSW operates a hybrid fault/no-fault scheme. Statutory benefits (treatment and some income support) are available to all injured parties regardless of fault for the first 26 weeks. Beyond 26 weeks, benefits continue only for claimants who are not mostly at fault. General damages (pain and suffering) require a threshold injury assessment — minor psychological injuries are excluded. Claims go to icare/State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).
Victoria — the Transport Accident Commission (TAC)
Victoria's TAC is a no-fault scheme — treatment and income support are available to all injured parties regardless of fault. Common law damages (pain and suffering and economic loss) require a serious injury threshold — the injury must be a serious long-term impairment. TAC claims are lodged with the Transport Accident Commission directly. No-fault benefits mean many Victorians are entitled to significant support regardless of how the accident happened.
Queensland — the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC)
Queensland operates a fault-based CTP scheme — general damages require that the at-fault driver was legally responsible. Claimants under 25 on the date of accident can access an additional payment regime. Claims go through the insurer named on the at-fault vehicle's CTP policy. Queensland also has a separate Personal Injury Proceedings Act process for claims that cannot be resolved through the insurer.
Western Australia — Insurance Commission of WA (ICWA)
WA operates a fault-based scheme through the Insurance Commission of WA. Claims must be lodged within 3 years of the accident date. The scheme covers not-at-fault parties for economic loss and general damages — at-fault parties have no claim. Medical treatment is not funded directly by ICWA in the same way as no-fault states — the compensation for treatment costs flows through the damages assessment.
South Australia — the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 (SA)
South Australia operates a no-fault scheme from 2019 — all injured people receive income replacement and treatment regardless of fault. Common law damages remain available for serious injuries but require a permanent impairment threshold. Economic loss damages are subject to a 5-times-average-weekly-earnings cap per year. SA operates with multiple licensed CTP insurers.
Heads of damage — what you can claim for
Personal injury compensation from a car accident can include: past and future medical, hospital, and rehabilitation expenses; past and future loss of income and earning capacity; care and assistance costs (paid and unpaid); general damages (pain and suffering, loss of amenity of life) where applicable under the state scheme; and out-of-pocket expenses. A lawyer ensures all compensable heads are included — insurers do not volunteer compensation they are not required to pay.
How It Works
One request. A free CTP claim assessment.
Tell us when and where the accident happened, your state, and the nature of your injuries. A car accident lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation assessment.
Submit Your RequestDescribe the accident and injury
Tell us when and where the accident occurred, your role (driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist), your state, and the injuries you suffered. Note any treatment you have had.
Matched to a CTP specialist
Your request is matched to a personal injury lawyer experienced in your state's CTP scheme — NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, or other territories.
Free assessment arranged
A car accident lawyer contacts you for a free assessment — advising on the entitlements available in your state, the claims process, and any time limits that apply.
Common Questions
Car accident claims — frequently asked questions.
Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?
In no-fault states (Victoria, South Australia), statutory benefits are available regardless of fault. In fault-based states, contributory negligence reduces — but does not necessarily extinguish — your claim. If you were 50% at fault, your damages are typically reduced by 50%. Only where you are solely responsible for the accident would a fault-based claim fail entirely. A lawyer advises on fault apportionment and what you are likely to be entitled to in your state.
How much is my car accident claim worth?
The value depends on: the severity and permanence of the injury; the economic impact (lost income, reduced earning capacity); treatment costs; care costs; and the applicable state scheme (which may cap general damages or exclude certain types of loss). A minor soft tissue injury may be worth a few thousand dollars. A serious permanent injury causing long-term incapacity can be worth hundreds of thousands or more. A lawyer provides a realistic assessment based on your specific injury and circumstances.
What happens if the other driver was uninsured or fled the scene?
All states have a Nominal Defendant — a statutory insurer of last resort — that handles claims where the at-fault vehicle was unregistered or unidentified (hit and run). Claims against the Nominal Defendant typically have shorter time limits and additional reporting requirements. In NSW the time limit for a Nominal Defendant claim involving an unidentified vehicle is 3 months. Reporting the incident to police promptly is important for these claims.
Can I claim for psychological injury after a car accident?
Yes. PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other psychological conditions caused by or following a motor vehicle accident are recognised compensable injuries in all state CTP schemes. In NSW, psychological injuries are assessed against a Minor Psychological Injury definition — claims falling outside it (i.e., more serious psychological conditions) are treated as general claims and can proceed to general damages assessment. Consistent treatment records from a psychiatrist or psychologist are important for these claims.