Question 1

What is a CTP claim?

Accepted Answer

A CTP (Compulsory Third Party) claim is how someone injured in a NSW motor vehicle accident accesses treatment costs and income support — and, in some cases, a lump sum — through the at-fault vehicle's Green Slip insurer. It's a personal injury scheme, not a way to claim for car damage.

Question 2

Does CTP cover damage to my car?

Accepted Answer

No. CTP only covers personal injury. Damage to vehicles is handled separately, generally through your own comprehensive or third-party property insurance.

Question 3

Can I claim if the accident was my fault?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes. Most injured people, including drivers who were at fault, can access statutory benefits such as treatment costs and weekly payments — generally limited to the first 52 weeks (for accidents from 1 April 2023) if you were wholly or mostly at fault, and without access to a common law damages claim. Children who were 16 or under at the time of the accident can generally receive treatment and care for as long as they need it, regardless of fault.

Question 4

What's the difference between statutory benefits and common law damages?

Accepted Answer

Statutory benefits are the treatment costs and weekly payments most injured people can access, generally regardless of fault. Common law damages are a lump sum for loss of income and, in more serious cases, pain and suffering — generally only available if another driver was at fault, you weren't mostly at fault, and your injury is more than a threshold injury.

Question 5

What is a "threshold injury"?

Accepted Answer

It's the current term (it replaced "minor injury" from 1 April 2023) for injuries that are generally soft-tissue — to muscles, tendons or ligaments, but not nerve damage or a full or partial tear of a tendon, ligament, meniscus or cartilage — and/or a threshold psychological injury. It matters because threshold injuries generally have shorter benefit periods (up to 52 weeks for accidents from 1 April 2023) and don't qualify for common law damages.

Question 6

I was a passenger, pedestrian or cyclist — can I still claim?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes. Passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists injured by a motor vehicle can usually claim CTP benefits regardless of fault. Which CTP insurer you claim against depends on the vehicles involved and who was at fault, so for a passenger it may be the car they were in or another vehicle. If you're not sure, CTP Assist (1300 656 919) can help you identify the right insurer.

Question 7

What if the other vehicle was unidentified or uninsured (a hit-and-run)?

Accepted Answer

You can generally claim against the Nominal Defendant, a NSW Government-backed fund that stands in for the missing insurer. For an unidentified vehicle you'll generally need to show you made a genuine effort to identify it — for example reporting to police and speaking with any witnesses — so report the accident promptly.

Question 8

How long do I have to make a CTP claim?

Accepted Answer

You should claim as soon as possible. As a general rule, claiming within 28 days of the accident means weekly payments can be backdated to the day after the accident; you can generally still claim up to 3 months after the accident, though payments may only start from when you claim. Claims made later than 3 months are only accepted in limited circumstances.

Question 9

What if I'm outside the 3-month window?

Accepted Answer

It may still be possible in some circumstances, generally where there's a full and satisfactory explanation for the delay. Speak to a lawyer as soon as possible if you think you're outside the window — the sooner you get advice, the more options are usually available.

Question 10

How long do I have to make a common law damages claim?

Accepted Answer

Generally within 3 years of the accident. If you want weekly payments to keep going beyond 2 years, a damages claim generally needs to be lodged within 2 years.

Question 11

How long can I receive weekly payments?

Accepted Answer

Weekly payments generally stop after 104 weeks (2 years), unless you have a pending common law damages claim — in which case they may continue, generally up to 156 weeks where whole person impairment is 10% or less, or up to 260 weeks where it's more than 10%.

Question 12

Is there a time limit on disputing an insurer's decision?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes. You can usually ask for an internal review within 28 days of the decision, and a review of a medical assessment certificate generally needs to be sought within 28 days of it being issued.

Question 13

What if I've only recently realised I was injured?

Accepted Answer

Some injuries — particularly psychological ones, or those that develop gradually — aren't always obvious straight away. Time limits still generally apply, so it's worth seeing a doctor and getting advice as soon as you notice symptoms, rather than waiting.

Question 14

Do I need a lawyer for my CTP claim?

Accepted Answer

Often not. Many statutory benefits claims — weekly payments and treatment — run without a lawyer, and CTP Assist (run by SIRA, 1300 656 919) gives free information and support along the way. A lawyer's help tends to matter when something goes wrong or the stakes rise: your claim is denied, the insurer says your injury is a threshold injury and you disagree, benefits are cut off, fault is disputed, you receive an offer, or you may have a common law damages claim, a serious injury or a claim after a fatal accident. Our free claim check looks at where your claim is up to — if it doesn't look like you need a lawyer, we'll say so.

Question 15

Is CTP Lawyer a law firm?

Accepted Answer

No. CTP Lawyer is a free service, not a law firm. We explain how the NSW CTP scheme generally works, look at where your claim is up to, and point you to the help it needs — an independent, specialist motor accident lawyer when your case calls for one, and doctors and allied health providers for treatment. We don't give legal or medical advice and we don't act for you.

Question 16

Does it cost anything to use CTP Lawyer?

Accepted Answer

No. Our claim check and any referral are free, and you're never obliged to use any lawyer, doctor or allied health provider we refer you to. If you do go ahead, the lawyer or provider will explain their own fees and how they're handled — ask before you commit.

Question 17

What does "no win, no fee" mean?

Accepted Answer

It generally means a lawyer only charges their professional fees if your claim succeeds. Many motor accident lawyers offer some form of no win, no fee arrangement, but the exact terms vary — always ask for a written costs disclosure before you engage anyone, including what happens if your claim doesn't succeed.

Question 18

How much will a lawyer cost me?

Accepted Answer

Legal costs in CTP claims are regulated — maximum amounts for statutory benefits and damages claims are set by the Motor Accident Injuries Regulation and indexed each year. Any lawyer you engage should give you a written costs agreement explaining exactly how their fees work before you commit to anything.

Question 19

Is there any free legal help available?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SIRA funds a free CTP Legal Advisory Service for questions about statutory benefits claims (accidents from 1 December 2017). It doesn't cover common law damages claims, older-scheme claims, or matters already at internal review or the Personal Injury Commission. CTP Assist (1300 656 919) can connect you with it.

Question 20

Can you help me find a doctor or physio?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you need treatment, or medical evidence for your claim, we can refer you to a doctor experienced with CTP claims and to allied health providers — physiotherapy, psychology, exercise physiology and similar. You can also keep seeing your own GP or treating team; it's your choice. Any doctor or allied health provider is responsible for their own assessment, advice and treatment.

Question 21

What is a Certificate of Fitness?

Accepted Answer

In NSW CTP claims, your doctor completes a Certificate of Fitness, which records your injuries and your capacity for work. It's part of the medical evidence your claim relies on, so it generally helps to see a doctor soon after the accident and to keep your certificates up to date while you're recovering.

Question 22

Will the insurer pay for my treatment?

Accepted Answer

Generally, the CTP insurer pays for treatment and care that is reasonable and necessary for your accident injuries, within the benefit periods that apply to you. For accidents from 1 April 2023, if you have a threshold injury or were wholly or mostly at fault, treatment and care is generally limited to the first 52 weeks; children who were 16 or under at the time of the accident can receive treatment and care for as long as they need it, regardless of fault. The insurer decides what it approves, so check with it before starting treatment where you can and keep your receipts. If it declines a treatment request, you can generally ask for an internal review. We can't promise that any particular treatment will be approved or funded.

Question 23

Do I have to use a doctor you refer me to?

Accepted Answer

No. A referral is only ever an option. You can stay with your own GP, physio or psychologist, and you can change your mind at any time. If a provider we refer you to is connected with us, we'll tell you before you decide.

Question 24

My insurer said no — what can I do?

Accepted Answer

You can generally ask the insurer for an internal review, usually within 28 days of the decision. If you're still unhappy after that, you can apply to the Personal Injury Commission (PIC), an independent tribunal that handles CTP disputes.

Question 25

What is the Personal Injury Commission?

Accepted Answer

It's the independent NSW tribunal, running since 1 March 2021, that handles merit reviews, medical assessments and claims assessments for CTP disputes.

Question 26

Who do I complain to about how my insurer has treated me?

Accepted Answer

The Independent Review Office (IRO) handles complaints about CTP insurer conduct, on 13 94 76. This is different from disputing a specific decision, which generally goes through internal review and then the Personal Injury Commission.

Question 27

What is an independent medical examination?

Accepted Answer

It's an assessment the insurer arranges, often with a doctor who hasn't treated you before, usually as part of reviewing or disputing an aspect of your claim. It's separate from your own treating doctors.

Question 28

Can I get free help understanding a dispute?

Accepted Answer

CTP Assist, run by SIRA, gives free information and support about CTP claims on 1300 656 919. For advice on a specific dispute, an independent CTP lawyer can talk you through your options — disputes are one of the times a lawyer's help tends to matter, and we can introduce you to one if you'd like.

Question 29

What if I disagree with a medical assessment used against my claim?

Accepted Answer

You can generally seek a review, usually within 28 days of the certificate being issued. This is a formal process, so it's worth getting advice from an independent CTP lawyer about your options.

Question 30

What does CTP Lawyer actually do?

Accepted Answer

We give free, plain-English information about the NSW CTP scheme and run a free check on where your claim is up to. Then we point you to the help your case needs: an independent, specialist CTP lawyer when it calls for one (many claims don't), and doctors experienced with CTP claims and allied health providers for treatment and medical evidence. You choose whether to go ahead.

Question 31

How do you choose who to refer me to?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what your claim needs. For legal help, we refer people to independent, specialist motor accident (CTP) lawyers. For treatment, we refer people to doctors experienced with CTP claims and to allied health providers. We'll tell you if a provider we refer you to is connected with us, and you decide whether to go ahead — there's no obligation.

Question 32

What happens to my information?

Accepted Answer

It's used to give you a claim check and, only with your consent, to refer you to an independent lawyer or healthcare provider. Details about your injuries are health information, which we treat as sensitive information. We don't sell your information. See our Privacy Policy for the full detail.

Question 33

Will using CTP Lawyer affect my claim?

Accepted Answer

No. Using our free claim check or speaking with us doesn't change your claim in any way — it's general information. What happens next, including whether you speak with a lawyer or a doctor we refer you to, is up to you.

Question 34

Is this legal or medical advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything on this site, including our claim check, is general information about the NSW CTP scheme — it isn't personal legal or medical advice and shouldn't be relied on as a substitute for it. For advice about your claim, speak with an independent CTP lawyer; for your health, speak with your doctor.

Question 35

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Use our free claim check or give us a call. It takes about 3 minutes online, there's no obligation, and it's completely free.

Frequently asked questions

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