Been in a crash in Alfords Point? Start here

The sooner the better. The insurer generally needs your claim within 28 days for weekly payments to be back-paid to the day after the accident. Claims made later, up to 3 months after the accident, are still possible, but payments may then start from the claim date. Common law damages claims generally have to be made within 3 years. Your own dates may differ, so check them early.

Three main kinds. Doctors experienced with CTP claims, for diagnosis and the Certificate of Fitness. Allied health, such as physiotherapy, psychology and exercise physiology, for treatment and recovery. And an independent lawyer experienced in CTP claims when the case calls for one, for example a refused claim, a threshold dispute or a damages claim. Many people only need the first two.

Often not. Many CTP claims for statutory benefits run without a lawyer. Legal help tends to matter when a claim is refused, the insurer says your injury is threshold and you disagree, payments stop, fault is disputed, an offer arrives or a damages claim may be open. SIRA's free CTP Legal Advisory Service can also help with some statutory benefits questions.

Usually not. Most injured people can claim statutory benefits whoever was at fault. The main exception is being wholly or mostly at fault, which means contributory negligence above 61%. Then weekly payments and treatment are generally limited to the first 52 weeks, and damages aren't available. Children who were 16 or under at the time can receive treatment and care for as long as they need it, regardless of fault.

Not at first, in most cases. If the crash is also a work injury, you generally need to claim workers compensation through your employer's insurer first. That is a different scheme from CTP, and CTP statutory benefits are generally not payable where workers compensation is available. You may still be able to claim damages from the at-fault driver's CTP insurer, so get advice. Commuting crashes depend on the facts. Tell us about the trip and we can point you to the right help.

You tell us what happened, when, and where your claim is up to: whether you've lodged, what the insurer has said and how your treatment is going. We check the time limits that apply and whether anything is in dispute. Then we explain your options and point you to the help that fits, whether that's doctors and allied health, an independent CTP lawyer or simply the next form.

In many cases, yes. If you're in hospital or finding it hard to manage, a partner, parent or adult child can start the conversation for you. We may need your consent before discussing your details, and the insurer will have its own rules about who it can speak to. For a child's claim, a parent or guardian usually acts for them.

Generally, yes. Roads through the Royal National Park are public roads, and a crash involving a motor vehicle there is handled under the same NSW CTP scheme as anywhere else in the state. If no other vehicle was involved, whether you can claim depends on what you were riding or driving, so tell us exactly what happened. Note the nearest picnic area, beach turn-off or landmark so the location is clear.