Engaging a solicitor starts a formal relationship, with paperwork and responsibilities on both sides. It helps to arrive prepared. Bring the documents you already have, read the costs documents before you sign, and ask about anything that isn't clear. If you're in Cherrybrook, you can do all of this without visiting an office. Our free claim check comes first, so you only engage someone if your claim needs it.
The Hills · Working with a compensation solicitor
Working with a compensation solicitor from Cherrybrook
The first meeting, what to bring, the costs documents and the early weeks. No office visit needed.
Postcode: 2126
- Free claim check, no obligation
- By phone & online, no office to visit
- Helping people in Cherrybrook & Westleigh
What engaging a solicitor means
Engaging someone is a decision, not a formality, so it's fine to take it step by step. You can have a first conversation, meet, read the costs documents in your own time and only then agree to anything. A solicitor who works on motor accident claims will generally expect questions at this stage. The point is that you know what you're agreeing to before the work starts.
If our claim check suggests your claim needs legal help, we'll connect you with an independent solicitor experienced in motor accident claims. You're under no obligation to engage them, and you can choose someone else. Either way, the steps on this page are much the same. You can also ask any solicitor whether they are an accredited specialist. It's one of several reasonable questions to raise before you engage anyone.
The costs disclosure and costs agreement
Before or soon after you engage a solicitor, you should generally receive a written costs disclosure. It explains how the solicitor's costs will be worked out, gives an estimate of the total where they can, and usually sets out what you can do if you have a question or a concern about costs later. It's information rather than a contract, but it tells you what to expect.
Once you're comfortable with the disclosure, you'll usually be asked to sign a costs agreement. This is the contract between you and the solicitor about costs. There's no need to sign it on the day you receive it. Read it in your own time, ask someone you trust to look over it, and write down your questions. A solicitor should be willing to explain any clause in plain English.
Ask for it in writing
Anything you're told about costs is worth having in writing. Keep the disclosure, the signed agreement and any emails about fees together with your other claim papers.
Read next:No win, no fee explained
Meeting a solicitor from Cherrybrook
If Westmead Hospital or Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital treated you, the solicitor will usually want those records early. Your written consent lets them request the files, so you don't have to collect them. The drive to Castle Hill, about 4 km away, isn't part of engaging a solicitor. First meetings commonly happen by phone or video, and the costs documents can be sent online for you to read in your own time. Whether you live in the Hornsby Shire Council area or anywhere else in NSW, engaging a solicitor for a motor accident claim works the same way: a first meeting, a costs disclosure, a costs agreement, then work on your file.
- Region
- The Hills
- Postcode
- 2126
- Distance to Castle Hill
- ~4 km
- Local government area
- Hornsby Shire Council
Is it time to engage a solicitor?
Not everyone who reads about solicitors needs one right now. The lists below reflect common situations. If yours isn't here, or you're torn, talk it through with us by phone or online first.
Often worth talking to a lawyer
- An offer has been made and you want someone to read it before you respond
- Letters are piling up and you can't keep track of what needs answering
- You're handling a claim for someone who can't manage it themselves
- Your recovery is slower than expected and a lump sum claim may be possible
You may not need one
- You're still deciding whether to claim at all
- Your claim has only just been lodged and nothing has been decided
- You mainly want a letter explained, which CTP Assist can often help with
Before a first meeting, check that your Certificate of Fitness is current. If you need a doctor who understands CTP claims, or allied health support, we can suggest doctors and allied health as well.
Not quite your situation?
- Injured at work rather than on the road? That is usually a workers compensation claim, which runs under different rules from CTP. The free claim check can point you to the right help. Free claim check
- If you haven't yet worked out what kind of claim you have, or whether any lawyer would help, the compensation lawyer page starts there. Compensation lawyer in Cherrybrook
- If your question is how a no win, no fee arrangement works and what might still be payable, the no win, no fee page explains it. No win no fee lawyer in Cherrybrook
- If your questions are about checking a solicitor's credentials, how solicitors are regulated or changing solicitors, the personal injury solicitor page covers them. Personal injury solicitor in Cherrybrook
Documents worth gathering before you meet
A little preparation makes the first meeting more useful. Most of these are things you already hold. If something's missing, don't put off the meeting; the solicitor can usually request records once you've engaged them.
- Names and contact details of any witnesses
- The police event number, if the crash was reported
- A list of your GP, other doctors and allied health practitioners treating you
- Payslips, tax returns or other records of what you earned before the accident
- A copy of any statement you gave the insurer
- Every letter and decision from the insurer, with the dates you received them
- Your CTP claim number, if you've lodged a claim
General information, not legal advice. Each solicitor may ask for different documents, and time limits apply.
Free claim check
Free claim check, then the right help
Our claim check is free and there's no obligation. We'll look at your claim and, if it needs legal help, connect you with an independent solicitor.
Meeting by phone or video
Most solicitors who work on motor accident claims are used to meeting clients by phone or video. It suits people who are in pain, can't drive yet, live far away or are juggling treatment. You'll usually be sent a link or a call time in advance. Find somewhere quiet, have your documents nearby, and keep a notepad handy for anything you want to remember.
Before a remote meeting, check the technology rather than the dress code. Test the video link, charge your phone and have your documents within reach. If a family member is helping you, let the solicitor know they're joining. Afterwards, you'll generally receive a summary or the next documents by email, which you can read in your own time.
You, your solicitor and the insurer
After you engage a solicitor, the insurer will generally be told in writing. You may notice that fewer letters arrive at home, or that copies come to you as well as to the solicitor. Either is normal. If the insurer contacts you directly about anything beyond everyday matters, it's sensible to tell your solicitor before you respond.
Engaging a solicitor doesn't mean you can't answer your phone. If your case manager calls about payments or treatment, you can generally talk it through as usual. Where a conversation turns to fault, settlement or anything that needs your signature, it's reasonable to say you'd like your solicitor involved and to ask for the request in writing.
Your first conversation with a solicitor
A first meeting is mostly the solicitor getting a clear picture of your claim. You'll talk through what happened and where things stand with the insurer, and they'll read the documents you bring and check the key dates. Towards the end, they'll usually say whether and how they can help, how their costs work and what they would do first if you engage them.
It's normal to feel a little overwhelmed at a first meeting, especially soon after a crash. A few simple habits help: keep your documents in one folder, bring a short timeline of what's happened, and write down your questions before you start. If there's anything you'd rather discuss privately, you can ask for part of the meeting to be just you and the solicitor.
- Reads the insurer's letters and decisions
- Notes which records are missing
- Outlines what they'd do first if you engage them
- Answers your questions about the process
What happens in the first few weeks
The first weeks after you engage a solicitor are mostly about gathering information. They'll usually ask you to sign authorities so they can request records from hospitals, your GP and other treating practitioners. They may also ask for records of your earnings. Some requests take time to come back, so this stage can feel quiet. That doesn't generally mean nothing is happening.
A good early plan is specific. It says what the solicitor is waiting on, what they expect to do once it arrives, and whether anything is time-sensitive. It doesn't need to predict how the claim will end, and no one can honestly do that this early. Ask for the plan in writing if it helps you keep track.
- Requests to hospitals, your GP and treating practitioners
- A request to the insurer for copies of its file
- A look at any recent decision you may want reviewed
- A written outline of the next steps
Frequently asked questions
In most claims, yes. Many people keep speaking to their case manager about treatment approvals, payment dates and travel costs. It's sensible to tell your solicitor about those conversations, and to check with them before agreeing to anything more formal, such as giving a statement, attending an assessment or signing a form. If you're unsure whether a call is routine, ask the case manager to put the request in writing.
Generally, yes, for the formal side of the claim. Once engaged, the solicitor usually tells the insurer they're acting for you, and most letters and requests then go through them. You'll still be involved, because they'll check facts with you before responding. Everyday matters, such as treatment requests and payment dates, may still be handled directly with your case manager.
Often you can. Many solicitors send costs agreements and authorities through a secure online signing service, and some accept a scanned or photographed signature. A few documents may still need a handwritten signature, or a witness, depending on what they're for. The solicitor will tell you which is which. Keep a copy of everything you sign, even when it's done with a click.
Often, yes. Ask when the meeting is being arranged, so the solicitor can plan for it; it's especially worth doing before you discuss the costs documents. How an interpreter is arranged can vary between solicitors. Separately, CTP Assist on 1300 656 919 can arrange an interpreter for questions about a CTP claim. A family member can help with everyday things, but a professional interpreter is usually better for anything you sign.
Usually, yes. Many people bring a partner, relative or friend for support, especially if the injuries make it hard to concentrate or remember details. Let the solicitor know beforehand. They may want to speak with you alone for part of the meeting, which is normal and helps keep your discussions confidential. A support person can also take notes, which is useful when a lot of information comes at once.
In the first weeks, the solicitor gathers information. You'll usually sign authorities for your records, send copies of insurer letters, and answer questions about your injuries and earnings. The solicitor tells the insurer they're involved, checks every deadline and looks at any recent decision. By the end of that early stage, you should generally have a plan for what comes next. Keep going to treatment throughout.
Compensation solicitor: suburbs near Cherrybrook
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CTP Lawyer is not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice; the independent lawyer you speak with can advise on your own situation.