CTP Lawyers – CTP Claims Guide
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Principal Lawyer and Director · Last updated 27 August 2026
4.9 from 265+ verified Google reviews Read all reviews
Updated 21/08/2026
Key Takeaway: CTP lawyers NSW help injured drivers, passengers and pedestrians claim under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017. Non-threshold injuries with more than 10% WPI can access lump sum damages up to $691,000 for non-economic loss. Lodge within 28 days to backdate income support.
CTP Lawyers NSW: Quick Answers
Withstand Lawyers focuses exclusively on personal injury and compensation law and has extensive experience in NSW CTP and serious injury claims. Over $60 million recovered since 2014 for clients across Australia and NSW, a 99% success rate, 4.9 stars on Google, and no win no fee, so there is no financial risk to you.
Call 1800 952 898 for a free claim check
What is a CTP claim in NSW and who can bring one?
A CTP claim is a compensation claim brought under the NSW compulsory third party insurance scheme after a motor vehicle accident. It is regulated by the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 and administered by SIRA. Every registered vehicle in NSW carries CTP (green slip) insurance for exactly this purpose: paying the injured person, not the driver at fault.
You can bring a CTP claim in NSW if a motor vehicle caused your injuries. That includes drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. It also includes people injured by an unidentified or uninsured vehicle through the Nominal Defendant.
SIRA’s 2024-25 annual report recorded 14,789 new CTP claims and $1.7 billion in total scheme payments, with an average of $70,106 per claim. That average includes short recovery injuries paid only weekly benefits. Non-threshold lump sum damages run materially higher.
Threshold or non-threshold injury: why this decides your NSW CTP payout
Threshold injury versus non-threshold injury is the single most important decision in any NSW CTP claim. The MAIA 2017 splits every injured person into one of two pathways, and the pathway decides how long you get paid and whether you can claim a lump sum.
Threshold injuries are minor soft tissue injuries and minor psychological injuries. Weekly benefits and treatment stop at 52 weeks. There is no lump sum.
Non-threshold injuries include fractures, disc protrusions with radiculopathy, ligament tears, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and diagnosed psychological injuries beyond adjustment disorder. Weekly benefits can continue past 52 weeks, and you can claim common law damages if you were not mostly at fault.
What are the two requirements for a NSW CTP lump sum?
To claim common law damages under NSW CTP you must meet both of the following:
- Your injury is non-threshold (not minor soft tissue and not minor psychological).
- You were not mostly at fault for the accident (contributory negligence of 61% or more disqualifies the damages claim).
Pain and suffering (non-economic loss) has an extra bar: your whole person impairment must be more than 10%. If your WPI is 10% or lower, you can still claim past and future economic loss, superannuation, treatment and care as non-economic loss is not the only head of damage.
What can you claim through a NSW CTP lawyer?
A NSW CTP claim covers weekly income support, treatment, and (for non-threshold injuries) a lump sum for economic and non-economic loss. The heads of damage are set by MAIA 2017 and administered by SIRA.
| Head of damage | What it covers | Who is eligible |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly income support | 95% of pre-accident earnings weeks 1-13; then 85% (partially working) or 80% (not working) weeks 14-52; beyond 52 weeks only if non-threshold and not mostly at fault | All injured people, subject to fault rules |
| Treatment and rehabilitation | Reasonable and necessary medical, physiotherapy, psychology, surgery, rehab | All injured people; threshold cuts off at 52 weeks |
| Past and future economic loss | Lost wages to date plus reduced future earning capacity, including superannuation | Non-threshold injury and not mostly at fault |
| Non-economic loss (pain and suffering) | Up to $691,000 (indexed from 1 October 2025) | Non-threshold, not mostly at fault, WPI above 10% |
| Care and domestic assistance | Attendant care and gratuitous care from family, past and future | Non-threshold, subject to care thresholds |
How much are NSW CTP payouts for common injuries?
NSW CTP payouts scale with whole person impairment, future work capacity, and future care needs. The ranges below are indicative for non-threshold injuries where liability is accepted; each claim turns on its own medical evidence and economic loss.
| Injury type | WPI % | Payout range | Key factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whiplash or single fracture, good recovery | Under 11% | $120,000 to $300,000 | Return to full duties; short time off work |
| Disc protrusion or shoulder tear, reduced work capacity | 11% or more | $400,000 to $700,000 | Surgery, permanent restrictions, future income loss |
| Multiple fractures or serious orthopaedic injury | 11% or more | $600,000 to $1.2 million | Long recovery, retraining, care needs |
| Spinal cord injury | 11% or more | $1.5 million to $6 million+ | Lifetime care, home modifications, no future work |
| Traumatic brain injury | 11% or more | $1 million to $5 million+ | Cognitive deficits, supervision needs, loss of earnings |
What are the NSW CTP time limits?
NSW CTP has four hard time limits under MAIA 2017. Miss one and you either lose income support back to day one, or lose the claim entirely unless you have a full and satisfactory explanation for the delay.
| Time limit | What you must do |
|---|---|
| 28 days from accident | Lodge your claim to have income support backdated to the accident date |
| 3 months from accident | Lodge a Personal Injury Benefits Form for weekly benefits and treatment expenses |
| 6 months from accident | Lodge an Application for Common Law Damages, for determination of your eligibility for a payout |
| 3 years from accident | File an Application for General Assessment with supporting docs, for general damages in the Personal Injury Commission |
The 28 days is the one people misread. It is NOT the deadline to claim. It is the deadline to backdate income support to the day of the accident. Lodge later and weekly payments start from the date the claim is received.
What is the NSW CTP claim process step by step?
A NSW CTP claim moves through five defined stages. The order is fixed by MAIA 2017; the timing depends on your medical evidence and the insurer’s response.
- Report the accident to the Police Assistance Line within 28 days so there is an official record.
- Get medical attention immediately. Early records are critical evidence for both liability and injury severity.
- Lodge your claim. Identify the at-fault vehicle’s CTP insurer, complete a personal injury claim form, submit it. Lodge within 28 days to backdate income support. Major NSW CTP insurers are NRMA, GIO, AAMI and QBE, all governed by SIRA.
- Liability decision. Within 9 months of lodging, the insurer must issue a liability decision (fault plus threshold or non-threshold). You can seek independent review through the Personal Injury Commission.
- Negotiate and settle. Your CTP lawyer NSW builds the evidence and negotiates. Most lump sum claims settle in negotiation or mediation without going to court.
Recent NSW CTP results Withstand Lawyers has recovered
Every claim turns on its own facts and these are not guarantees. Names have been changed for privacy.
Priya, 34, rear-ended at Parramatta intersection
A courier van hit Priya’s stationary sedan at speed on Church Street. She suffered a L5-S1 disc protrusion with radiculopathy and a partial rotator cuff tear. Assessed at 14% WPI. Withstand Lawyers negotiated settlement of $585,000 covering past economic loss, future economic loss, superannuation, treatment, and non-economic loss.
Marcus, 52, T-boned at a Newcastle roundabout
A driver ran the give-way sign and struck Marcus’s ute in the driver’s side. Marcus sustained multiple rib fractures, a fractured left wrist and a chronic adjustment disorder with major depression. Assessed at 22% WPI. Withstand Lawyers settled the CTP claim for $920,000, including a significant future economic loss component reflecting the loss of trade income to retirement age.
Aisha, 27, pedestrian hit reversing out of a driveway
Aisha was walking her dog when a vehicle reversed out of a Sydney driveway and struck her. She suffered a fractured pelvis, a fractured left wrist and PTSD. Assessed at 16% WPI. She spent 5 months off work and returned to reduced hours with ongoing physio and psychology. The claim settled for $640,000.
CTP Lawyers NSW: Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to make a CTP claim in NSW?
How much do CTP lawyers NSW charge?
Can I claim CTP compensation if I was partly at fault?
What is a threshold injury under NSW CTP?
How much is the maximum CTP payout in NSW?
How long does a NSW CTP claim take to settle?
Who pays my medical bills while a CTP claim is running?
Can passengers make a NSW CTP claim?
Do I have to go to court for a NSW CTP claim?
What if I was injured by a truck or motorcycle in NSW?
Why choose Withstand Lawyers for your NSW CTP claim?
When you are facing a serious injury, the firm you choose matters. Withstand Lawyers brings decades of combined experience and a proven record of helping seriously injured people across NSW rebuild their lives. Withstand Lawyers is dedicated to CTP and motor accident claims, combining deep legal knowledge with genuine client care and a relentless focus on the best result for you.
A serious injury changes everything, so Withstand Lawyers helps you return to what matters most, whether that’s family, work, or everyday life. We listen, we support, and we fight for your rights, handling your claim with professionalism and warmth.
Call 1800 952 898 for your free claim check
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About the author
Issa Rabaya · Principal Lawyer and Director
✓ Admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia ✓ LLB ✓ IRO-approved ✓ Law Society of NSW
Acts for injured people in CTP, workers compensation, TPD and public liability claims.
4.9 ★ — 265+ Reviews
“Working with Esther has been an absolute blessing during an incredibly difficult time. Anyone who has ever had to navigate an insurance claim knows just how difficult, overwhelming, and anxiety-inducing the entire process can be. Before reaching out to Withstand Lawyers, I was constantly stressed and deeply overwhelmed by the system. The firm made the initial intake process incredibly smooth, and they placed me in the hands of my lawyer, Esther. From that moment on, from the first conversation, I finally found my solid ground.
Esther has completely transformed how I navigate this unfortunate situation. Because she handles my matter directly, I have a direct line of contact with her and never have to jump through hoops to get support. Esther’s presence alone has given me immense confidence in my claim. What sets her apart is her perfect balance of professional mastery and genuine empathy. As a client, having a lawyer who truly listens and supports you when your mind is filled with doubt is a massive relief. She doesn’t just manage a file — she consistently protects her client’s peace of mind. Her recommendations are always highly logical, realistic, and clear-cut. She cuts through the legal confusion and tells you exactly where you stand, which is exactly what you need during the hardest times of your life.
I feel incredibly lucky to have Esther and her team at Withstand Lawyers by my side. For anyone out there facing a difficult time with an insurer and looking for a legal advocate who offers absolute clarity, strength, and compassion — I cannot recommend Esther highly enough. She is a truly admirable professional who genuinely cares about the people she protects. Truly grateful!”
“I have searched top lawyers (personal injury) in Sydney. I found Withstand Lawyers so I rang them up and asked I need lawyers that are nicer and more understanding despite what I am going through. They exceeded my expectations especially Issa, he always remind everyone to be more cautious when speaking to me and I really appreciate that. I am satisfied that my case (MVA) turned out to be successful. Withstand lawyers is more than 5 stars. Can’t recommend highly enough.”
“I would like to express my deepest appreciation for the incredible support I’ve received over the past 4.5 years. My case has been long, complicated, and filled with challenges, but Issa and his team stood by me through every step with genuine care, professionalism, and dedication. Their compassion has meant just as much to me as their legal expertise. They didn’t just handle my case, they helped me through some of the most difficult years of my life. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone who needs genuine support, honesty, and a team that truly cares about your wellbeing.”
“Thank you Withstand Lawyer for your exceptional work, professionalism and easy process for successfully assisting me with my TPD claim. I am thankful for your support. I highly recommend Withstand Lawyers and the services they provide.”
“Had a very positive experience with Withstand Lawyers. The team was professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the entire process. They took the time to explain everything clearly, kept me informed at every stage, and responded promptly to my questions. Their attention to detail and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome gave me confidence from start to finish. I truly appreciate their dedication and excellent service, and I would highly recommend Withstand Lawyers to anyone looking for reliable and trustworthy service.”
Meet Your Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers
Every motor vehicle accident claim is handled by a personal injury lawyer with dedicated motor vehicle accident experience.
Issa Rabaya
Director, Lawyer
Founder and Director with 12 years' experience since his 2014 admission, previously at the largest litigation law firm in Australia. A personal injury lawyer for serious injuries, leading Withstand Lawyers' work across every claim type, with settlements reaching into the millions, including a $6.3 million motor vehicle accident result.
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Minaa Mohmand
Special Counsel
Special Counsel with over a decade of experience since 2016, handling complex, higher-value claims: serious injuries, disputed liability and matters heading to litigation, across motor vehicle accidents, work injury damages, public liability and TPD.
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Esther Ihn
Senior Associate
Senior Associate with over a decade of experience exclusively in personal injury claims since 2014, handling hundreds of matters across motor vehicle accidents, workers compensation, work injury damages and public liability. The team's go-to for serious-injury claims.
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Mihana Wen
Associate
Associate with 6 years' experience since 2020 and a recent $1.95 million motor vehicle accident settlement, known for not taking no for an answer and lodging appeal submissions for injuries insurers try to deem below the 11% whole person impairment threshold for pain and suffering. The go-to for car accident claims, guiding clients from the first CTP submission through to settlement with a compassionate, hands-on approach.
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