Making a claim
Reporting the accident to police
The law requires that the driver of a motor vehicle involved in a crash in which a person is injured, must report the accident to the police [s287 Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 1999].
There is now also a legal requirement on the person who proposes making a CTP claim to ensure that appropriate notice of the accident has been given to a police officer before the claim can proceed.
If you were not the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident and you wish to make a claim and know the accident has not been reported, complete a Report of Traffic Incident (PDF 260 K) form and take it to the nearest police station to where the accident occurred. If you were the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident, report the accident in person to the nearest police station to where the accident occurred.
How to make a claim
A claim for compensation is lodged with, and handled by, the CTP insurer of the 'at fault' vehicle. To make a claim you must:
- Obtain the registration number of the vehicle that caused the accident;
- Ensure the accident is reported to police. If the police did not attend the accident and no one else has reported it, you will need to do so. See reporting to police above;
- If possible, obtain the Police accident report reference number from the police;
- Get a Notice of Accident Claim Form (PDF 420 K) available from any CTP insurer or download from this site. If making a Fatal Injury Claim, complete a Fatal Injury Claim Form (PDF 350 K);
- Complete the claim form as completely as you can. Failure to complete all sections of the form may hold up your claim;
- Have your medical practitioner complete the medical certificate that is part of the claim form;
- Send the completed form to the CTP insurer of the 'at-fault' vehicle. Attach copies of any reports, documents accounts and receipts that you have. See Licensed Insurers for the addresses of each CTP insurer in Queensland;
- Send the claim form to the insurer as soon as possible as timeframes apply (see timeframes below); and
- If you do not know who the insurer is, contact the CTP Helpline on 1300 302 568. To assist the Helpline operator, have on hand any details of the accident, registration number of the 'at fault' vehicle and if possible, the Police accident report reference number.
If the 'at-fault' motor vehicle in the accident is not able to be identified, or is unregistered and therefore uninsured, the claim form should be sent to the Nominal Defendant, GPO Box 2203, Brisbane Qld 4001. If however, the 'at fault' motor vehicle is registered in another State or Territory, you may wish to contact the relevant authority.
| State | Website | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Motor Accidents Authority | 1300 137 600 |
| VIC | Transport Accident Commission | 1300 654 329 |
| TAS | Motor Accidents Insurance Board | 1800 006 224 |
| WA | Insurance Commission of WA | 1800 643 338 |
| SA | Motor Accident Commission | (08) 8221 6377 |
| NT | Territory Insurance Office | 1300 301 833 |
| ACT | NRMA Insurance Ltd | (02) 6240 4700 |
Timeframes
There are timeframes for lodgement of your notice of claim under the legislation.
The notice must be given:
- if it is to be given to the Nominal Defendant because the motor vehicle can not be identified - within 3 months after the motor vehicle accident; or
- in any other case - within the period ending on the earlier of the following dates:
- 9 months after the motor vehicle accident or, if symptoms of the injury are not immediately apparent, the first appearance of symptoms of the injury;
- If you retain a solicitor/lawyer, then within one month of the first consultation with the solicitor/lawyer.
Your claim could be rejected if you lodge outside the timeframes. Early lodgement of your claim will assist in early access to treatment and rehabilitation if required.
Forms
The following forms are to be used if the claim relates to a motor vehicle accident which occurred on or after 1 October 2000. If the accident occurred prior to this date, other claim forms are to be used, which are available from the CTP insurer.
- Notice of Accident Claim Form (PDF 420 K)
- Fatal Injury Claim Form (PDF 350 K)
- Report of Traffic Incident to Queensland Police Service Form (PDF 260 K)
Last reviewed 10 January 2013
Other languages