Making a claim
Reporting the accident to police
The law requires the driver of a motor vehicle involved in a crash in which a person is injured, reports the accident to the police [s287 Transport Operations (Road Use Management - Road Rules) Regulation 1999].
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;
- Complete the claim form as completely as you can. Failure to complete all sections of the form may delay your claim (Claim forms for accidents occurring before 1 October 2000 are available from any CTP insurer, your solicitor or the Motor Accident Insurance Commission);
- 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. You need to itemise your claim and make an offer to settle the claim. Click here 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 section 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 Traffic Incident 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:
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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
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in any other case - within the period ending on the earlier of the following dates:
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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;
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1 month after the claimant first consults a lawyer about the possibility of making a claim.
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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.
Claim forms
Claim forms for accidents which occurred prior to 1 October 2000 are available from any CTP insurer, your solicitor or the Motor Accident Insurance Commission.
Last reviewed 29 April 2009
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