Injured in a car accident? You don’t need a lawyer to claim

If you’ve been injured in a motor accident in Queensland, you may wonder whether you should engage an accident lawyer.

We offer a dedicated service and make it easy to manage your claim without a lawyer. You can make a claim with us directly if the at-fault driver is insured by Suncorp Insurance. Our team can also help identify the insurer of the vehicle at fault even if it’s not insured by us – just give us a call.

Make a personal injury claim

Claiming directly is fast

You don’t need a lawyer to make a CTP claim. Most CTP claims can often be resolved quicker and with less inconvenience by dealing directly with the CTP insurer.

According to the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC), people who lodge claims directly with a CTP Insurer tend to experience much shorter claim durations than claims lodged through an accident lawyer.²

A quicker lodgement also allows faster access to treatment and rehabilitation, which can help you return to work and a healthy life sooner. 

Do I keep 100% of my compensation* with a lawyer?

Accident lawyers on a no win no fee basis are allowed by law to charge up to 50% of your compensation* from the personal injury claim. Do you think that is fair?

Before engaging a lawyer, the Queensland CTP Scheme regulator also encourages claimants to check the fees they might be charged, since not all legal fees can be claimed back from the insurer if the claim falls under the minimum threshold ($49,700 for a motor accident in FY23).²

Dealing directly with Suncorp Insurance will enable you to keep 100% of your compensation*. 

Suncorp Insurance is Queensland’s first and largest CTP insurer covering over two million vehicles. Our team of personal injury specialists understand injury and work directly with you and your healthcare providers to ensure you receive personalised care to recover as quickly as possible.

At Suncorp Insurance, we adopt an approach where each claim is evaluated based on its own merit. We consider individual circumstances and prioritise fairness in the assessment process, irrespective of the level of representation involved.

What ‘no win no fee’ really means

Accident lawyers often use the term ‘no win no fee’ when offering their services. While it may seem straightforward, it’s important to understand what it actually means.

Many solicitors consider any monetary settlement to be a win. Typically, the only circumstances considered a loss would be if the claim settles without money being paid to you.

So, in almost all cases, even if you get paid a small amount at the end of the claim, the lawyer is going to be paid their fee.

Am I a victim of a car crash scam?

Car crash scammers (also known as ‘claim farmers’) approach vulnerable Queenslanders after a car accident and encourage, convince, or harass them to make a compensation claim.

The scam works like a paid referral – claim farmers sell your personal information to a law firm or claims management service. The customer can pay substantial ‘referral fees’ – often as ‘disbursement fees’ – in an invoice from their lawyer or claims management service. It’s sneaky – you may not know your claim was farmed, because the person who introduced you to the lawyer sounded like they were trying to help you.

Common tactics used by claim farmers include:

• cold calls
• offering assistance to make an insurance claim, or
• implying or pretending that they act on behalf of an insurer or government agency.

Help us to stop these illegal scammers by reporting them to the Motor Accident Injury Commission (MAIC). If you are unsure, you can call us directly on 13 11 60 to discuss your claim with us.

You can also find out more in our car crash scams article.

What if I feel more comfortable using a lawyer?

We have a dedicated team of local personal injury claims experts who are specifically trained to handle personal injury claims, and depending on your location, can meet with you in person to discuss your claim. This means you will have support and guidance throughout the process, which can alleviate a lot of the stress and confusion. We can also save you time by helping you gather the necessary information or documents.

If in doubt, just give us a call on 13 11 60.

How to make a CTP claim through Suncorp Insurance

You can make a claim online or simply call our Claims Concierge on 13 11 60 Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm AEST.

Our concierge can:

• help identify the insurer or the vehicle at fault
• assist you in completing the relevant claim form, and
• lodge your claim on your behalf right away.

Call 13 11 60

What can I expect after I lodge my claim?

Our CTP Claims Concierge and Personal Injury Claims Specialists are here to support you through every step of your claim. We will review the accident, determine who is liable, and support your reasonable rehabilitation and treatment needs.

To find out more, read our article that breaks down each step of the claim process.

What can I claim for?

All injuries and circumstances are different. The amount of compensation paid depends on a range of factors, such as:

• the severity of the injury
• functional impairments, and
• if you were wholly or partially at fault for the accident.

We’ll work with you to help you understand what compensation you’re entitled to.

We’ve also written an article that discusses some of these compensation types in more detail.

What if I change my mind?

You don’t need to worry. You can always lodge a claim directly with Suncorp Insurance and consider legal advice at any point later.

I’m not sure what to do, do I call you or does the other party?

Not sure? Call us anyway on 13 11 60 – we’ll help you find the right place or reach out to the other person involved if you have their contact info.

Catastrophic injuries

Sometimes a car accident can result in catastrophic injuries. Suncorp Insurance recognises that individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries in a car accident have claims that may benefit from legal advice.

Read more:

• What you need to know about whiplash
  
• What can I claim if I’m injured in a car accident?
  
• What does CTP Insurance cover in Queensland?
  

¹ Legal Services Commission

² Motor Accident Insurance Commission

*Your ‘compensation’ means your damages plus that part of your legal costs payable by the Insurer less the total of the applicable statutory refunds (e.g. to Medicare) and disbursements (e.g. fees for medical reports). If you deal directly with the insurer, you are not likely to have legal costs that may or may not be reimbursed by the insurer.

Insurance issued by AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 trading as Suncorp Insurance. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. Go to suncorp.com.au for a copy. The Target Market Determination is also available.