Car Accident Injuries Guide.
A car accident injury can come out of the blue and disrupt your life, especially if it’s a serious injury. It can mean time off work, medical appointments and treatment, hospital time and surgery. Apart […]
How Long After an Accident can you Claim in Australia?
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, time limits apply to claiming compensation for your injuries, and also to how long you can continue to receive compensation. But regardless of how long it’s been since your accident, you should check your entitlements and find out what you can claim. This article summarises everything you need to know about how long after a car accident can you claim in Australia, based on the NSW CTP scheme.
Summary of time limits
There are several stages to the claim process with time limits you should be aware of:
| Claim Stage | NSW Time Limit (from the accident date) |
|---|---|
| Notify the police | Within 28 days |
| Apply for back-dated payments for income loss | Within 28 days |
| Apply for statutory (weekly) benefits | Within 3 months |
| Receive statutory benefits (minor injury) | Up to 6 months |
| Receive statutory benefits (non-minor injury) | Up to 2 years |
| Apply for lump sum benefits (non-minor, 10% or less WPI) | After 20 months |
| Apply for lump sum benefits (non-minor, more than 10% WPI) | Any time |
Find out how much you can claim.
Talk to one of our friendly lawyers. We’ll listen to you, review your situation, and tell you how much you can claim.
Call for FREE adviceRequest a callback
FAQs about claim stages and time limits in NSW:
How long do I have to notify the police?
You need to notify the police within 28 days of the accident. The police will give you a police event number, which you’ll need for your ‘application for personal injury benefits’. This is the application for weekly benefits for income support (to cover your lost income if you have time off work), medical and treatment costs.
How long do I have to claim income loss backdated to the accident date?
You’ll need to submit your application for personal injury benefits within 28 days of the accident to get your income support payments backdated to the date of the accident. If you submit your application more than 28 days after the accident, you’ll only receive income support from the date of your application.
How long do I have to claim all my statutory (weekly) benefits?
The final deadline to submit your application for personal injury benefits is three months after the date of the accident.
How long will I keep receiving weekly benefits?
- If your injuries are classified as minor, you’ll receive weekly benefits for a maximum of six months.
- If your injuries are classified as non-minor, you can continue receiving weekly benefits for up to two years.
How long do I have to apply for a lump sum compensation payment?
- If your injuries have been assessed as non-minor and you weren’t mostly at fault in the accident, you can make a lump sum claim for past and future loss of income.
- If your WPI is 10% or less, you’ll need to wait 20 months from the date of the accident to submit your lump sum claim. This is so that your injuries can stabilise.
- If your Whole Person Impairment (WPI) has been assessed at more than 10%, then you’re entitled to claim lump sums for past and future income loss and for pain and suffering, and you can make these claims at any time.
How can I get help with my claim?
This article provides a good summary of how long after a car accident you can claim compensation in Australia. However, there are situations where you might be able to get an exemption from the general deadlines. It’s also important to understand that injuries can worsen over time, and insurers’ decisions can be challenged and overturned. For example, if you’ve been assessed as having a minor injury, it could develop into a non-minor injury over time. If that has happened to you, we can help you get your injuries reassessed and find out if you qualify for more compensation.
If you have any questions about your car accident compensation entitlements, you can 13 15 15 and get free legal advice from a specialist personal injury lawyer.
Related articles.
Read article
Halina’s Story: When New Beginnings Emerge From a Life-Shattering Moment.
As an Intensive Care Unit doctor, it was Halina’s job to save lives. But in a cruel twist of fate, a horrific highway accident left her with devastating injuries and saw her become a patient […]
Western Sydney man awarded $200K CTP payout.
A family man and motorcycle enthusiast has received almost $200,000 in compensation after a being rear-ended by an SUV driver on his phone. Joe, a 53-year-old construction worker from western Sydney, called the result ‘justice’ […]
Do I have a case?
Our senior lawyers will assess your case for free.