Contact CTP Assist on 1300 656 919 to check your eligibility and arrange a phone consultation with a lawyer from the service. An interpreter can be arranged if necessary.
CTP Legal Advisory Service
The service consists of a panel of lawyers who provide free and confidential legal advice to those injured in motor crashes under the CTP Scheme since 1 December 2017. If you are already consulting a lawyer about your CTP claim, it is recommended that you continue with them.
Experience of the lawyers on the panel
Lawyers on the CTP Legal Advisory Service panel have significant experience in providing legal advice on motor accident and personal injury law and practice across NSW.
Limitations on lawyers on the panel
Lawyers in the CTP Legal Advisory Scheme cannot:
- file documents or make applications in a court or to the Commission on your behalf, or
- represent you at the Commission or in court.
Accessing the CTP Legal Advisory Service
Contact SIRA’s CTP Assist team on 1300 656 919. After confirming your eligibility, you will receive advice over the phone from an independent lawyer, followed by written confirmation of the advice provided.
If you are not eligible
If you do not qualify for the CTP Legal Advisory Service, CTP Assist will provide you with information about other available legal services. These include:
- the Law Society of NSW, who can provide information about finding a lawyer in NSW. They can be contacted on (02) 9926 0333.
- Community Legal Centres
Steps involved
This timeline summarises the steps involved from the initial referral to the completion of the claims process, helping you understand how long it might take.
Day 1: Verbal consent to SIRA
SIRA receives your verbal consent via a CTP Assist consultant and refers your case to the Legal Advisory Scheme
Day 2: Availability of lawyer confirmed
SIRA confirms the availability of a lawyer from the Legal Advisory Service to handle your case. If the initial lawyer cannot take your case, an alternative from the panel will be arranged.
Day 3: Solicitor contacts you for initial discussion
The assigned solicitor will contact you for an initial discussion.
Day 5: Verbal advice provided
You will receive verbal advice from the solicitor.
Day 7: Written advice provided
Written advice is provided, concluding the provision of services.
For ease of reference, download a PDF of the claims referral time frame.
Matters that cannot be referred to the CTP Legal Advisory Service
You cannot get advice from the CTP Legal Advisory Service regarding:
- claims under the Motor Accidents Act 1988 or Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999
- any damages claim under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017
- claims currently under internal review or in dispute at the Personal Injury Commission
Matters that can be referred to the CTP Legal Advisory Service
The CTP Legal Advisory Service offers advice on specific claims related to statutory benefits for motor crashes occurring on or after 1 December 2017. Legal guidance can be provided at various stages throughout the claim’s lifecycle, including:
- before a decision is made by an insurer
- at any time before or after internal review (but not in connection with the internal review application)
- at any time before an application is made to the Personal Injury Commission.
Read more about Insurer Internal Reviews and the Personal Injury Commission.
Eligible referral categories
| Eligible referral categories | Examples |
|---|---|
| Funeral expenses | Clarification on what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ funeral expense |
| Amount of weekly payments | Issues involving pre- and post-accident earnings and their calculations |
| Damages claims | Advice on the continuation of claims after the maximum weekly payments period |
| Fitness for work | Disputes over extended fitness-for-work certifications |
| Compliance with rehabilitation | Determining ‘reasonable excuses’ for non-compliance in rehabilitation activities |
| Insurer compliance | Verifying the insurer’s adherence to relevant notice periods |
| Recoverable benefits | Rights and calculations for the recovery of statutory benefits |
| Gratuitous services | Assessment of losses related to the capacity to provide gratuitous services |
| Retirement age | Guidance on termination of benefits upon reaching retirement age |
| Medical evidence | Disputes over the adequacy of medical evidence provided to insurers |
| International claims | Eligibility for ongoing weekly benefits for residents outside Australia |
| Variation in payments | Disputes over changes to weekly payments, including indexing errors |
| Treatment costs | Determinations of the reasonableness of treatment and care costs |
| Verification of expenses | Confirmation that expenses comply with statutory guidelines |
| Treatment time limits | For accidents from 1 December 2017 to 1 April 2023, disputes related to the timing of incurred expenses |
| Authorisation of care | Eligibility for treatment beyond 26 weeks due to insurer delays or the necessity of the treatment (applicable to accidents before 1 April 2023) |
| Compensated care | Determining whether costs have already been covered by damages claims or other means |
| Care limits | Issues related to exceeding the prescribed limits under the Motor Accident Guidelines |
| Excluded treatment and care | Assessment of care covered by the Lifetime Care and Support Scheme |
| Overseas treatment | Eligibility for treatment received outside Australia by citizens or permanent residents |
Please note, the lawyer assisting you will focus solely on the matter specified after you contact CTP Assist and cannot advise on unrelated issues. For example, if you are referred for advice on calculating statutory benefits, the lawyer cannot provide guidance on other matters such as threshold injuries or fitness for work.
Updated 19 December 2024