The new CTP scheme is designed so that you can lodge your own claim without using a lawyer. In fact, even if a lawyer does help you lodge your claim, the lawyer isn’t allowed to charge for their time. So essentially the scheme has been set up to keep lawyers out of the claim lodgement process.
However, the insurer that assesses your claim does have lawyers on its side – as well as medico-legal specialists, accountants and other experts. The insurer’s team of experts will be assessing your claim and making a decision about how much they’re going to pay you.
The CTP scheme clearly puts you as the claimant in a position of weakness, and at the mercy of the insurer that’s assessing and paying your claim.
Although lawyers can’t charge to help you lodge our claim, they can provide you with legal advice. That’s why we set up CTP Claim Advice – to provide comprehensive articles and resources to help you claim everything you’re entitled to.
If you decide to dispute the insurer’s decision or claim a lump sum payment, then you can use a lawyer and in most instances the lawyer can charge for their time. There are some “unpaid” disputes where a lawyer is not allowed to charge for their time. For “paid disputes”, however, the scheme specifies how much the lawyer can charge, and all legal fees are paid by the insurer, so you won’t have to pay anything.
It’s also important to be aware that strict deadlines apply – for example you have only 28 days after you receive the liability notice letter from the insurer to lodge your dispute. So it’s important to act quickly.
To give yourself the best possible chance of success, you should talk to a specialist CTP lawyer before you lodge a dispute or a lump sum claim. It won’t cost you anything, and without a lawyer on your side you’ll be at the mercy of the insurer and its team of lawyers.
Even if you’re not ready to lodge a dispute or a lump sum claim, you can request a free claim check, and find out if you’re entitled to additional benefits or a lump sum you didn’t know about.
Request a free claim check to find out if you’re entitled to additional benefits or a lump sum.
We’ll show you how to claim your additional benefits.
If you have a paid dispute with the insurer, we’ll provide you with an experienced CTP solicitor and claim our fees back from the insurer.