CTP stands for Compulsory Third Party insurance. It comes automatically with your vehicle registration (rego) in Queensland and is designed to help people injured in motor vehicle accidents get financial compensation.
CTP is like a safety net: In a nutshell, CTP covers the owner and driver of the vehicle for settlement payments for personal injury claims. That is, your CTP insurer will pay if someone else is injured in an accident that you caused in Queensland.
What CTP Covers
In Queensland, the relevant legislation does not provide any entitlement for the payment of automatic, no-fault benefits (like a Workcover accident). That means no compensation or expenses must be paid to injured road users unless they can prove the injury was caused by the negligence of another person.
Upon successful settlement of a CTP claim for damages for personal injuries, the CTP insurer’s payment to the injured person will cover:
- Medical expenses: Once the CTP insurer accepts liability, it may cover reasonable medical costs like hospital fees, surgery, rehabilitation, and some ongoing care needs throughout the claim.
- Lost income: If you can't work due to accident-related injuries, CTP may cover a portion of your lost wages.
- Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life: For severe injuries, you may be eligible for compensation for the non-financial hardship an accident causes in your life. Learn how pain and suffering is calculated.
- Death benefits: In the tragic event of death, CTP can offer financial support to dependents.
What CTP Doesn't Cover
- Damage to your vehicle: Unlike third-party property (or fire and theft) insurance, CTP won't pay for repair costs to your car, regardless if the accident was your fault or not.
- Damage to other people's vehicles or property: CTP only covers damages for personal injuries claims, not property damage.
- Injuries to the at-fault driver (in most cases): This is an important limitation. Some CTP insurance policies provide moderate cover for an injured driver if they are found to have caused the accident (driver at fault insurance). If you're the driver who caused the accident, in most cases, CTP won't cover your own injuries. There are some exceptions, so legal advice is always best. If you were a passenger in the vehicle of an at-fault driver, then you can make a claim without any financial impact on the driver (as their CTP insurance will cover you).
Hit-and-runs and Unregistered Vehicles: The Nominal Defendant
If you're injured in a hit-and-run or by an unregistered vehicle, you are still entitled to make a CTP personal injury claim for compensation. The Nominal Defendant is a government-backed scheme that compensates people injured in these circumstances.
If you've been injured in an accident, getting legal advice as soon as possible is crucial. The rules around CTP insurance can be complex, and an experienced personal injury lawyer can ensure you understand your full entitlements and make a strong claim on your behalf.
Smith’s Lawyers are road and car accident injury claim experts and run all claims risk-free with no upfront costs.
Injured in a car or road accident? Smith's Lawyers specialises in CTP claims for all road users, including drivers, motorcyclists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Our risk-free service covers all of Queensland, from Brisbane and the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Ipswich, and regional areas like Cairns, Toowoomba, and Townsville. No upfront costs.
