Hurt in a car accident?Find out where
you stand.
If someone else was at fault, even partly, you may have a compensation claim. Talk it through with Smith's Lawyers. Your first advice is free.
No Win, No Fee, No Catch®
Free 2-minute claim check
Tell us a little about what happened. Our team will call to talk through your options, with no cost or obligation.
Loading the claim check form. If it does not appear, call 1800 960 482.
Smith's Lawyers will use your details to respond to your enquiry. Privacy policy.
Prefer to talk it through?
1800 960 482Free initial advice. No obligation.Outside office hours, our answering team can take your details for a callback.
What No Catch® means for you
You should not be worse off for asking for help. With Smith's Lawyers, there is nothing to pay if your claim does not succeed.
- No upfront costs
- We fund medical reports and outlays
- Protection from court costs too
| Who pays? | Typical no win, no fee | Smith's No Catch® |
|---|---|---|
| Your lawyer's fees | Not charged | Not charged |
| Medical reports & other outlays | May be charged back to you | Covered by Smith's |
| The other side's costs, if you lose in court | Usually yours | Covered by Smith's |
In 30 years, we've never had a client out of pocket.
Start with a free claim checkRoad injuries happen
in different ways.
A claim may be possible if another driver caused your injury, even partly. Being partly at fault does not automatically end a claim.
Find out if you have a claimDrivers
Another driver caused the crash while you were driving. That includes driving for work in a truck, bus, taxi or rideshare vehicle.
Ask about your situationPassengers
You may be able to claim even if the driver was your partner, friend or family member. Compensation is paid by the CTP insurer of the vehicle at fault, not from the driver's own pocket.
Ask about your situationMotorcyclists & cyclists
Someone turned across you, pulled out or opened a car door into your path. Being blamed is not the same as being at fault.
Ask about your situationPedestrians
You were walking or crossing the road when a vehicle hit you. You do not need to have been inside a vehicle to ask about a claim.
Ask about your situationChildren & family members
A parent or guardian can start a claim for a child who was hurt. If several people were injured in one crash, ask us about each person’s circumstances.
Ask about your situationNot sure who was at fault? That is something we can talk through in your free claim check.
Support for the life
your injury has interrupted.
What could your claim cover?
It depends on your injury and how it has affected you. A claim can include:
- Treatment & rehabilitationPhysio, scans, surgery and other medical care.
- Lost incomeTime off work now, and the effect on your ability to earn in the future.
- Help around the homeCare and assistance where the need is significant and ongoing.
- Travel & day-to-day impactGetting to appointments, and the effect the injury has had on your life.
Greg has been
where you are.
Nobody should have to
do it alone.
At 18, Greg Smith was hurt in a car accident. He found the compensation system hard to deal with on his own.
He opened Smith's Lawyers in 1996 so other Queenslanders would not have to. Thirty years on, the firm has helped thousands of people find out where they stand.
Talk to the Smith’s teamStart with a chat.
We will explain the rest.
You do not need to understand the claims process before you contact us.
Your free claim check
Tell us what happened. We explain your options and whether we can help. You decide what to do next.
We handle the claim
If you go ahead, Smith's lodges your claim with the CTP insurer, arranges medical evidence and handles the paperwork.
We deal with the insurer
We negotiate on your behalf and explain any settlement offer, so you can make an informed decision.
If the injury has affected your ability to work long-term, there may also be a claim through the insurance in your super. We check that too.*
*Superannuation insurance (TPD) claims. Eligibility depends on your cover and circumstances.
What clients say
about Smith's.
Clear explanations and people who take the time to listen.
“Working with me they were able to secure payments for my recovery after being accidentally struck by a vehicle.”
M JosephGold Coast · Review excerpt
“As a young person, I sometimes felt unsure and overwhelmed, but they made me feel supported and confident throughout.”
Haydn CoultonGold Coast · Review excerpt
“Dealing with my case manager and associates was a very easy process. Every step was explained to me with constant follow ups.”
Nioka GuestBrisbane · Review excerpt
“…anytime I didn’t understand anything or had any questions the team were right there to help me and help me understand.”
Tate JamesSunshine Coast · Review excerpt
4.5/5 from 155 Google reviews across our offices. Checked 11 September 2026.
You might be
wondering.
If your question is not here, the free claim check is a good place to ask.
Free claim checkIs there a time limit?
Yes, and there is more than one. The usual deadline for the Notice of Accident Claim is the earlier of:
- 9 months after the accident, or the first appearance of symptoms if they were not immediately apparent; or
- 1 month after first consulting a lawyer about a claim.
A separate time limit of 3 years usually applies to starting a court case. Shorter rules apply to unidentified vehicles, as explained below.
Ask for advice promptly, even if you think you have left it too late. A late notice may still be possible with a reasonable excuse.
What if I was partly at fault?
Being partly at fault does not automatically end a claim. It can reduce the compensation available, and the circumstances matter. We can talk through what happened before you decide whether to go ahead.
Can I claim if my partner or friend was driving?
You may be able to. Compensation comes from the CTP insurer of the vehicle at fault, not your partner or friend’s own pocket. The driver can still be involved in the claim, so we will explain what it means for both of you.
My child was hurt. Can I claim for them?
A parent or guardian can start a claim for a child. The usual notice obligations are suspended while the child is under 18, and the court time limit generally runs until their 21st birthday.
You do not need to wait. Starting early helps preserve evidence and address treatment needs. A child’s settlement must be approved before it is finalised.
The other driver drove off or was uninsured. What then?
A claim may be possible through the Nominal Defendant, which acts in place of the insurer.
For an unidentified vehicle, notice is generally due within 3 months of the accident. There is a strict 9-month bar on late notice, subject to rules such as those for children.
For an identified but uninsured vehicle, the usual notice periods apply. Get advice promptly so the right deadline is checked.
Do I need a lawyer to make a claim?
You can lodge a claim yourself. A lawyer can help you understand the time limits, evidence and impact of a settlement before you make decisions.
Your initial advice from Smith’s Lawyers is free. You can find out where you stand before deciding whether you want us to act for you.
Queensland-wide.
By phone and online.
Speak with your lawyer by phone, share documents and sign paperwork online. You can manage your whole claim without travelling to an office.
Office and meeting locations
- BrisbaneLevel 18/324 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
- Gold CoastLevel 9, Wyndham Building, 1 Corporate Ct, Bundall QLD 4217
- Sunshine Coast · by appointmentRegatta 1 Business Centre, 2 Innovation Pkwy, Birtinya QLD 4575
- Toowoomba · by appointmentSuite 197, 58/62 Water St, South Toowoomba QLD 4350
- Cairns · by appointment14 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870