Personal Injury Lawyer Liverpool

A personal injury claim is how you get compensation when someone else's fault caused you harm. If a person, business, or organisation owed you a duty of care, broke that duty, and you were hurt as a result, you have grounds to claim.

In NSW, personal injury claims fall into four main types:

Motor vehicle accidents (CTP claims) cover injuries from car crashes, motorcycle accidents, truck smashes, and pedestrian or cycling incidents. These run under the Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 and are funded through CTP Green Slip insurance.

Workers compensation covers injuries and illnesses caused by your job. This is a no-fault system under the Workers Compensation Act 1987. You don't need to prove your employer did anything wrong. It's run through icare and regulated by SIRA.

Public liability covers injuries on someone else's property or caused by their fault. Slip and fall accidents, dog bites, and injuries at businesses or events are common examples. These fall under the Civil Liability Act 2002.

Medical negligence covers harm caused when a doctor or hospital fails to meet the proper standard of care. Surgical errors, wrong diagnosis, and medication mistakes are all covered.

Each claim type has its own rules, time limits, and payout structure. We assess your situation and advise which path fits and how to get the best result.

Compensation depends on your injury type, how serious it is, and how it affects your life and work. There's no fixed amount, but here's a general guide.

Minor injuries like sprains, soft tissue damage, and cuts that heal within weeks to months: $5,000 to $25,000.

Moderate injuries like single fractures, disc injuries, and conditions needing extended treatment: $25,000 to $100,000.

Serious injuries like multiple fractures, organ damage, severe PTSD, and permanent limits on what you can do: $100,000 to $500,000.

Catastrophic injuries like brain damage, spinal cord injuries, and amputations: $500,000 to over $5,000,000.

Fatal injuries (dependency claims by family): $300,000 to over $1,000,000.

Your compensation is made up of several parts:

• Medical expenses. All reasonable treatment costs, past and future.
• Lost income. Wages you've missed and future earnings you'll lose if you can't work at full capacity.
• Pain and suffering. Assessed on a scale from 0% to 100% of a most extreme case, with payouts ranging from $20,000 to over $700,000.
• Domestic help. If injuries stop you from doing household tasks.
• Future care. Ongoing treatment, home changes, and rehab for serious injuries.

Insurers almost always start with a low offer. We push for the full value of your claim.

No Win No Fee means you pay zero legal fees unless we get compensation for you. If we don't win, you owe us nothing.

Here's how it works:

1. We assess your claim in a free consultation.
2. If we take your case, we handle everything: evidence, paperwork, insurer talks, and court if needed.
3. You pay nothing during the process.
4. If we win, our legal fees come out of your compensation. For motor accident claims, fees are capped by NSW law at about 20% (plus GST) of the damages recovered. For other personal injury claims such as public liability or medical negligence, fees are typically 25% to 33% of the compensation amount.
5. If we don't win, you pay zero.

What about other costs? Some claims need expenses like medical reports and expert assessments. These are usually recovered from your compensation if the claim succeeds, or written off if it doesn't.

Why this matters for you: money should never stop you from claiming. You don't need cash upfront. You don't make payments during the process. And your lawyer is motivated to get the best result because we only get paid when you do.

We explain all costs in writing before you sign anything. No surprises, no hidden charges.

Most personal injury claims in NSW have a 3-year time limit. But the exact deadline depends on your claim type, and missing it can permanently stop you from claiming.

Motor vehicle accidents (CTP): 3 years from the accident date to start court proceedings. But you should lodge your claim with the CTP insurer as early as possible to get your statutory benefits flowing (medical expenses and weekly income support).

Workers compensation: 6 months from the injury date to lodge your claim. Lump sum claims have a 3-year deadline. Don't wait.

Public liability: 3 years from the injury date. If the injury developed slowly, the clock may start from when you first became aware of it.

Medical negligence: 3 years from when you knew (or should have known) about the negligence and the resulting harm. This "discoverability" rule can extend the deadline in some cases.

Why you shouldn't wait: evidence gets weaker over time. Witnesses forget details. CCTV footage gets deleted. Medical records become harder to track down. The earlier you start, the stronger your case.

If you're close to a deadline, contact us straight away. We can tell you if you still have time.

Yes. You can still claim compensation even if you share some of the blame. Under the Civil Liability Act 2002, your payout is reduced by your percentage of fault, but you still receive the rest.

How it works:

• 10% your fault = 10% reduction in compensation.
• 25% your fault = 25% reduction.
• 50% your fault = 50% reduction.

Example: your claim is worth $100,000 and you're found to be 30% at fault. You receive $70,000.

Key things to know:

• Never admit fault at the scene or to an insurer. What you think is your "fault" may not be how the law sees it.
• Fault is worked out through evidence, not guesswork.
• Insurers routinely try to push your fault percentage higher to reduce your payout. We push back.

Workers compensation is different. It's a no-fault system, meaning your payout stays the same regardless of who caused the accident. The only exception is serious and willful misconduct.

For all other claim types (CTP, public liability, medical negligence), fault is shared based on the evidence. Our job is to keep your percentage as low as possible.

Strong evidence is what turns a claim into a payout. Here's what you should gather as early as possible.

Medical records are the foundation. Keep copies of everything: emergency records, GP notes, specialist reports, X-rays, MRIs, physio notes, psychology records, and medication lists. Your lawyer will also arrange independent medical exams where specialists give objective opinions on your diagnosis, prognosis, and permanent impairment.

Incident records prove what happened. This includes police reports, workplace incident forms, ambulance records, and any official documentation of the event.

Photos and videos of the accident scene, your injuries, any hazards, and damaged property. Take these as soon as possible after the incident.

Witness details from anyone who saw what happened. Names, phone numbers, and written statements carry real weight.

Financial records prove your losses. Gather payslips, tax returns, receipts for medical expenses, and records of any other costs caused by the injury.

Your own notes. Write down what happened while it's fresh. Include the date, time, location, what you saw, and how you felt. Keep a diary of how the injury affects your daily life.

Tips for building strong evidence:

• Go to every medical appointment and follow treatment advice.
• Don't leave gaps in treatment (insurers use gaps to argue your injuries aren't serious).
• Report new or worsening symptoms to your doctor straight away.

Probably not. About 85% to 90% of personal injury claims settle through negotiation and never reach a courtroom.

The typical path:

1. We lodge your claim and gather evidence.
2. We negotiate with the insurer or defendant.
3. The claim settles (most cases end here).

When court might be needed:

• The other side disputes who was at fault.
• They dispute how serious your injuries are.
• They make an offer that's too low.
• There's a legal question that only a judge can decide.

Even when we file court papers, most matters still settle before a final hearing. The other side often increases their offer once they see we're prepared to go to trial.

If your case does go to a hearing, we prepare you for every step. We explain what to expect, practice your testimony with you, and handle all the legal arguments.

Which court? Claims up to $100,000 go to Liverpool Local Court. Larger claims go to the NSW District Court. Our lawyers appear regularly in both.

The decision is always yours. We give you honest advice on the chances of success, the likely extra compensation from going to court, and how long it would take. You decide.

Most claims take 8 to 24 months, but the timeline varies by claim type and how complex the case is.

Typical timeframes by claim type:

• CTP motor vehicle accidents: 8 to 18 months.
• Workers compensation: 12 to 24 months.
• Public liability: 12 to 24 months.
• Medical negligence: 18 to 36 months (these involve more complex medical evidence).

What affects the timeline:

• Injury severity. Minor injuries settle faster (6 to 12 months). Serious injuries that need ongoing treatment take longer because we need to wait until your condition stabilises before we can value the claim properly.
• Liability disputes. If the other side argues they weren't at fault, the process takes longer.
• Court proceedings. If we need to file court papers, add 6 to 12 months.

A rough timeline for a typical claim:

• Weeks 1 to 4: claim lodged.
• Months 2 to 8: treatment continues, evidence gathered.
• Months 6 to 12: negotiation.
• Months 8 to 18: settlement or court.

Don't rush to settle. Insurers make early, low offers hoping you'll accept before you know the full picture. We make sure you don't settle too soon.

No. Making a personal injury claim will not increase your car insurance premiums or affect your no-claim bonus.

Why? CTP insurance and car insurance are completely separate products in NSW.

CTP (Green Slip) insurance covers personal injuries to people. It's mandatory on every registered vehicle. When you make a personal injury claim, you're claiming against the at-fault party's CTP policy, not your own.

Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to vehicles and theft. It's optional and purchased separately. Your premiums are based on vehicle damage claims, not personal injury claims.

A personal injury claim does NOT:

• Increase your car insurance premiums.
• Affect your no-claim bonus.
• Show up on insurance databases as a claim against your policy.
• Affect your ability to get insurance later.

Workers compensation claims are separate from your personal insurance and have no effect on your private premiums.

Public liability and medical negligence claims are made against someone else's insurance, with no link to your own policies at all.

Don't let worries about premiums stop you from claiming what you're owed.

Yes. Psychological injuries are fully covered under NSW personal injury law, either on their own or alongside physical injuries.

Conditions you can claim for:

• PTSD.
• Depression.
• Anxiety disorders (including phobias).
• Adjustment disorders.
• Panic attacks.
• Sleep problems caused by the incident.

You'll need three things:

1. A formal diagnosis from a psychiatrist or psychologist.
2. Evidence linking the condition to the incident (treatment notes, assessment reports).
3. Proof of how it affects your life and work.

What your payout covers:

• Treatment costs (psychiatrist, psychologist, medication).
• Lost income if you can't work.
• Pain and suffering for the mental health impact.
• Home help if daily tasks are affected.

Common scenarios: fear of driving after a car crash, PTSD from seeing a serious workplace accident, depression from ongoing pain caused by an injury, phobias linked to the incident (like fear of heights after a fall).

Many people play down mental health injuries because there's no visible wound. But these are real injuries with real legal value. If you're struggling after an incident, you have every right to claim.

This happens all the time and does not stop you from claiming. Many injuries take hours, days, or even weeks to fully show up.

Common delayed injuries:

• Whiplash and neck injuries (often 24 to 72 hours later).
• Back and disc injuries.
• Concussion symptoms.
• Internal injuries.
• PTSD, anxiety, and depression (can take weeks or months).

Why does this happen? Adrenaline and shock mask pain after an incident. Your body's stress response can hide symptoms for days. Soft tissue swelling builds gradually. And mental health conditions often develop slowly as the trauma sinks in.

Can you still claim? Yes. The legal test is whether the injury was caused by the incident, not when symptoms first appeared. If a doctor can link your condition to the event, your claim is valid.

What to do if symptoms appear late:

1. See your doctor as soon as symptoms start. Tell them the symptoms followed the incident.
2. Make sure the doctor's notes link the injury to the event and record the date.
3. Tell the insurer about the new symptoms (or include them when you lodge your claim).
4. Don't accept any early settlement offers before you know the full picture.

The time limit still runs from the incident date, not from when symptoms showed up.

No. Talk to a lawyer first. This is one of the most important pieces of advice we can give you.

After an incident, the insurer will often reach out quickly and seem helpful. But their goal is to keep your payout as low as possible. Here's what can go wrong if you talk to them without legal advice:

Recorded statements used against you. Casual comments like "I'm managing okay" become evidence that your injuries aren't serious.

Accidental fault admissions. Saying "I probably should have been more careful" can be used to argue you were partly to blame.

Downplaying injuries. Most people naturally play down their pain when talking to strangers. The insurer counts on this.

Missing claim parts. You may not realise everything you're entitled to. The insurer won't tell you.

Low early offers. Insurers often push quick settlements at 30% to 50% below the true value, hoping you'll accept before you understand your full rights.

What to say if the insurer contacts you: "I'm still getting medical treatment and I'm seeking legal advice. Please send all future messages to my lawyer."

Then contact us. We handle all insurer dealings from that point. Nothing you've said or done so far can be undone, but getting a lawyer early limits the damage.

Yes. You can change lawyers at any time during your claim. You don't need your current lawyer's permission and you don't need to give a reason.

How it works:

1. Contact us and explain your situation.
2. We prepare a Notice of Change of Solicitor.
3. You sign the notice.
4. We notify your previous lawyer and the other parties.
5. Your previous lawyer sends us your file.
6. Your claim picks up right where it left off.

What about fees you've already been charged? Your previous lawyer can claim fees for work they've done. These are usually deducted from your final settlement. Total legal fees are still capped by NSW law, so the change doesn't cost you extra overall.

Common reasons people switch:

• Poor communication or no updates.
• Pressure to accept a low offer.
• Slow progress with no clear reason.
• Feeling like your case isn't being taken seriously.
• Realising they need a specialist in their claim type.

If you're not happy with how your claim is being handled, get a second opinion. It's free, and switching is simple.

Yes. Family members may have their own right to claim when a loved one is badly injured or killed.

If you're seriously injured and can't manage your own affairs, a family member can:

• Lodge and run the claim on your behalf.
• Be appointed as your litigation guardian (the court gives them legal authority to make decisions for you).
• Claim for gratuitous care they provide (for example, if your spouse gives up work to look after you, the injured person's claim includes compensation for that care).

If a family member is killed (dependency claims), dependents can claim for:

• Lost financial support. The income the deceased would have provided, projected over their working life.
• Lost services. The value of household tasks, childcare, and other help they would have given.
• Loss of care and companionship. Compensation for the emotional loss of a parent, spouse, or child.
• Funeral costs. Reasonable funeral and burial expenses.

Who can claim as a dependent?

• Spouse or de facto partner.
• Children (including adult children in some cases).
• Parents (if the deceased was a child).
• Other people who relied on the deceased for financial support.

These claims are complex and time-sensitive. Contact us early to protect your family's rights.