The Personal Injury Commission: how CTP disputes are decided

What the Commission is

The Personal Injury Commission (PIC) is an independent tribunal that started on 1 March 2021. It resolves disputes between injured people and their insurers. It isn't part of SIRA or any insurer.

It replaced the dispute services that existed before 2021, so if you read older material that sends CTP disputes somewhere else, it's out of date.

What it decides

For crashes from 1 December 2017, the Commission handles:

• merit review: most statutory benefits decisions, such as weekly payments, treatment and care, and funeral expenses
• medical disputes: permanent impairment, whether treatment is reasonable and necessary, threshold injury, and earning capacity
• miscellaneous claims: such as fault, contributory negligence, late claims, Nominal Defendant issues and which insurer is liable
• assessment of damages claims
• approval of damages settlements for people without a lawyer.

When you can apply

You generally need an insurer internal review before going to the Commission. Ask for it within 28 days of receiving the insurer's decision. See insurer decisions and reviews.

An application to the Commission for merit review must generally be made within 28 days of receiving the insurer's internal review decision.

You don't need an internal review first for a dispute about your degree of permanent impairment. If you ask the insurer to accept that your whole person impairment is more than 10% and you disagree with its decision, the Commission can arrange an independent medical assessment.

How to apply

The Commission explains how to apply on its motor accidents disputes page (opens in a new tab). You can also call it on 1800 742 679.

Check the details on the Commission's website before you apply, as its processes can change.

Medical assessments

In a medical dispute, the Commission can arrange an independent medical assessment. A medical assessment certificate is usually issued within 14 days of the assessment.

A review of a medical assessment certificate must generally be sought within 28 days of the certificate being issued.

How long it takes

How long a dispute takes depends on the type of dispute and the Commission's workload. We can't promise a timeframe. A few set times apply: you apply for merit review within 28 days of the insurer's internal review decision; the other side usually has 14 or 21 days to reply; a medical assessment certificate is usually issued within 14 days of the assessment; and a review of a certificate must be sought within 28 days.

Costs

Legal costs in CTP statutory benefits claims are tightly regulated. You can only recover legal costs where the Motor Accident Injuries Regulation or the Personal Injury Commission allows it, the insurer pays those costs, and for some disputes legal costs cannot be recovered at all. Maximum amounts are set by the Regulation and are indexed each year.

For common law damages claims, the maximum legal costs a lawyer can charge are also capped by the Regulation. Ask your lawyer for a written costs agreement and an explanation of how fees are worked out.

Preparing well

• Keep the insurer's original decision, the internal review decision and the date you received each one.
• Write down, in a few lines, what you disagree with and why.
• Collect the evidence that supports you: medical reports, test results, earnings records, photos or witness details.
• Note every deadline in your calendar as soon as you receive a letter.

Getting advice, and when to get a lawyer

The CTP Legal Advisory Service can advise on statutory benefits questions before you apply to the Commission. It can't advise once a matter is already in dispute at the Commission, or on damages claims. You check you're eligible through SIRA's CTP Assist line, 1300 656 919.

You don't have to have a lawyer at the Commission. Many people get legal help for complex disputes, such as fault, permanent impairment or a damages claim.

If you'd like one, we can introduce you to an independent CTP lawyer. We're not a law firm or a medical practice. If your case calls for it, we can introduce you to an independent CTP lawyer or a doctor experienced with CTP claims.

Other services are listed on help services.

Check the current rules

Rules change. This page reflects the rules as we understand them in September 2026. General information, not legal advice.