Personal injury claim options compared in 7 Queensland guides (2026)

These guides compare the personal injury claim options Queenslanders most often face, two at a time. For example: using a lawyer or claiming directly, no win no fee or fee for service, and a WorkCover lump sum or common law damages. Each guide sets out the official rules and their trade-offs, but doesn’t tell you what to choose.

Marshall FenechWritten and fact-checked by Marshall Fenech, Editor. Legal rules checked against official Queensland sources in October 2026. How we check facts.

At a glance

Compare guidesTwo options in each guide

7

Stages of a claimFrom choosing a lawyer to settling

4

Rules linked to their sourceMAIC, WorkCover, QLS and legislation

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General information onlyNot legal advice for your claim

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Personal injury claim options by stage of your claim

The choices usually come in a rough order, so the guides are grouped the same way. First, find the stage you are at. Then open the guide for the choice in front of you.

Before you choose a lawyer

Do you need a lawyer, and what kind?

Lawyer or claiming directly with the CTP insurer in Queensland

What MAIC says about dealing with the CTP insurer yourself.

Read the guide

Accredited specialist or general lawyer for injury claims in Queensland

What QLS accreditation does and doesn’t tell you.

Read the guide

Choosing a national or local law firm for a Queensland injury claim

What to check whichever type of firm you choose.

Read the guide

When you agree fees

How will the lawyer be paid, and when?

No win no fee or fee for service lawyers in Queensland

When fees are payable, and the Queensland rules for each.

Read the guide

During a WorkCover claim

Which route fits your injury and your offer?

Statutory or common law claim in WorkCover Queensland

No-fault benefits compared with damages for negligence.

Read the guide

Should you take the WorkCover lump sum or common law?

How the 20% DPI threshold changes your options.

Read the guide

At the end of a claim

Should you accept an offer or keep going?

Should you settle or go to court in a Queensland injury claim?

Compulsory conferences, final offers and costs.

Read the guide

How the personal injury claim options guides work

Each guide explains both options in plain English, with the Queensland rules that apply and a link to each official source. For instance, the CTP guide quotes what MAIC says about claiming without a lawyer.

However, the guides don’t recommend one option, because the right choice depends on your injury, your evidence and your deadlines. For that reason, get advice from a Queensland lawyer about your own claim before you decide.

Personal injury claim options in Queensland: a woman reading a letter at her kitchen table with a cup of coffee

Claim guides to read first

If you are not sure which rules apply to you, start with the main guide for your type of claim. After that, come back to the option you need to weigh up:

Frequently asked questions

Seven common choices: using a lawyer or claiming directly with the CTP insurer, an Accredited Specialist or a general lawyer, a national or local firm, no win no fee or fee for service, WorkCover statutory or common law claims, a WorkCover lump sum or common law, and settling or going to court.

The guides can’t tell you. Instead, they set out each option, the Queensland rules that apply and the trade-offs, with links to the official sources. The right choice depends on your circumstances, so get advice about your own claim from a Queensland lawyer.

Each guide shows the date its rules were checked against Queensland legislation and the relevant regulator, such as MAIC or WorkCover Queensland. If something looks out of date, you can report it and we will check it against the source.

Use the injury law firm comparison tool to put any two or three Queensland firms side by side. There are also head-to-head pages for common pairs of firms, and alternatives pages for individual firms.

Sources