We’re local.
We’re not a multinational firm with a satellite office here – we’re Newcastle born and based, and every case is handled by lawyers who live in the community.
Car Accident Injury Lawyers Newcastle
Get No Win, No Fee legal help with compensation anywhere in New South Wales.
No Win, No Fee
Local to Newcastle
40+ Years
Injured in a vehicle accident in New South Wales? Our team can take over obtaining injury compensation via CTP insurance – the insurance every motorist in Australia is legally required to hold, sometimes referred to as a “Green Slip.”
Do you have an entitlement to compensation?
If you or a family member has been injured in a vehicle accident, it’s always worth getting legal advice to find out whether you’re entitled to compensation. Entitlements can include weekly payments, medical and treatment costs, pain and suffering and loss of earning capacity.
Acting early matters
There are time limits that apply to CTP claims, so it’s best to get advice early. Getting the right information for your specific situation can make all the difference to both the process and the outcome.
Getting help
Whitelaw McDonald represents injured Australians across Newcastle, Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie and wider NSW, with over 40 years in business and a 99% success rate. Free advice is available.
- Car Injury Lawyers Sydney
- Car Injury Lawyers Newcastle
- Car Injury Lawyers Central Coast
- Car Injury Lawyers Coffs Harbour
- Car Injury Lawyers Grafton
- Car Injury Lawyers Tamworth
- Car Injury Lawyers Wollongong
- Car Injury Lawyers Port Macquarie
We service NSW-wide, so feel free to get in touch wherever you are located.
We help with:
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Cars
Crashes, accidents, collisions, including blameless
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Motorcycles
Collisions, accidents, lane-splitting incidents, slides
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Trucks
Collisions, rollovers, heavy vehicle accidents
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Passengers
Injured as a passenger in a car, truck, bus or motorcycle
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Pedestrians
Struck by a car, truck or motorcycle
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Cyclists & e-Bikes
Riders struck by a car, truck or motorcycle
Looking for answers?
Get Free Advice
At Whitelaw McDonald, we believe everyone deserves to know where they stand. Have a quick confidential, no-obligation chat with our legal team at no cost.
Am I eligible to make a car accident claim in NSW?
Every registered vehicle in NSW carries Compulsory Third Party (CTP) “Green Slip” insurance, and that’s what your claim is made against. It doesn’t matter if the at-fault driver was uninsured, unidentified, or fled the scene – you can still make a claim, including through the Nominal Defendant scheme in hit-and-run or uninsured vehicle cases.
If you’re not sure whether you have a claim, that’s exactly what your free case assessment with one of our team members is for – we’ll tell you plainly, one way or the other.
What compensation can I claim after a car accident?
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Weekly income payments
For lost earnings while you’re unable to work
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Medical and treatment expenses
Doctors, physiotherapy, hospital care, and rehabilitation
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Pain and suffering (non-economic loss)
Compensation for the physical and emotional impact of your injury, in eligible claims
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Past and future loss of income and earning capacity
Income you’ve lost so far, and the impact on your ability to earn in the future, in eligible claims
Under the NSW CTP scheme, everyone injured in a motor vehicle accident is entitled to statutory benefits for the first 52 weeks after the accident, regardless of fault – this covers weekly income payments and medical treatment expenses. If you were mostly at fault, or your injuries are classed as minor (“threshold”), these statutory benefits generally stop at 52 weeks.
If you weren’t mostly at fault and your injuries are more than minor, your statutory benefits can continue beyond 52 weeks, and you may also be entitled to make a common law damages claim – a lump sum that can cover pain and suffering (non-economic loss) and past and future loss of income.
What you’re entitled to depends heavily on how your injuries are classified and who was responsible. Our lawyers can give you a realistic picture of your position after an initial assessment.
What is the process for making a claim?
The claims process can feel daunting when you’re also trying to recover from an injury, so here’s a plain-English overview of what’s involved:
1
Report to police
Report the accident within 28 days and get a police event number.
2
Get medical treatment
Ask your doctor for a Certificate of Fitness or Capacity documenting your injuries.
3
Identify the CTP insurer
We can find out who insures the at-fault vehicle if you’re not sure.
4
Lodge your claim
Lodge for statutory benefits, ideally within 28 days to protect backdated payments.
5
Receive statutory benefits
Weekly income support and medical expenses while your claim progresses.
6
Assess your options
Once injuries stabilise, we assess whether a common law claim is available.
7
Negotiate or resolve
Most matters settle with the insurer or through the Personal Injury Commission – without going to court.
You don’t need to manage this process alone, or even understand all of it before you call us. We handle the paperwork, the insurer communication, and the deadlines – you focus on your recovery.
“[…] Once my legal team became involved, a large burden was lifted. They managed all communication with the insurer and assessors, explained each step clearly, and ensured my focus remained on recovery rather than administrative stress.
Overall, while the aftermath of the crash was one of the hardest times in my life, I would strongly recommend that anyone going through a similar CTP process seek professional legal guidance early — it makes a significant difference both practically and emotionally.”
— Aaron
Not Sure if You Have a Claim?
Not a problem – get in touch with our team, or use our free claim check tool.
Our Vehicle Accident Injury Lawyers
Matthew Berenger
Principal Director – Accredited Specialist Personal Injury.
Matthew has particular expertise in motor vehicle accident claims, workers compensation claims, and slip and fall or other public liability claims.
Kelly Keane
Associate Director – Accredited Specialist Personal Injury.
Kelly has particular interest in institutional abuse cases, medical negligence, Family Provisions Act claims, workers compensation and motor accident claims.
Craig Stewart
Associate Director – Accredited Specialist Personal Injury.
Craig has special interest in motor vehicle accident claims, workers compensation claims, slip and fall claims, and wills, probate and estate litigation.
Mario Bechelli
Senior Associate – Personal Injury Law.
Mario has particular interest in personal injury law such as workers compensation and motor vehicle accident claims.
Time limits after a car accident – don’t wait
Motor vehicle accident claims in NSW run on strict timeframes, and missing them can cost you money you’re otherwise entitled to.
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Within 28 days
Report to police within 28 days
Make sure you get a police event number. You’ll need it for your claim.
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Within 28 days
Notify the CTP insurer within 28 days
Do this if you want your statutory benefits backdated to the day after the accident. You can still lodge later, but you may lose entitlement to backdated weekly payments.
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Within 3 months
Lodge your claim within 3 months of the accident at the latest
After that, you’ll need to provide a full and satisfactory explanation for the delay, and the insurer may refuse to accept it.
These are general time limits. Individual circumstances can change the outcome, so it’s best to get advice as early as you can.
The earlier you get advice, the more of your entitlement you protect. If you’re reading this some time after your accident, don’t assume it’s too late – get in touch and we’ll tell you exactly where you stand.
Not sure who was at fault?
You may still be able to claim.
If your situation doesn’t sound like a “typical” car accident, don’t assume that rules you out. Get in touch and we’ll tell you whether you have a claim.
Fault isn’t always obvious straight after an accident, and sometimes it’s not clear who was responsible – or the accident happened without any clear “at-fault” party at all, like a single-vehicle accident caused by road conditions. You don’t need to have fault determined before you contact us.
What kind of car accidents do we help with?
No two accidents are the same, and you don’t need a straightforward case to have a claim. We regularly help people who were injured:
- As the driver or a passenger in a collision with another vehicle
- As a motorcycle, scooter, eBike or other rider in a collision with another vehicle
- As a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a car, ute, truck or motorcycle
- In a single-vehicle accident – for example, losing control on a wet road or hitting a stationary object
- On a country road, the highway, or in stop-start city traffic
- As a passenger in a rideshare, taxi, or someone else’s car
- In an accident involving a work vehicle, whether or not it happened during work hours
What our clients say
“Huge thanks to Matthew Berenger, Kelly and Makayla for all your assistance and support during my MVA claim. It was a tough, long road for me, but changing solicitors to Whitelaw McDonald, and specifically Matthew on recommendation, was definitely the smartest move I have ever made.
Matthew’s clear expertise in this field is without question, outstanding, and he was instrumental in securing for me a settlement far beyond my expectations.”
— Rebecca
“Very capable firm with a knowledgeable team.”
— Naomi S.
“Every step of the process was handled efficiently and with great attention to detail, making the experience completely seamless. Her communication was excellent — always responsive, clear, and proactive in keeping me informed. I truly felt like everything was taken case of, and I had complete confidence in her work throughout.
If you’re looking for a solicitor who is reliable and genuinely cares about getting things done right, look no further.”
— Kiani D.
Why Newcastle chooses Whitelaw Mcdonald
Over 40 years of runs on the board.
Ross Whitelaw and John McDonald founded this firm in 1987. Since then, our team has recovered tens of millions of dollars for local people and their families. We handle motor vehicle accident claims of every kind – from minor soft tissue injuries to catastrophic, life-changing harm.
No Win, No Fee.
You don’t pay us unless we win your claim. We’ll explain exactly how costs work for your specific situation during your free first conversation, so there are no surprises.
A free, no-obligation first conversation.
Before anything else, we’ll sit down with you – in person, over the phone, or at your home or hospital bed if that’s easier – and talk honestly about whether you have a claim, and what your options are. We explain the process so you understand what’s involved. No pressure, no charge.
We help with the practical stuff too.
A car accident doesn’t just affect your legal position – it affects your whole life. We help clients deal with the CTP insurer, coordinate medical assessments, and chase up paperwork so you’re not left fighting on two fronts while you recover.
Most claims resolve without ever going to court.
The vast majority of motor vehicle accident matters are settled through negotiation with the CTP insurer, or resolved through the Personal Injury Commission – not in a courtroom. We prepare every case as if it might go the distance, which is exactly why most don’t need to.
Where to Find Us
Our Newcastle office is located at 5/76 Park Ave, Kotara NSW 2289, directly opposite Westfield Kotara, so we’re easy to find. We’re close to public transport, and there is plenty of parking nearby.
We have a wheelchair-accessible entrance including a ramp and an elevator. In addition, if you can’t come to us, we also offer home and hospital visits.
Get in touch today
You don’t need to have all the answers before you call us. Whether you’re not sure if you have a claim, you’re partway through a claim already and want a second opinion, or your claim has been disputed, get in touch for a free, no-obligation conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible to make a car accident compensation claim in NSW?
Generally, yes – drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists injured in a motor vehicle accident in NSW can claim, regardless of who was at fault. Family members of someone seriously or fatally injured may also have a claim. Get in touch for a free assessment of your specific situation.
What compensation can I claim after a car accident?
Everyone injured in a motor vehicle accident is entitled to statutory benefits for the first 52 weeks, covering lost income, medical expenses, and care costs, regardless of fault. If you weren’t mostly at fault and your injuries are more than minor, you may also be entitled to a common law damages claim covering pain and suffering, and loss of earning capacity.
Is there a time limit for making a car accident claim in NSW?
Yes. You generally need to report the accident to police within 28 days, notify the CTP insurer within 28 days to have your statutory benefits backdated, and lodge your formal claim within 3 months. After 3 months, you’ll need to explain the delay to the insurer, so it’s best to get advice as early as possible.
Can I still claim if I was partly at fault for the accident?
Yes. Everyone is entitled to statutory benefits for the first 52 weeks regardless of fault. Whether you can also make a common law damages claim depends on the degree of fault and the severity of your injuries – we can assess this for you.
What happens if the at-fault driver is uninsured or can’t be identified?
You can still make a claim. NSW’s Nominal Defendant scheme covers accidents involving uninsured or unidentified vehicles, including hit-and-run accidents. We can guide you through this process.
Can pedestrians or cyclists claim compensation after being hit by a car?
Yes. Pedestrians and cyclists injured by a motor vehicle in NSW are covered under the same CTP scheme as drivers and passengers, and are entitled to statutory benefits and, where appropriate, a common law claim.
Do I have to report the accident to police to make a claim?
Yes, in all cases. You need to report the accident to NSW Police within 28 days and obtain a police event number, which is required for your CTP claim.
How much does it cost to hire a car accident lawyer?
We act on a No Win, No Fee basis for motor vehicle accident claims. You don’t pay us unless we win your claim. We’ll explain exactly how costs work for your situation during your free initial consultation.
How long does a car accident compensation claim take?
It depends on the complexity of your injuries and whether liability is disputed. Straightforward statutory benefits claims can be resolved within months; common law damages claims involving more serious injuries typically take longer, and most are resolved through negotiation rather than court.
What if my injuries get worse after my claim is settled?
This is something to discuss with us directly and as early as possible – the position depends on your specific claim type and settlement terms. Keep your treating doctors and our team updated on your condition throughout the process.
How does a car accident claims lawyer help with my claim?
Personal injury lawyers can assist by overseeing the following:
- Explaining the CTP scheme in plain English, so you understand your rights and obligations from day one
- Identifying the at-fault driver and the correct CTP insurer for your claim
- Preparing and lodging your claim forms accurately, so nothing holds up your payments
- Claiming medical, treatment, and rehabilitation expenses on your behalf
- Pursuing weekly income payments and, where appropriate, a common law damages claim
- Handling all communication with the insurer, so you’re not fighting that battle on your own
- Advising on next steps if your claim is disputed or delayed
