How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in Queensland?

Under the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld), the general time limit to start court proceedings is 3 years from the date of the injury. This applies across WorkCover common law claims, CTP motor vehicle claims, public liability, and medical negligence — but each of these has its own earlier notice requirements that can affect your claim if missed, even within the 3-year window.

What is the time limit for a CTP claim in Queensland?

A Notice of Accident Claim Form generally needs to be lodged with the CTP insurer within 9 months of the accident, or within 1 month of first consulting a lawyer, whichever comes first. The overall 3-year limitation period for court proceedings still applies on top of this earlier notice requirement.

How long do I have to lodge a WorkCover claim in Queensland?

A statutory WorkCover claim should generally be lodged within 6 months of the date of the injury. A common law damages claim, if negligence caused the injury, is generally the later of 3 years from the date of injury or 6 months after receiving a Notice of Assessment.

No Win No Fee Lawyers in Queensland

A general guide to compensation claims and time limits in Queensland. This is general information, not legal advice — always confirm your specific situation with a lawyer.

Queensland's compensation system covers motor vehicle accidents, workplace injuries, medical negligence and public liability claims, each with its own pre-court notice requirements sitting alongside a general 3-year limitation period. If you're searching for a No Win No Fee lawyer in Queensland, it's worth understanding these earlier deadlines specifically — in Queensland, missing an early notice requirement can affect your claim even while you're still well within the 3-year court limit.

Types of claims common in Queensland

Motor vehicle accidents (CTP claims) — If you're injured in a motor vehicle accident in Queensland, your claim is generally made against the at-fault driver's Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurer. Queensland's scheme requires a formal Notice of Accident Claim Form to be lodged early in the process.

Workplace injury claims (WorkCover) — Workers injured on the job in Queensland can claim statutory benefits through WorkCover Queensland, covering medical expenses, weekly payments and lump sum compensation for permanent impairment, with the option of a common law claim for damages where negligence caused the injury.

Medical negligence — Claims involving substandard treatment by a doctor, hospital or other health professional, subject to Queensland's Personal Injuries Proceedings Act (PIPA) pre-court notice process.

Public liability claims — Injuries in public places or on private property, such as slips, trips and falls, also fall under the PIPA notice process before court proceedings can begin.

Time limits for compensation claims in Queensland

Queensland's time limits (limitation periods) include both an overall court deadline and earlier notice requirements specific to each claim type. As a general guide:

General limitation period: 3 years from the date of the injury to commence court proceedings, under the Limitation of Actions Act 1974 (Qld) — this applies across WorkCover common law claims, CTP, public liability and medical negligence claims.
CTP motor vehicle claims: A Notice of Accident Claim Form should generally be lodged within 9 months of the accident, or within 1 month of first consulting a lawyer — whichever comes first.
WorkCover statutory claims: Should generally be lodged within 6 months of the date of the injury. A common law damages claim is generally the later of 3 years from the injury or 6 months after receiving a Notice of Assessment.
Public liability and medical negligence: A PIPA Part 1 Notice is generally required well before the 3-year court deadline — the exact window can vary, so early advice matters here in particular.

For children, the 3-year limitation period generally doesn't start until they turn 18, though early notice requirements (like the CTP or PIPA notice) can still apply while they're a minor, handled by a parent or guardian. Extensions are sometimes available for late-discovered injuries or genuine incapacity, but courts don't grant these automatically, so it's best to get advice as early as possible rather than relying on one.

How No Win No Fee works

A No Win No Fee arrangement means your lawyer's fees depend on the outcome of your claim — if it's unsuccessful, you typically won't pay legal fees for the work carried out. You may still be responsible for disbursements, such as medical report or filing fees, depending on the arrangement. Since terms vary between practices, it's worth confirming the specifics directly with any lawyer you contact.

Find a Queensland No Win No Fee lawyer

The Register lists verified No Win No Fee lawyers and law firms across Queensland, searchable by specialty and location. Use the state filter in the sidebar to narrow results to Queensland.

Browse Law Firms in Queensland →
Browse Individual Lawyers in Queensland →