Queenslanders who deal directly with CTP insurers after a road accident are receiving a fraction of the compensation and rehabilitation funding paid to those with legal representation, with new figures revealing an almost nine-fold gap in the average claim payments and a four-fold gap in treatment and rehabilitation funding.
New data obtained from Queensland’s Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) shows the average total claim payment for injured motorists dealing directly with CTP insurers fell by more than 28 per cent to $19,595 in 2025-26, while the average for legally represented claimants increased by 7.6 per cent to $174,442.[1]
But compensation lawyer Travis Schultz OAM said the most concerning figures were those relating to treatment and rehabilitation, with the data showing a growing divide in the support injured Queenslanders receive to recover.
Average treatment and rehabilitation payments for self-represented claimants fell by more than 25 per cent to just $4,559 in 2025-26, while funding for legally represented claimants increased by 6.2 per cent to $18,699.
“A year ago, the gap was already concerning, with the average claim payment for an injured motorist with legal representation at almost six times that of someone dealing directly with an insurer. Now it’s almost nine to one. Whatever way you look at it, that should set alarm bells ringing,” Mr Schultz said.
“What concerns me even more is what we are seeing with rehabilitation because this is what helps injured people get back to work and everyday life. People dealing directly with insurers are receiving just a quarter of the average treatment and rehabilitation funding paid to those with legal representation, while the average amount insurers pay has fallen by more than 25 per cent in just one year.
“These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. We are seeing in practice the very real difference that can occur when an injured person is left to navigate the CTP system and deal with an insurer on their own.
“We recently had a client come to us after lodging their own CTP claim and being denied funding for back surgery. We challenged that decision through an application and won, allowing the client to access the surgery they desperately needed, while their broader compensation claim continues.
“In another recent matter, a client came to us with ongoing symptoms after having already settled their claim directly with the insurer. We were able to have that previous agreement set aside and the claim ultimately settled for six times the original amount to help them access the level of rehabilitation they needed.
“What worries me is that the people most likely to be outmatched in this process are the very people who are injured, recovering and trying to navigate a system they may never have dealt with before. On the other side of the table is an insurer that deals with these claims every day. It really is a David and Goliath battle.”
Mr Schultz said the figures should not be seen as criticism of Queensland’s CTP scheme, but as a warning about the outcomes being experienced by some injured motorists dealing directly with insurers.
“Queensland has a strong CTP scheme that provides important protections for people injured on our roads, and we should be proud of that,” Mr Schultz said.
“My concern isn’t with the scheme itself. It’s the way some insurers appear to be dealing with people who don’t have someone advocating for them, and the vastly different outcomes we are seeing as a result.
“A strong scheme still relies on insurers treating injured people fairly and supporting their recovery. Queenslanders should be able to access the rehabilitation they need, regardless of whether they have a lawyer beside them at the table.”
[1] See Notes to Editors for source data and calculations.
