Why this page exists
Most NSW compensation law firms turn down minor (threshold) injury claims. Not because the claim isn't worth running — it is — but because their fee model relies on taking a cut of a damages payout. Threshold claims don't have a damages payout. No payout, no fee, no business. So they decline politely.
The customer hangs up thinking they have nothing. In fact they have 12 months of statutory benefits, which for many people is a serious amount of money over the year — and is paid for medical treatment, lost income, and rehab that would otherwise come out of their own pocket.
We take these claims. They're straightforward, they help people, and there's no contingency cut on damages to lose because there's no damages component anyway.
What "minor" and "threshold" actually mean
They're the same thing — different terminology from different versions of the NSW scheme. The Motor Accident Injuries Act 2017 uses "threshold injury". Earlier law used "minor injury". Both refer to:
- Pure soft-tissue injuries — sprains, strains, contusions, simple whiplash without imaging-confirmed disc or nerve involvement.
- Basic psychological injuries — adjustment disorder, short-term anxiety, distress that doesn't meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD or major depression.
See threshold vs non-threshold injury explained for the full classification rundown.
What you can claim with a threshold injury
For 12 months from the crash:
- Weekly income payments. Based on your pre-crash earnings. Up to a regulated maximum. Paid into your account fortnightly.
- Medical treatment. GP, physio, imaging, specialists, surgery, medication. Paid directly to providers.
- Rehab. Physio, exercise physiology, OT.
- Psychological support. Sessions with a psychologist if there's an adjustment or anxiety impact from the crash.
- Return-to-work support. Graduated return-to-work planning where you need it.
What threshold doesn't include: damages (the lump sum at the end for non-threshold claims). For most people with genuinely minor injuries, 12 months of treatment and income support is what makes the difference.
What if my injury turns out to be worse than threshold?
This is common and worth flagging early. Some signs that an initially-classified-threshold injury might actually be non-threshold:
- Pain that's not settling at the 3-month mark.
- Imaging (MRI especially) showing disc bulge, nerve impingement, or facet joint injury.
- Psychological symptoms escalating to PTSD or major depression diagnosed by a treating psychologist.
- A specific procedure becoming necessary — surgery, nerve blocks, injections.
Any of those can support an application to reclassify the injury as non-threshold, which unlocks longer benefits and a damages claim. We push for the reclassification where the evidence supports it.
If you were at fault
Same answer — at-fault drivers with threshold injuries still get 52 weeks of statutory benefits in NSW. The 52-week rule is a no-fault entitlement built into the scheme specifically so at-fault drivers aren't left to fund their own recovery. See can I claim if I was at fault.
What we do for you
One phone call. We take the details, get the CTP claim in inside the 28-day window, sort the weekly income payments, set up the medical and rehab funding, and stay on the file for the full 12 months. If your injury turns out to be more serious than first classified, we push for the reclassification.
No contingency, no cut, no fee structure that depends on a damages payout. Threshold claims aren't glamorous and they don't print firm-sized fees — they help people through 12 months of recovery, which is the whole point.
Take the short check at /check, or call (02) 7238 7379 and a real person picks up.