TOP 10LAWYERS

Top 10 Car Accident Lawyers in Perth

Ten Perth car accident law firms, with what each one handles, where they are, and how a WA Insurance Commission claim works.

Google ratings checked 1 November 2026 Updated 23 October 2026

How we compile this list

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Grouped by what each firm publishes about its own work. Most firms on this list handle all common car accident law matters.

The Top 10 Car Accident Lawyers in Perth

Ten car accident law firms in Perth, with their experience, Google ratings and what each one suits.

Some firms pay for featured placements, which can affect their position. Our write-ups are our own. How we rank

Withstand Lawyers

St Georges Terrace, Perth CBD, plus Sydney and ParramattaPersonal injury only

5.0

5 Google reviews

Checked 1 November 2026

Best for People hurt in a WA crash who may also need a TPD or super claim

  • In WA it takes car accident injury claims under the Insurance Commission scheme, plus TPD and superannuation claims.
  • Special counsel Minaa Mohmand acts for people injured in WA car accidents.
  • Its Perth office is in the AMP Tower at 140 St Georges Terrace.
First consultation
Contact the firm to discuss your claim.
Office
Level 28, AMP Tower, 140 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

A Sydney based personal injury firm with a Perth office in the AMP Tower on St Georges Terrace. In WA it keeps to two kinds of claim, and car accident injuries under the Insurance Commission of WA scheme are one of them. Special counsel Minaa Mohmand acts for people hurt in WA crashes, and the firm is led by director Issa Rabaya. It also handles TPD and superannuation claims, which can matter if a crash leaves you unable to work. Weekend appointments are available, a help if weekdays are taken up with work or treatment.

Also worth knowing

  • Weekend appointments are available.

Lawyers

  • Issa Rabaya, Director
  • Minaa Mohmand, Special Counsel
  • Isabel Sarcia, Senior Lawyer

Areas of car accident law handled

  • Motor vehicle claims (ICWA)
  • TPD and superannuation

Office

Level 28, AMP Tower, 140 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

Other details

Other offices
Sydney CBD and Parramatta

Sources

Back to the list

Stephen Browne Personal Injury Lawyers

Hay Street, Perth CBD, plus Joondalup and MandurahPersonal injury firm, part of the Shine Justice Group

4.9

559 Google reviews

Checked 1 November 2026

Best for Injured drivers, passengers and riders who want a large local team with offices north and south of Perth

  • The firm dates to 1983, when founder Stephen Browne, admitted in WA in 1980, opened in Subiaco.
  • It is owned by the Shine Justice Group and has offices in the Perth CBD, Joondalup and Mandurah.
  • Its car accident page names 12 lawyers, including special counsel Nakkie Le Roux, James Lassen and Chris Browne.
First consultation
Contact the firm to discuss your claim.
Office
Level 6, 524 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

Stephen Browne opened his practice in Subiaco in 1983, and the firm has carried his name in personal injury work since 1999. It is now owned by the Shine Justice Group and works from Hay Street in the CBD, with branches in Joondalup and Mandurah. Motor vehicle claims are one of its main streams, for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and e-scooter riders, and it also acts in fatal crash and nervous shock claims. Its car accident page names 12 lawyers, from special counsel to solicitors. It suits people who want a large local team.

Founded in 1983

Also worth knowing

  • It covers car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian, public transport and e-scooter crashes, plus claims by people who witness a fatal accident.

Lawyers

The site doesn't say which office each lawyer works from.

  • Rebecca Pendrill, General Manager and Special Counsel
  • James Lassen, Legal Practice Director and Special Counsel
  • Claire Fowler, Legal Practice Manager and Special Counsel
  • Nakkie Le Roux, Practice Leader and Special Counsel
  • Sophie Hegarty, Practice Leader and Senior Associate
  • Chris Browne, Special Counsel
  • Joachim Azzopardi, Special Counsel
  • Bonnie Whyte, Senior Associate
  • Jane McErlain, Associate
  • Tom Prior, Associate
  • Bianca Lenz, Solicitor
  • Katerina Lai, Solicitor

Areas of car accident law handled

  • Car accident injury claims
  • Motorcycle accident claims
  • Truck accident claims
  • Pedestrian accident claims
  • Public transport accident claims
  • E-scooter and bicycle accident claims
  • Serious and catastrophic injury claims
  • Fatal accident and nervous shock claims
  • Loss of earnings and medical cost claims
  • Negotiated settlements and court proceedings

Office

Level 6, 524 Hay Street, Perth WA 6000

Other details

Other offices
Joondalup (Reid Promenade) and Mandurah (Ormsby Terrace)

Sources

Back to the list

LHD Lawyers

St Georges Terrace, Perth CBD, plus Joondalup and MandurahNational personal injury firm

4.9

378 Google reviews

Checked 1 November 2026

Best for Injured people in regional WA or the outer suburbs who want a nearby office

  • The firm has six WA offices: Perth, Joondalup, Mandurah, Bunbury, Albany and Geraldton.
  • Its Perth team includes director Heine Papenfus, partner Frances Lyn and senior associate Abbey Tempest.
  • Its car accident page explains that CTP cover is part of WA registration, is run by the Insurance Commission and doesn't cover vehicle damage.
First consultation
Contact the firm to discuss your claim.
Office
Level 3, 8 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

LHD Lawyers is a national injury firm that grew out of Sydney and now has six WA offices, from St Georges Terrace in the Perth CBD to Joondalup, Mandurah, Bunbury, Albany and Geraldton. The Perth team is led by director Heine Papenfus. Its car accident page explains that CTP cover comes with WA registration, is managed by the Insurance Commission and covers injury but not damage to your vehicle. It acts for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and people hurt in truck crashes, including hit and run claims. It suits people outside the metro area who want a nearby office.

Also worth knowing

  • It handles hit and run, truck, motorcycle, cyclist and pedestrian claims.

Lawyers

Perth office lawyers as listed on the firm's Perth office page.

  • Heine Papenfus, Director
  • Frances Lyn, Partner
  • Abbey Tempest, Senior Associate

Areas of car accident law handled

  • CTP injury claims through ICWA
  • Cyclist accident claims
  • Pedestrian accident claims
  • Motorcycle accident claims
  • Truck and heavy vehicle accident claims
  • Hit and run claims
  • Whiplash and soft tissue injury claims
  • Serious and long term injury claims

Office

Level 3, 8 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000

Other details

Other offices
Joondalup, Mandurah, Bunbury, Albany and Geraldton

Sources

Back to the list

Hoffmans Lawyers

Osborne Park and St Georges Terrace, PerthPersonal injury only

4.9

38 Google reviews

Checked 1 November 2026

Best for Injured drivers, riders and pedestrians who want the principal running their claim

  • Handles car, pedestrian and motorcycle accident claims.
  • The principal, Murray Posa, manages every case himself, the firm says.
  • Home and hospital visits, with much of a claim handled by phone.
First consultation
Contact the firm to discuss your claim.
Office
24 Walters Drive, Osborne Park WA 6017
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources

About the firm

A personal injury only firm established in 1984, with offices in Osborne Park and on St Georges Terrace. It takes car, pedestrian and motorcycle accident claims alongside work and mining injuries. Principal Murray Posa worked in mines in Queensland and the Pilbara before studying law, and he manages every case himself, the firm says, which is the main reason to choose a practice this size. It offers home and hospital visits and handles much of a claim by phone, which helps while you recover.

Established in 1984

Also worth knowing

  • Practising personal injury law since 1984.

Lawyers

  • Murray Posa, Principal

Areas of car accident law handled

  • Car and pedestrian accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Workers compensation
  • Mining accidents
  • Common law damages
  • Criminal injuries compensation

Office

24 Walters Drive, Osborne Park WA 6017

Other details

Other offices
Level 27, St Martins Tower, 44 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Sources

Back to the list

Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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How we compiled this list

We include Perth firms that handle car accident claims against the Insurance Commission of WA as a main part of their work. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves, focusing on what it offers someone hurt in a crash. The Law Society of WA doesn't accredit personal injury specialists, and we don't describe anyone as one. We don't publish firms' fee terms, consultation offers, awards or self-reported results, so ask about costs when you contact a firm. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.

Some firms pay for a featured listing, which affects where they appear on this page. Payment doesn't buy the write-up. We write those ourselves, and firms don't get to edit them. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules and amounts are as published by the WA Government, the Insurance Commission of WA, Legal Aid WA and the District Court of WA in October 2026.

What to do after a car accident in WA

The drivers involved in a crash must stop straight away. If anyone is hurt, help them and call 000 if they need an ambulance. Give your details to anyone who has good reason to ask, and the owner's name if you're driving someone else's car. Legal Aid WA's advice is not to admit fault or offer to pay for damage before you've had legal advice.

What to doWhen
Report the crash to police if anyone was hurt, if damage is likely to cost more than $3,000 to repair, or if the owner of damaged property isn't there. You can do it at the scene, at a police station or online at crashreport.com.auStraight away. Not reporting can lead to a criminal charge
Report an injury crash to the Insurance Commission of WA. This includes crashes where a pedestrian or cyclist was hurtAs soon as possible
Get your injuries treatedStraight away. The Insurance Commission says you don't need to wait until you've reported the crash
Give the Insurance Commission written notice that you intend to claim compensation, using its notice of intent to claim formAs soon as practicable after the crash

The crash report takes about 40 minutes online and can't be saved part way through. Once it's in, you get an email or SMS confirming it, a treatment number and a digital claiming card to use at appointments. If you've already paid for treatment, you can ask to be reimbursed.

How a claim with the Insurance Commission works

WA's motor injury scheme is fault based. You claim from the Insurance Commission of WA, not the other driver, if another WA registered vehicle caused the crash. That applies whether you were a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, or riding a bike or scooter. You can't claim damages if you were totally at fault.

  • Partly at fault: you can still claim, but your payout can be reduced. Examples the Insurance Commission gives include not wearing a seatbelt or a helmet, driving at an unsafe speed or under the influence, and travelling with a driver you knew was under the influence
  • Hit and run or unlicensed vehicles: if the vehicle at fault can't be identified or wasn't licensed, you may still be able to claim. If it can't be identified, you must have made reasonable efforts to find out who caused the crash and given the Insurance Commission written notice as soon as practicable
  • Interstate vehicles: if the driver at fault was in a vehicle licensed in another state or territory, you may not be able to claim from the Insurance Commission
  • Your part: give honest information, return forms, and go to medical examinations and any settlement conferences you're asked to attend. Giving false or misleading information is a criminal offence

A claim can be finalised at your request or once the Insurance Commission has a medical report. When you settle, you may need to pay back Medicare for benefits it paid for your crash injuries.

What you can claim, and the 2026 pain and suffering threshold

If you weren't at fault, you can claim treatment costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and claims management expenses. Lost earnings are capped at three times WA full time adult average weekly earnings.

Pain and suffering, known as general damages, has a threshold and a cap set under the Motor Vehicle (Third Party Insurance) Act 1943. The amounts are indexed each 1 July. From 1 July 2026 they are:

Assessed general damagesWhat you receive
$27,500 or lessNothing for pain and suffering
More than $27,500, up to $79,500The amount above $27,500
More than $79,500, but less than $107,000A reducing deduction applies
$107,000 or moreThe full assessed amount
The most extreme caseUp to $522,000

The $27,500 threshold only applies to pain and suffering. You may still claim lost earnings and treatment costs even if nothing is payable for pain and suffering. A separate threshold applies to unpaid care from family or household members: from 1 July 2026, nothing is payable for it unless it is worth more than $7,500.

Catastrophic injuries and fatal crashes

Catastrophic Injuries Support. If you were catastrophically injured in a WA motor vehicle crash on or after 1 July 2016, this Insurance Commission scheme can pay for necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support, including where you caused the crash or no one was at fault. You are first accepted as an interim participant for 2 years, and lifetime support follows if you meet the lifetime criteria. If another driver was at fault, your care costs are generally claimed as part of your damages claim instead. Catastrophic injuries include spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, certain amputations (some single high level amputations as well as multiple amputations), severe burns and permanent traumatic blindness, each with its own medical criteria. Apply within 3 years of the crash. The Insurance Commission can allow more time only if there are exceptional reasons. Since July 2024 the scheme also covers work accidents.

When someone dies. After a fatal crash, a dependency claim can be made for the person's dependants. In most cases it must be lodged with the Insurance Commission within 3 years of the death, and court action under the Fatal Accidents Act 1959 can't be started once 3 years have passed since the death.

Time limits for a WA car accident claim

The Limitation Act 2005 sets the deadlines for starting court proceedings, including for motor vehicle crashes. If proceedings haven't started in time, you can lose the right to claim, even if you've been dealing with the Insurance Commission. Legal Aid WA notes that if your claim hasn't settled within 3 years, you may need to start court proceedings.

Who was injuredTime limit to start court proceedings
Adults3 years from when you knew you were injured, usually the day of the crash
Children under 156 years
Children aged 15 to 17Until they turn 21
Children injured by a parent, carer or someone close to themUntil they turn 25
A claim after someone died3 years from the death

A court can extend some of these limits, but don't rely on it. Catastrophic Injuries Support has its own 3 year limit to apply.

Legal costs, and where claims are decided

The Insurance Commission says you can lodge your claim and deal with it directly, but if your claim is complex or disputed it may be in your best interests to get advice. A lawyer must be engaged in some cases, such as claims for a child or a person with a disability where the settlement needs court approval. WA has applied the Legal Profession Uniform Law since 1 July 2022, so a lawyer must give you written costs disclosure if their costs are likely to be more than $750.

  • Costs are capped: in a car accident damages claim, what a lawyer can charge you is limited by the Legal Costs Committee's determination, and an agreement to pay more is void
  • What the Insurance Commission pays: if you settle, in most cases it pays your reasonable party and party costs, which usually cover only part of your total legal costs
  • No win, no fee agreements: these must be in writing, signed by you, define what counts as a win, and include a cooling-off period. Fees can't be a percentage of your payout. An uplift fee of up to 25% can be charged under the Uniform Law, but in a car accident damages claim the total still can't go above the Legal Costs Committee cap. Ask what counts as a win, who pays for medical reports and other disbursements, and whether you could have to pay the Insurance Commission's costs if the claim fails
  • Bill disputes: you can lodge one with the Legal Practice Board, generally within 60 days of the costs becoming payable, or 30 days if you asked for an itemised bill. The Board can generally help where total costs are under $314,330, or where no more than $31,440 is in dispute (limits from 1 July 2025, indexed yearly)

Claims that don't settle go to the District Court of WA, 500 Hay Street, Perth, which in practice hears all claims for damages for injuries from motor vehicle crashes. The Magistrates Court can't hear them. A District Court mediation conference usually takes about half a day before a registrar, and what's said there is off the record and can't be used at trial. Legal Aid WA doesn't give advice on motor vehicle injury claims, but its Infoline, 1300 650 579, can point you to other help.

Perth car accident law: common questions

How long do I have to claim after a car accident in WA?

Report an injury crash to the Insurance Commission as soon as possible, and give notice of your claim as soon as practicable. Court proceedings generally have to start within 3 years of when you knew you were injured, which is usually the crash date. Children have longer, and Catastrophic Injuries Support has its own 3 year limit to apply.

Do I have to report the crash to police?

Yes, straight away, if anyone was hurt, if the damage is likely to cost more than $3,000 to repair, or if the owner of damaged property isn't there. You can report at the scene, at a police station or online at crashreport.com.au. Not reporting can lead to a criminal charge.

Can I claim if the crash was partly my fault?

Yes, but your payout can be reduced, for example if you weren't wearing a seatbelt or helmet. If you were totally at fault you can't claim damages. Catastrophic Injuries Support can pay for treatment and care for catastrophic injuries even if you caused the crash.

Why might I get nothing for pain and suffering?

From 1 July 2026, if your pain and suffering is assessed at $27,500 or less, nothing is payable for it. Between $27,500 and $79,500 you get the amount above $27,500. A reducing deduction applies up to $107,000, and from $107,000 the full amount is payable. You may still claim lost earnings and treatment costs.

What if the other driver didn't stop?

You may still be able to claim from the Insurance Commission if the vehicle at fault can't be identified, as long as you made reasonable efforts to find out who caused the crash and gave the Insurance Commission written notice as soon as practicable. Report it to police straight away.

What can a lawyer charge for a WA car accident claim?

In a car accident damages claim, a lawyer can't charge you more than the Legal Costs Committee's determination allows, and an agreement to pay more is void. If you settle, the Insurance Commission usually pays part of your legal costs. Your lawyer must give you written costs disclosure if costs are likely to be more than $750.

Does WA have accredited personal injury specialists?

Not through the Law Society of WA. Its specialist accreditation covers family law and wills and estates, not personal injury. Some lawyers hold personal injury accreditation from an interstate Law Society. Either way, ask how long a lawyer has worked on WA motor injury claims and who will actually run yours.

General information only, not legal advice.

Related pages

Sources for the legal information on this page