Free, obligation-free first interview. No win, no fee for most claims, with fees deferred until the claim ends (conditions apply). The firm usually pays for medical reports and claim costs along the way
Office
76 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Tindall Gask Bentley is a big Adelaide firm with its main office on Light Square and more than a dozen other offices around SA. Managing partner Tim White leads a firm that says it has the largest personal injury team in the state and more than 50 years behind it. Its injury work runs from car accident and work injury claims to asbestos disease, hearing loss, Comcare and DVA claims. It suits people with serious or complicated claims who want a deep team. The first interview is free, and most claims run on a no win, no fee basis.
The firm says it has more than 50 years of history
Also worth knowing
Usually pays for medical reports and claim costs while the claim runs.
Lawyers
Names are from the firm's car accident page, which lists the team by title only.
Tim White, Managing Partner
Olla Kutieleh, Partner
Toni Emanuele, Partner
Barney Gask, Partner
Lianna Ferraro, Partner
Dimitra Bouras, Partner
Michael King, Senior Lawyer
Peter Milte, Senior Lawyer
Simon Newman, Senior Lawyer
Alexandra Harris, Senior Associate
David Tan, Senior Associate
Denise Abfalter, Senior Associate
Areas of personal injury law handled
Car accident and CTP claims
Workers compensation
Public liability
Medical negligence
Asbestos disease
Hearing loss claims
Superannuation and TPD claims
Comcare claims
DVA claims
Cycling accidents
Class actions
Office
76 Light Square, Adelaide SA 5000
Other details
Other offices
Norwood, Reynella, Salisbury, Gawler, Semaphore, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Mannum, Port Lincoln and Whyalla in SA, plus Perth, Darwin, Brisbane and Canberra
Free, no-obligation first interview by phone or in person. No win, no fee for most claims (some conditions apply). The firm says it explains costs upfront
Office
69 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Andersons is a long-running full service firm on Franklin Street, with five more offices around Adelaide and regional SA. Its injury team is led by partner Matthew Fuss, who heads the firm's civil law team and has been listed in Doyle's Guide for work injury and public liability claims, the firm says. The team of about ten lawyers handles car accident, work injury, public liability, medical negligence, birth injury and hearing loss claims. It suits southern suburbs clients, since Fuss also runs the Morphett Vale office. The first interview is free, with no win, no fee for most claims.
The firm says it has served South Australians for over 50 years
Also worth knowing
Six offices, from the CBD to Morphett Vale, Murray Bridge and the Barossa.
Lawyers
Matthew Fuss, Partner, heads the civil law team
Francisco De Sousa, Special Counsel
Margaret Kaukas, Special Counsel
Simon Flower, Special Counsel
Julie Brownett, Consultant
Alisha Testa, Senior Associate
Julia Arena, Senior Associate
Melissa Paradiso, Senior Associate
Elena-Marie Aloi, Associate
Ryan North, Associate
Areas of personal injury law handled
Car accident and CTP claims
Workers compensation
Common law work injury claims
Comcare claims
Public liability
Medical negligence
Birth injuries
Hearing loss claims
Superannuation and TPD claims
Office
69 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000
Other details
Other offices
Morphett Vale, Murray Bridge, Nuriootpa, Port Adelaide and Woodville
No-obligation first chat with a lawyer, followed by a written offer setting out your options. No win, no fee for eligible compensation claims. Home, hospital, phone or video meetings
Office
Level 9, 60 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Turner Freeman is a national compensation firm with an Adelaide office on Waymouth Street and a southern suburbs office at Aberfoyle Park. Three partners lead the local team: Annie Hoffman on asbestos and silica dust disease, Dante Gloria on work injury and industrial deafness, and Alice Church on car accident, medical negligence and public liability claims. The firm cites over 70 years of injury work. It suits people with dust disease or industrial deafness claims. Lawyers will visit you at home or in hospital. The first chat is no-obligation, and eligible claims run on a no win, no fee basis.
The firm says it has handled injury claims for over 70 years
Also worth knowing
Offices on Waymouth Street and at Aberfoyle Park.
Lawyers
Annie Hoffman, Partner, asbestos and dust disease claims
Dante Gloria, Partner, work injury, industrial deafness and TPD
Alice Church, Partner, car accident, medical negligence, public liability and work injury
Sophie Perkins, Senior Associate
Karin Daehn-Alabi, Senior Associate
James Adams, Senior Associate
Teresa Tripodi, Senior Associate
Courtney Birrell, Senior Associate
Alice Hickman, Associate
Dimitri Ntafillis, Lawyer
Areas of personal injury law handled
Car accident claims
Workers compensation
Public liability
Medical negligence
Asbestos and silica dust diseases
Industrial deafness
Superannuation and TPD claims
Skin cancer claims
Institutional abuse
Office
Level 9, 60 Waymouth Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Other details
Other offices
Aberfoyle Park and Whyalla in SA, plus about 25 more across NSW, Queensland, WA and the ACT
Free first consultation. No win, no fee, subject to conditions
Office
198 Grange Road, Flinders Park SA 5025
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Paul Alvaro Lawyers is a western suburbs firm on Grange Road at Flinders Park, with a Salisbury office by appointment. Principal Paul Alvaro has practised injury law since 1979 and set up the firm in 2003. The firm says Doyle's Guide lists him as preeminent for work injury, car accident and public liability claims, and he has strong ties with the Italian, Greek, Polish, Croatian and Serbian communities. Clients deal directly with a lawyer. It suits serious and catastrophic injury claims. The first consultation is free and no win, no fee is offered, subject to conditions.
Founded in 2003
Also worth knowing
The team includes two special counsel and two senior associates.
Free, no-obligation first consultation, with no charge if there is no case. No win, no fee for most claims
Office
Level 5, 28-30 Grenfell Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
PMN Lawyers (Palios Meegan Nicholson) is a compensation-only firm on Grenfell Street, set up in 1982 and, the firm says, still run by its original partners. It says founding partner Peter Palios is well known in the Greek community, managing partner Julia Palios runs car accident and work injury claims, and partner Andrew Nicholson has over 30 years in injury and medical negligence work and covers the South East from Mount Gambier. It says it acts only for injured people, never insurers. It suits people wanting a partner on the file. The first consultation is free, and most claims run on a no win, no fee basis.
Founded in 1982
Also worth knowing
Has a Mount Gambier office for clients in the South East.
Lawyers
The firm's site lists three partners and no other lawyers.
Peter Palios, Founding Partner
Julia Palios, Managing Partner, car accident and work injury claims
Andrew Nicholson, Partner, personal injury, workers compensation and medical negligence
Obligation-free first consultation by phone, online, at the office or somewhere convenient. No win, no fee for most services (conditions apply). Free online ReturnToWorkSA claim check
Office
Ground Floor, 25 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Shine Lawyers is a national compensation firm with a ground floor office on Franklin Street in the CBD. Its injury work for WA, SA and the NT is led from Adelaide by special counsel Nicholas Kitchin, who began at Legal Aid and focuses on injury and institutional abuse claims. Special counsel Dionne Franklin has built her SA injury practice since 2011. The team handles car accident, work injury, public liability and medical negligence claims. Interpreters are offered from the first call. The first consultation is obligation-free, and most work runs on a no win, no fee basis.
Also worth knowing
Wheelchair accessible CBD office near the Victoria Square tram stop.
Lawyers
Nicholas Kitchin, Head of Personal Injury WA, SA and NT, Special Counsel
Dionne Franklin, Special Counsel
Toya Nguyen, Special Counsel
Rebecca Geyer, Legal Practice Manager and Special Counsel
Free, no-obligation first consultation. No win, no fee in most cases, with no upfront legal fees. Meetings online or at the nearest office
Office
17 Sturt Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Johnston Withers is an Adelaide firm founded in 1946, with its main office on Sturt Street and six more across Salisbury and regional SA, as far north as Roxby Downs. Its injury team is led by directors Tim Downie and Dominic Nasone. It handles car accident, work injury, public liability and medical negligence claims, and the firm says its asbestos team has worked on SA dust disease claims for over a decade. It suits country clients who want a local office. The first consultation is free, and most injury claims run on a no win, no fee basis.
Founded in 1946
Also worth knowing
Seven offices, including Port Augusta, Whyalla and Roxby Downs.
Lawyers
Tim Downie, Director
Dominic Nasone, Director
Melissa Schmidtke, Senior Lawyer
Millie Vears, Lawyer
Areas of personal injury law handled
Car accident claims
Workers compensation
Public liability
Dog attack claims
Sporting accident claims
Medical negligence
Asbestos and dust disease claims
Superannuation and TPD claims
Office
17 Sturt Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Other details
Other offices
Salisbury, Murray Bridge, Clare, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Roxby Downs (by appointment)
Free online claim check and free first consultation. No win, no fee for almost every case, with fees paid from the compensation at the end. The firm says it limits its fees relative to the payout
Office
375 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
MKF Lawyers is a compensation firm on King William Street run by managing director Matt DeGregorio, with directors Katie Sajatovic and Floyd Bakewell. The firm says its lawyers have over 55 years of combined experience. Principal Fiona Campbell focuses on medical negligence and serious car accident claims, and the firm says DeGregorio has acted for hundreds of childhood abuse survivors. It also takes public liability, dog attack, fatal accident and TPD claims. It suits people who want to text or video call their lawyer. The first consultation is free, and almost every case runs on a no win, no fee basis.
Also worth knowing
New claim enquiries are taken any day of the week, by phone, text, video or email.
Free, no-obligation phone discussion or half hour interview. No win, no fee is not offered; on cases it takes, the firm defers its normal fees until the end with no uplift. Costs are explained from the start. Home and hospital visits available
Office
22 Waymouth St, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Moloney & Partners has worked from Waymouth Street since 1988, with a second office on Salisbury Highway. It has stayed mid-sized on purpose, and every solicitor started their career at the firm, it says. Peter Moloney, in practice since 1979, leads on serious injury and WorkCover, with Guy Maegraith on car accident claims and Ian Milsom on Comcare and asbestos. It suits public servants with work injury claims. The first phone chat or half hour interview is free. It doesn't do no win, no fee, but defers its normal fees on cases it backs, with no uplift.
Opened in 1988
Also worth knowing
Will visit clients at home or in hospital.
Lawyers
The firm titles all its lawyers as Associates.
Peter Moloney, Associate, started the firm; personal injury and WorkCover
Guy Maegraith, Associate, car accident and personal injury
Ian Milsom, Associate, personal injury, WorkCover, Comcare and asbestos
Martin Hynes, Associate, personal injury and WorkCover
Nishara Perera, Associate, personal injury and WorkCover
Level 6, Pirie House, 89 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Mellor Olsson is a full service firm based in Pirie House on Pirie Street, with seven regional offices, from Port Lincoln to Bordertown. The firm says it has acted for injured people for over 50 years. Its injury team handles car accident, work injury, public liability and medical negligence claims, including catastrophic spinal and head injuries and abuse compensation. Senior associate Brittany Duregon, who joined in 2022 and, the firm says, was named an emerging leader in SA civil law in 2023, works on injury and medical negligence claims. It suits regional clients. The first consultation is free, with no obligation.
Also worth knowing
Eight offices across Adelaide and regional SA.
Lawyers
The injury pages name only two lawyers.
Brittany Duregon, Senior Associate
Jordie Parker, Solicitor
Areas of personal injury law handled
Car accident and CTP claims
Work injury claims
Public liability
Medical negligence
Birth injury claims
Catastrophic injury claims
Abuse compensation
TPD claims
Office
Level 6, Pirie House, 89 Pirie Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Other details
Other offices
Port Lincoln, Clare, Barossa Valley, Bordertown, Kadina, Keith and McLaren Vale
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.
Not sure which firm suits you?
Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Adelaide personal injury lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with an Adelaide office that do personal injury work as a main part of their practice. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. The Law Society of South Australia doesn't accredit personal injury specialists, and we don't describe anyone as one. Free consultations and no win, no fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them in your costs agreement. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.
No firm pays for its place on this list, and the order is our own. We write the descriptions 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 CTP Regulator, ReturnToWorkSA, the South Australian Employment Tribunal and the Legal Services Commission of South Australia in October 2026.
Car accident claims under SA's CTP scheme
South Australia's CTP scheme is fault based. You claim from the compulsory third party insurer of the vehicle that caused the crash, and your claim is generally accepted if the accident was caused by a South Australian vehicle, someone other than you was at least partly responsible, and the accident happened less than three years ago. Children under 16 are covered for necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support even if they caused the accident. Compensation such as damages for pain and suffering generally depends on someone else being at fault. Since 1 July 2019, vehicle owners have chosen their own CTP insurer when they register, so the at fault vehicle's insurer may not be the one you use.
Lodging: send the injury claim form to the at fault vehicle's CTP insurer. Do it within six months, or you'll need to give the insurer a reason for the delay, such as being too unwell or not knowing you could claim
Unknown or unregistered vehicles: you can still claim. Send the claim form to the CTP Regulator, which passes it to an insurer to manage. If the vehicle can't be identified, lodge as soon as reasonably practicable after that becomes clear
Interstate vehicles: use the SA claim form and send it to that vehicle's CTP insurer
What to have ready: a medical certificate, details of the accident and the other vehicle, your SAPOL report number, photo ID, proof of lost income and receipts
Bikes and e-scooters: accidents caused by bicycles or personal mobility devices aren't covered by CTP. You may be able to claim against the rider, or a hire company's public liability insurance
Lifetime Support Scheme. If you have a moderate to severe brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, permanent blindness or certain amputations from a crash, you may be covered by the Lifetime Support Scheme even if your CTP claim isn't accepted. It's a no fault scheme for treatment, care and support, but it doesn't pay for lost income or pain and suffering.
The Regulator Rules. The CTP Regulator sets rules for how insurers manage claims and resolve disputes, aimed at fair, transparent and consistent service for injured people. The current version is dated 1 July 2024. When you make a settlement offer, the insurer must reply in writing within 30 days or a later date you agree, and once you've signed the settlement papers payment usually follows within five business days.
What you can claim after a car accident, and the ISV threshold
A CTP claim can cover medical and treatment costs, lost earnings and, for more serious injuries, pain and suffering, known as non economic loss. Some limits apply:
Pain and suffering: your injury is given an injury scale value (ISV). In most cases you only receive non economic loss if your ISV is 11 or more, unless the consequences of your injuries are exceptional
Lost earnings: the first week off work can't be claimed, and compensation for lost earnings, past and future, is reduced by 20 per cent. Future lost earnings can only be claimed if your ISV is 8 or more, except in exceptional cases
Unpaid care from close family: only claimable if the care is given by your spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, grandparent or grandchild, your ISV is 11 or more, and the care is at least 6 hours a week for at least 6 months in a row. There's a cap on the hourly rate, and the total is capped at four times state average weekly earnings unless a court orders more
Your own part in the crash: if you were partly at fault, for example by not wearing a seatbelt, your damages can be reduced
ISV
Non economic loss damages, accidents in the 2026 to 27 financial year
10 or less
Nothing in most cases
11
$4,320
20
$17,280
30
$31,680
50
$129,600
79 and above
$431,980
The CTP Regulator publishes these amounts each financial year. Your accident date decides which year's table applies.
Settlement can start once the insurer has decided who was at fault, your injuries have stabilised and their long term effects are clear. If an adult's claim isn't resolved within three years, court action has to start before the third anniversary of the accident. Different rules apply to children.
Work injury claims through ReturnToWorkSA
Work injury claims in South Australia are made under the Return to Work Act 2014, and decided by a ReturnToWorkSA claims agent or a self insured employer.
Tell your employer about the injury as soon as practicable, within 24 hours if you can. Notice can be spoken or written
Make your claim within 6 months, on the approved form with a medical certificate, and give it to your employer. A late claim can still be accepted if the delay came from not knowing you could claim, a mistake, being out of the state or another reasonable cause
An employer registered with ReturnToWorkSA must send the claim on within 5 days
A decision should be made within 10 business days. If it isn't, you must be offered interim payments
Period off work
Income support
First 52 weeks
100% of your average weekly earnings
Next 52 weeks
80% of your average weekly earnings
Medical expenses are covered for up to a year after income support ends. A psychiatric injury is only covered if your work was the significant contributing cause, and not if it came wholly or mainly from reasonable action such as discipline or a transfer.
Seriously injured workers: a whole person impairment of 35% or more for a physical injury, or 30% or more for a psychiatric injury. The physical threshold rose from 30% on 1 January 2023. Seriously injured workers get income support until retirement age and lifetime treatment, care and support
Assessed at 30% to 34%: since 1 January 2023 you aren't seriously injured, but you get a larger economic loss lump sum
Suing your employer: a seriously injured worker may bring a common law claim for economic loss if the employer's negligence caused or contributed to the injury, but weekly income support then ends
Impairment assessments: generally only once the injury has stabilised. Since December 2024 a worker with a terminal condition can be assessed sooner, and since July 2025 so can workers with prescribed dust diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and silicosis
Disputes. To challenge a decision, lodge an application for review with the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET) within one month of getting notice of it. After that you have to ask SAET for an extension. The compensating authority then has 10 business days to reconsider, and if it confirms the decision the dispute goes to SAET's dispute resolution process. There's no fee to lodge.
Public liability and medical negligence
Injuries in shops, on someone else's property or in public places, and injuries from medical treatment, fall mainly under the Civil Liability Act 1936. The person or business that controls the premises can be liable, and that can be a tenant. You have to show your injuries were caused by their negligence, and courts look at things like the danger, your age and whether they knew or should have known about it.
Trespassers: generally aren't owed a duty, unless their presence was reasonably foreseeable and the danger called for precautions
Roads: a road authority can't be held negligent for failing to maintain, repair or renew a road, though a council may be liable for misleading road signs
Medical negligence: a health professional is generally judged against what was widely accepted in Australia by their peers as competent practice at the time
Pain and suffering: claims outside car accidents have their own thresholds under the Civil Liability Act, so ask a lawyer early whether your injury is likely to qualify
Court action for these claims generally has to start within 3 years. The Limitation of Actions Act gives children extra time, and a court can sometimes extend the limit, for example where important facts only came to light late. Don't rely on either without advice.
Time limits and where claims are heard
Claim
Time limit
CTP claim form
Within 6 months of the accident. Later than that, you need to give a reason for the delay
CTP claim, outer limit
A claim more than 3 years after the accident generally won't be accepted. An unresolved adult claim needs court action before the third anniversary
CTP claim for a child
The 3 year court limit generally doesn't start until they turn 18. But if the insurer gives the parent or guardian written notice asking for court action to start, it must start within 6 months of that notice
ReturnToWorkSA claim
Within 6 months. Late claims can be accepted for reasons such as not knowing you could claim
SAET review of a work injury decision
Within one month of getting notice of the decision
Public liability and medical negligence
Generally 3 years. Children get extra time
Injury from sexual or serious physical abuse as a child
No time limit, since 1 February 2019
Claims that go to court can be heard in the Magistrates Court up to $100,000, and the District and Supreme Courts have no upper limit. The Adelaide Magistrates Court is at 260 to 280 Victoria Square, and the Higher Courts Registry for the District and Supreme Courts is in the Sir Samuel Way Building, 241 to 259 Victoria Square.
What an Adelaide personal injury lawyer costs
Most firms on this list offer a free first consultation and run most claims on a no win, no fee basis, as each firm describes it. In South Australia your lawyer must tell you at the start how they'll charge and give you a range of estimates of your total legal costs, and a costs agreement must be in writing or evidenced in writing. Ask what counts as a win and who pays for medical reports along the way.
CTP claims: if you receive more than $25,000 you can recover part of your legal fees when the claim settles. At $25,000 or less, you pay your legal fees yourself
SAET: there's no fee to lodge a review, though being represented may cost money
Legal aid: the Legal Services Commission usually doesn't fund personal injury claims, because private lawyers take them on and are paid from the compensation
You don't need a lawyer to lodge or manage a CTP claim, and you can get advice at any stage. A lawyer is most useful when fault is disputed, a decision goes against you, or your injury might reach the ISV or seriously injured thresholds.
Legal Services Commission: can give free general legal advice, including on CTP claims. Legal Helpline 1300 366 424, weekdays 9am to 4:30pm
Adelaide Magistrates Court Legal Advice Clinic: for people going to court without a lawyer, including over motor vehicle accidents, weekdays 9:30am to noon
Law Society of South Australia: can help you find a lawyer experienced in personal injury claims
Adelaide personal injury law: common questions
How long do I have to make a CTP claim in South Australia?
Lodge your claim within 6 months of the accident, or you'll need to explain the delay to the insurer. A claim more than 3 years after the accident generally won't be accepted, and if an adult's claim hasn't settled by then, court action has to start before the third anniversary. Different rules apply to children.
Can I claim if the crash was my fault?
Generally a CTP claim needs someone other than you to be at least partly responsible. Children under 16 are covered for necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support even if they caused the accident, but damages generally need someone else to be at fault. If you were seriously injured, for example with a spinal cord or brain injury, the no fault Lifetime Support Scheme may cover your treatment and care even if your CTP claim isn't accepted.
Why might I get nothing for pain and suffering?
In most car accident claims, non economic loss is only paid if your injury scale value is 11 or more, unless the consequences of your injuries are exceptional. You can still claim medical costs and past lost earnings below that level. Compensation for future lost earnings needs an ISV of 8 or more, unless the consequences of your injuries are exceptional. For an accident in 2026 to 27, an ISV of 11 is worth $4,320.
What is a seriously injured worker in SA?
A worker with a whole person impairment of 35% or more for a physical injury, or 30% or more for a psychiatric injury. The physical threshold went up from 30% on 1 January 2023. Seriously injured workers get income support until retirement age and lifetime treatment and care, and may be able to sue a negligent employer for economic loss.
How do I dispute a ReturnToWorkSA decision?
Lodge an application for review with the South Australian Employment Tribunal within one month of getting notice of the decision. There's no fee. The claims agent or employer then has 10 business days to reconsider, and if it doesn't change its decision the dispute goes to SAET's dispute resolution process.
Do I need a lawyer, and who pays the legal costs?
You don't need one to lodge a CTP or work injury claim. In a CTP claim, if you receive more than $25,000 you can recover part of your legal fees at settlement, but at $25,000 or less you pay them yourself. Your lawyer must tell you at the start how they charge and estimate your total costs.
Are there accredited personal injury specialists in Adelaide?
Not through the Law Society of South Australia, which has no personal injury accreditation scheme. Its own accreditation covers wills and estates, and it recognises family, immigration and taxation accreditation from the Law Institute of Victoria. So look at experience instead: ask how long a lawyer has worked on SA injury claims and who will actually run yours.
