At TOP Chiropractic Acupuncture in West Ryde, we help patients recover from motor vehicle accident injuries — and we make the claims process as simple as possible.
You do not need to pay out of pocket for treatment after a motor vehicle accident in NSW. CTP (Green Slip) insurance covers reasonable and necessary treatment for injuries sustained in the accident. We can help you understand what you are entitled to and how to access it.
The NSW CTP Claims Process — Step by Step
In NSW, all registered vehicles must have CTP (Green Slip) insurance. This insurance covers treatment costs for people injured in a motor vehicle accident — whether or not you were at fault. Here is how the process works:
1 | Seek treatment first You do not need to wait for paperwork to begin treatment. Come to TOP Chiropractic Acupuncture as soon as possible after your accident. We assess and begin treatment at the first appointment. Early treatment produces better outcomes for whiplash and spinal injuries. |
2 | Report the accident Report the accident to NSW Police if not already done. You will need a police event number for your CTP claim. If police attended the scene, you already have this. |
3 | Identify the CTP insurer The CTP insurer is the company that issued the Green Slip for the at-fault vehicle. If this is unclear, SIRA (State Insurance Regulatory Authority) can help identify it. You can also call 1300 137 131 (SIRA helpline). |
4 | Lodge your claim Submit a claim with the CTP insurer as soon as possible and no later than 3 months after the accident. The insurer will issue you a claim number. Provide this number to us and we bill the insurer directly for your treatment. |
5 | See your GP Your GP will document your injuries, order imaging where needed, and provide medical certificates if you are unable to work. Your GP is your nominated treating doctor for the claim. Communicate with us and your GP so treatment is coordinated. |
6 | Continue treatment Treatment continues as long as it is reasonable and necessary for your injuries. We provide progress reports to the insurer as required. You are notified before any treatment limits are approached. |
All treatments are tailored to your condition and what is clinically appropriate.
What We Treat
Injuries & Conditions We Treat Under CTP Claims
Whiplash & Neck Strain: Gentle neck mobilisation, traction, and acupuncture to manage acute pain, stiffness, and headache symptoms.
Lower Back Pain & Disc Support: Lumbar mobilisation, gentle decompression, soft tissue release, and targeted rehabilitation exercises.
Mid-Back & Rib Discomfort: Thoracic and rib mobilisation combined with acupuncture and cupping to restore pain-free breathing and movement.
Shoulder & Upper Limb Symptoms: Relief for shoulder injuries, arm weakness, numbness, or tingling through structured manual therapy and exercise.
Cervicogenic Headaches: Focused upper cervical care and acupuncture to target headaches originating from the neck.
Concussion Support & Dizziness: Vestibular balance exercises, rest guidance, and coordinated co-management alongside your GP.
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
WHAT TO BRING | DETAIL |
CTP claim number | Provide this if you already have it. If you have not yet lodged a claim, come in anyway — we can assist you to understand the process and begin treatment while the claim is being lodged. |
Insurer details | The name of the CTP insurer (the company that issued the at-fault vehicle’s Green Slip) and their contact details if you have them. |
Police event number | The number issued when the accident was reported to NSW Police. |
Date and location of accident | We include this in our records and documentation for the insurer. |
Any imaging already done | X-rays, CT scans or MRI reports from the hospital or GP following the accident. |
GP referral (if available) | A referral from your GP is helpful but not required to begin treatment. You can attend as a self-referred patient and obtain the referral at your next GP visit. |
If you are unsure about any part of the claims process, call us before your appointment. We are familiar with the NSW CTP system and can answer most questions about what is covered, how billing works, and what documentation you need. You should not be managing this alone on top of recovering from an injury. |
Our Approach After a Motor Vehicle Accident
Many patients come to us worried about treatment after an accident. They may have heard about chiropractic manipulation and are concerned that forceful treatment is not right for their injured body. This concern is valid and we want to address it directly.
In the acute phase following a motor vehicle accident, high-velocity spinal manipulation is not appropriate and is not what we use. The tissues are inflamed, the muscles are guarding, and the nervous system is sensitised. Forceful treatment at this stage would make symptoms worse, not better.
What we use instead: gentle joint mobilisation within comfortable range, therapeutic traction to decompress irritated spinal segments and nerve roots, acupuncture for pain relief and muscle tension, cupping to improve blood flow to damaged soft tissue, and a carefully graduated exercise programme introduced as healing progresses. Treatment is comfortable, communicated throughout and adjusted immediately if any technique causes discomfort.
When Should You Come In?
You have been in a car accident and have any neck, back, shoulder or head symptoms You had a motor vehicle accident weeks or months ago and symptoms have not resolved You have a CTP claim in progress and need a treating practitioner You are unsure whether your symptoms are serious enough to claim — let us assess first You want treatment to begin immediately without waiting for insurance paperwork |
Ready To Start Your Recovery?
Book your chiropractic appointment with Dr Don Kim and take the first step towards improving your movement and wellbeing.
Have a Question About Your Treatment Options?
Frequently Asked Questions About Us
Do I need to see a doctor before coming to TOP Chiropractic Acupuncture after an accident?
No. You can come directly to us after an accident without a GP referral. We will assess your injuries at the first appointment and begin treatment the same day. If we identify injuries that require medical imaging or specialist involvement, we will refer you promptly. However, we do recommend seeing your GP early in your recovery as they will document your injuries, order imaging where needed and provide medical certificates if you are unable to work. Starting treatment early produces better outcomes — do not delay coming in because you are waiting for paperwork. |
Is chiropractic treatment safe after a car accident? Will there be any cracking or forceful manipulation?
This is the most common concern we hear, and it deserves a direct answer. In the acute phase after a motor vehicle accident, high-velocity spinal manipulation — the forceful technique that produces a cracking sound — is not appropriate and is not what we use. Your tissues are inflamed, your muscles are in protective spasm and your nervous system is sensitised. We use gentle joint mobilisation within a comfortable range, therapeutic traction to decompress irritated spinal segments and nerve roots, acupuncture for pain relief, and cupping to improve blood flow to damaged soft tissue. Nothing is forced. Treatment is comfortable, communicated throughout and adjusted immediately if any technique causes discomfort.
My pain started a few days after the accident, not immediately. Is that normal?
Yes, this is very common — particularly for whiplash and soft tissue injuries. Immediately after an accident, adrenaline and the body’s natural stress response can mask pain signals. As these settle over 24 to 72 hours, the underlying injury becomes apparent. Some patients feel fine on the day of the accident and wake up the next morning barely able to move. This delayed onset does not mean the injury is less serious. In fact, delayed onset whiplash symptoms often indicate the injury is genuine soft tissue damage rather than a psychological response to the event. Come in even if your symptoms started days after the accident. |
Do We offer customised rehabilitation exercise programs?
What injuries can you treat after a motor vehicle accident?
We treat the full range of soft tissue and spinal injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents, including whiplash (WAD Grades I to IV), cervicogenic headaches and dizziness, lower back pain and disc injuries, thoracic and rib pain, shoulder injuries including rotator cuff involvement, arm pain and tingling from nerve irritation, and post-concussive symptoms such as brain fog, light sensitivity and fatigue. For post-concussive symptoms, we work alongside your GP and neurologist rather than managing independently. |
Will I have to pay for treatment out of pocket?
For treatment that is covered under your CTP claim, you generally do not pay out of pocket. We bill the insurer directly for reasonable and necessary treatment. A gap fee may apply in some circumstances depending on the insurer’s approved rates. We will always be transparent about any out-of-pocket cost before treatment begins. For the first appointment before your claim number is confirmed, a private payment may be required and reimbursed once the claim is active — we will discuss this with you when you book. |
Why should I choose TOP Chiropractic Acupuncture after my accident?
We combine chiropractic, acupuncture, cupping and therapeutic traction in one appointment — addressing the multiple layers of soft tissue, joint and neurological change that a motor vehicle accident produces simultaneously. Dr Don Kim is a dual-qualified chiropractor and acupuncturist. Every patient receives a structured assessment, a clearly communicated treatment plan with specific milestones, and a progressive rehabilitation programme — not an open-ended course of passive treatment. We are also familiar with the NSW CTP system and can assist you with the claims process questions that inevitably arise during treatment. |