Have you been injured at work? Let us work it out
Your place of work should be an environment where you feel safe and protected from harm. If you've experienced a workplace injury, the consequences to your physical and emotional health, as well as your finances, can be overwhelming.
That's why you may be entitled to a compensation and benefits under the Workers' Compensation Scheme. This scheme exists to assist injured workers Australia-wide by providing a range of benefits to help you through difficult times and to help you recover from your injury.
As one of the largest specialised Workers' Compensation practice groups in the country, we've been winning cases like yours for decades. We understand that suffering a workplace injury, no matter how severe, can present major hurdles to overcome. That's why we support you every step of the way with care, understanding, flexibility and support. Let us help you with your legal needs so you can take care of your recovery.
There are many types of injury that can occur at work
It is your employer's responsibility to provide a safe working environment, but there are a range of common workplace hazards that can contribute to injury.
Some of the injuries we see on a regular basis include:
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Injuries sustained from a fall
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
Mental illness
Hearing loss
Lifting injuries
Construction site accidents
Injuries caused by malfunctioning machines
Your entitlements
Under the Workers' Compensation Scheme, you may be entitled to the following benefits if you've been injured or become ill at work:
- Weekly payments to cover loss of income
- Medical and associated expenses
- Lost Superannuation entitlements
- Rehabilitation services
- A lump sum payment in some circumstances
- Damages for pain and suffering, as well as economic loss, because of a serious injury.
Every worker in Australia is eligible to claim
WorkCover covers all Australian workers. Anybody who suffers a workplace injury, or an injury as a result of work, can make a claim for WorkCover compensation and should lodge a claim as soon as possible.
How to make a WorkCover claim
If you’ve been injured at work or believe you have suffered an illness that is work related, you may be entitled to compensation. There are several steps involved in making a claim, starting with discussing your situation with a doctor, and reporting your workplace injury to your employer.
Are you covered by Comcare?
Comcare is the workers' compensation scheme for all Commonwealth employees and workers whose employers have a license under the federal workers' compensation scheme. If you're covered under Comcare and you're injured at work, our compensation lawyers can help you.
- Asciano Services Pty Ltd
- Australian air Express Pty Ltd
- Australian Postal Corporation
- BWA Group Services Pty Limited (Bankwest)
- BIS Industries Ltd
- Border Express Pty Ltd
- Cleanaway Operations Pty Ltd
- Colonial Services Pty Ltd
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd
- Commonwealth Insurance Ltd
- Commonwealth Securities Ltd
- CSL Ltd
- DHL Supply Chain (Australia) Pty Ltd
- Fleetmaster Services Pty Ltd
- John Holland Group Pty Ltd
- John Holland Pty Ltd
- John Holland Rail Pty Ltd
- K&S Freighters Pty Ltd
- Linfox Australia Pty Ltd
- Linfox Armaguard Pty Ltd
- National Australia Bank Ltd
- National Wealth Management Services Ltd
- Medibank Private Limited
- Optus Administration Pty Ltd
- Prosegur Australia Pty Limited
- Reserve Bank of Australia
- Ron Finemore Transport Services Pty Ltd
- StarTrack Express Pty Ltd
- StarTrack Retail Pty Ltd
- Telstra Corporation Ltd
- Thales Australia Limited
- TNT Australia Pty Ltd
- Virgin Australia Airlines Pty Ltd
- Visionstream Pty Ltd
- Wilson Security Pty Ltd
Act quickly
Any workplace injury needs to be reported to your employer within 30 days. A workers' compensation claim also needs to be lodged as soon as possible after your injury, ideally within 30 days of becoming aware of it.
If it has been more than 30 days since you became aware of your injury, you should seek advice straight away. Make sure you speak to our experienced Workers' Compensation lawyers.
You might need legal help in a range of circumstances
Every Workers' Compensation case is different, and there are a number of circumstances that may mean you need legal help throughout the entire lifecycle of your claim. So whether you've just been injured or have run into trouble after years of receiving WorkCover payments, we can help you with personalised legal advice.
We can help you if:
you've been injured at work and don't know what to do next
you need help submitting a WorkCover claim
your WorkCover claim has been rejected
your employer is pressuring you to return to work
you're not being paid correctly
your employer's insurer won't pay for treatment or is taking too long to respond to requests
your payments have been cut off
you just want to know where you stand
Disputes with your employer or their insurer
Workers' Compensation is basically an insurance policy that’s compulsory for most employers. The WorkCover authority in your state appoint 'agents', usually insurance companies, to manage workers' compensation claims. So, throughout the life of your case, you may have contact with the insurance company as well as your employer themselves. If a dispute arises with either of these parties, we can help.
Have someone as big as the insurer on your side
When you work with us, you work with one of the largest and most experienced Workers' Compensation practices in Australia. So when you're up against a major insurer, it's not David vs. Goliath - it's Goliath vs. Goliath. We've been working on cases like yours for decades. So you can be confident we know exactly how to help make the law work for you so you get the compensation you're entitled to. Let us take the pressure off by looking after your legal needs while you concentrate on your health and your family.
In-home or in-hospital appointments
Sometimes your injury may prevent you from travelling. You might need to be at home on bed-rest or in hospital for treatment. In any circumstance like this, where you may not be fit to travel, we will arrange to come to you. We have a large footprint nationwide, with offices in many metropolitan and regional areas, meaning we're never far away. That way, you can continue taking care of yourself while we take care of your legal needs.
A whole team of experts dedicated to your success
Every Workers' Compensation lawyer has a designated team of professionals, including legal assistants and some of the most highly trained support staff in the industry. They can be contacted directly at any time to obtain an update about the progress of your claim. A member of the team is always available to contact face to face, online or by phone. Our lawyers and support staff specialise in WorkCover and WorkCover only - meaning that they are equipped to answer any question you have. The contact you have with your team is personal, regular and tailored to suit your needs.
Free social work services
We understand that obtaining the correct legal entitlements is only one of the many issues people have to face on their journey through life-changing incidents. As a caring and community-minded firm, we've long recognised the value of providing free social work services to address these issues to help improve clients’ wellbeing. In fact, we were the first, and are still the only law firm in Australia to offer this service. We're here to help you and your family get back on track in times of difficulty.
Fees
Our No Win - No Fee* arrangement is generally available for all types of Workers' Compensation claims. This means you do not pay for legal fees unless your case is successful. If your case is successful, we'll then charge our professional fees. Fees are not a percentage of your compensation entitlement, but are a set fee that is agreed to at the beginning of your case - meaning no nasty surprises for you at the end.
The No Win - No Fee* arrangement is designed to help those whose financial circumstances might otherwise deny them access to legal representation.
You'll receive a document setting out the details of the No Win - No Fee* arrangement after your first appointment. You've not committed to anything until you sign and return the document to us. This is so you can take the time to understand your options and make a decision you're happy with.
Additional costs
From time to time, you may incur additional costs throughout your case. For example, we may need to gain access to your medical records or obtain expert reports, which usually costs a fee. This is called a disbursement.
You'll know if there's likely to be any additional costs at your free initial appointment**. Our team will then guide you through everything you need to know, step by step, so you feel comfortable and informed before you make a decision to proceed. We'll do everything we can to minimise costs and maximise your compensation.
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What to expect
Every Workers' Compensation case is different. Some take months, some can take years. There are a number of steps you might go through in the process of making a Workers' Compensation claim or disputing a decision made by your employer or their insurer. Our caring and knowledgable team can guide you through all of these stages to help you get the best possible outcome.
Lodge a WorkCover claim
You'll need to lodge a WorkCover claim within 30 days of you becoming aware of your injury. If it's been longer than 30 days, you still have options but you should speak to us immediately.
Contact us
Whether your claim's been rejected, or you're having problems after years of WorkCover payments, we can give you information to help you decide on the best course of action for you and organise your free initial appointment**.
Attend your free initial appointment**
This gives you the opportunity to find out more about your claim and discuss your options so you can make the best decision for you.
We'll organise any immediate assistance you need
This could include a range of things including immediate medical expenses or appointments you need organised.
We'll investigate and gather evidence
We'll gather evidence, obtain reports, organise meetings and appointments, and more. This is how we prepare the strongest case possible.
You may attend a medical examination
We'll arrange, where appropriate, any necessary independent medical examinations. These are to obtain a greater understanding about your injury and the impact it has on your work, and life.
You may need to dispute a decision
If you disagree with a decision made by your employer's insurer we can guide you through the dispute resolution process and/or issue proceedings in court if necessary.
Case resolution or court proceedings
In most cases, claims can be resolved without court action and if successful, you'll receive the compensation you're entitled to.
Superannuation and Disability Insurance claims
If you are no longer performing your normal work duties as a result of your injury, you may be entitled to a disability benefit through your superannuation fund. We can conduct an obligation-free assessment to find out if you may be entitled to a payment.
Learn more about Superannuation and Disability Insurance claims