Working as a coal miner means you're exposed to a lot of workplace risks, including accidents or exposure to harmful dust and chemicals. Unfortunately, these risks are worsened if your employer has been negligent or the conditions are unsafe. That's why there are specific workers compensation rights for coal miners in New South Wales that differ to other workers compensation rights.
Your life could be impacted by a range of serious injuries
Coal mining injuries can have a hugely negative impact on your quality of life – limiting your mobility, causing you physical pain and psychological distress. Not to mention limiting your ability to work.
If you have acquired any kind of illness or injury in a coal mine or on a coal mining site, you may be entitled to compensation.
Some of the common injuries and illnesses coal miners suffer from include:
- body stressing or musculoskeletal disorders
- slips, trips and falls
- crushing injuries
- dust and chemical related diseases
- injuries caused by moving objects
- injuries caused high risk machinery
Coal miners insurance
Coal miners insurance, a specialised coal miner compensation scheme for the NSW coal industry, is intended to support workers and their families throughout the stages of recovery and return-to-work.
Workers compensation for coal miners differs from compensation for other workers, and coal miners have particular rights that allow them to receive increased benefits.
Your entitlements
If you've been injured or become ill as a result of working in a coal mine, you may be entitled to:
- Weekly payments of compensation, usually until one year after you are eligible for the aged pension
Medical and treatment expenses for the rest of your life
Lump sum compensation for any loss of function or use of an injured body part. You're entitled to make more than one claim for lump sum compensation should your condition have deteriorated over time or due to further treatment
Compensation for pain and suffering
Coal miners compensation can be provided in the form of ongoing weekly payments and coverage of medical expenses.
Under certain circumstances, for instance if you have sustained a permanent disability or lost a limb, compensation can be paid as a lump sum. In addition, further lump sum payments can be made if your condition deteriorates or requires further treatment.
Common law claims
In the case that your employer was negligent, you may be entitled to sue for damages via a common law claim. This means you may be entitled to additional compensation, including for:
- pain and suffering
- past loss of wages and loss of superannuation benefits
- future loss of earnings and loss of superannuation benefits
- past and future medical and treatment expenses
- past and future care, yard and household duties assistance.
We are leaders in coal mining compensation law
The law in relation to the compensation rights of coal miners and workers injured in or about coal mines is a speciality area of law within NSW. Do not take a risk and see a lawyer who is not experienced in coal miners compensation claims.
We've been assisting injured coal miners and their families in a range of situations for over 100 years.
Choose a specialist team
Slater and Gordon through its acquired associates is proud to have been the preferred legal services provider for coal miners for more than 100 years. And, with careful recruitment and training has created a coal miners compensation team with unmatched experience in mining compensation law.
Our experts are dedicated to mining
Our team is led by lawyers who have worked for workers injured in or around coal mines for many years, with the whole team, including support staff, working only in this area.
This team is involved in the majority of compensation cases dealt with every year in NSW. It’s a specialised jurisdiction and we have the specialists needed to be successful in cases like yours.
We are a leading law firm based within your community
If you choose us, you’re choosing one of Australia’s most trustworthy, successful and well known law firms. It has been a hard earned reputation that we've built-up over many years.
We work in the heart of the coal mining districts, so you get the benefits of a nationally supported firm with the experts working within your local community.
We’re innovative, transparent and affordable
There are no costs or disbursements payable by you in respect of a workers compensation claim for weekly benefits, medical expenses or lumps sum benefits for permanent impairment and pain and suffering.
We offer No Win - No Fee* payment arrangements in cases where you sue for damages. In those cases we tell you what the fees will be up front, it’s a fixed fee and there are no hidden charges. There is never any requirement for advance payment.
Speak to us today
Our priority at Slater and Gordon is to ensure you:
Feel supported through the entire process
Understand your rights and entitlements
Assist you with any disputes that may arise
Maximise your compensation
Provide you with clear and accurate advice about your prospects of success
Meeting with a lawyer shouldn't be an overwhelming experience, to help you you can read more about what to expect when meeting your lawyer for the first time.
You should contact us if:
You have suffered an injury at work
You have suffered a flare-up of an existing injury or disease whilst at work
You have suffered a psychological injury at work
You want to know more about your potential to obtain lump sum compensation
Your employer is pressuring you to return to work
You've never received advice about a workplace injury
You just want to know where you stand within the law.