Injured at Work? These are your rights!
If you have been injured at work, travelling to or from work or in any way connected to your work, you have the legal right to claim statutory compensation through WorkCovers no-fault scheme. You have the right to make a claim even if you are at fault. If you win, the compensation you receive will cover your medical expenses and help cover lost wages for a limited period of time while you cannot work. If your employer was at fault, you may also be entitled to make a Common Law claim for damages.
Statutory Compensation
If you have suffered a work related injury, you have the right to make a claim for statutory compensation, whether the accident was your fault or not. This will usually cover between 70% to 85% of your salary and any medical or rehabilitation costs. WorkCover will only pay you for a set period of time. When this time period is up, you will be assessed and offered a lump sum payment. You can choose to accept the payment and not take any further action, or you can pursue a Common Law claim for workers compensation.
Common Law Compensation
If you can show that your employer (or another employee) was responsible for the incident that caused your work injury, you may also be able to make a Common Law claim for damages. If you are successful in your Common Law claim, you will usually receive more compensation that you would if you had accepted WorkCovers lump sum payment. You can claim workers compensation that relates to your injury and is based on the nature and extent of the injury as well as how that injury has impacted upon you and your financial circumstances.
Speak to a Lawyer in Cairns
If you have been affected by a workplace accident, we strongly recommend you consult with a lawyer and get some legal advice. Never accept any offers of compensation made to you without first consulting with a Lawyer. While it is possible to make a statutory claim yourself, you should keep in mind that any offer for lump sum compensation you receive from WorkCover is likely to be significantly less than what you would receive if you were to make a Common Law claim. For this reason, you should not accept any offer of workers compensation until you have spoken to your lawyer. If you decide to proceed with a Common Law claim, we advise that you hire an experienced Lawyer that can act on your behalf.
Cairns Injury Lawyers
- We are a locally owned and operated Law firm in Cairns.
- Your claim will be handled by an expert, senior Lawyer in Cairns.
- Our Lawyers aim to provide personal injury services which achieve maximum settlement at the lowest cost and shortest time.
- Like most Lawyers who handle WorkCover claims, Preston Law act on a “no win no fee” basis which means that you won’t have to pay anything until you win and receive your compensation. If you are unsuccessful in your claim, you won’t have to pay anything at all.
Contact us today:
Cairns Injury Lawyers
1/15 Spence St, Cairns City QLD 4870
4052 0700