Injured at work in Queensland? You may be entitled to compensation!

1. Weekly compensation for any income loss
2. Medical and treatment expenses
3. Travel expenses
4. Lump sum compensation for permanent impairment caused by the injury

You can claim below heads of damages

1. Medical Expenses: This includes both past and future medical expenses as a result of the injury. It can be expenses for medical, rehabilitation treatment, physiotherapy, pharmaceuticals, medical aids and any other reasonable expenses.
2. Loss of Earnings: This includes past and future loss of income resulting from the injuries. You may also be entitled to claim loss of promotional opportunities, interest and superannuation
3. Pain and Suffering: This includes physical suffering and mental distress. It also includes deprivation of the ability to participate in normal activities and enjoy life to the fullest.
4. Care and Assistance: This refer to help with domestic, personal care, vehicle or home maintenance tasks. It can be provided by anyone, paid or unpaid. But you can only claim if you meet certain conditions.

Before WorkCover provides you with a lump sum offer, you will meet with an independent medical examiner for a permanent injury assessment to assess the severity of your injury.

Degree of permanent impairment (DPI) is generally reflected by a percentage, usually between 0% and 100%. The higher the percentage, the more serious the injury.

For injuries with a DPI of less than 30%, the statutory maximum compensation is $307,385. Therefore, for injuries with a DPI less than 30%, the lump sum payment = DPI x $307,385.

For example: If the DPI is 5%, the lump sum payment = 5% x $307,385 = $15,369.25

We cannot give you a definite answer, because every claim is very individualistic.

The amount of compensation you can claim in Queensland will depend on:

• How bad your injuries are
• Your age
• Your education and occupation
• Your health condition at the time of the accident
• The circumstances of the accident
• How much you have lost and will lose in wages
• How much care you need
• How much money you have paid and will have to pay out of your own pocket
• The ability and experience of your compensation lawyer

Once your injuries have been stabilized, you’ll need to see a doctor to understand the impact these injuries will have on your future work and enjoyment of life. This will usually involve visiting one or more medical specialists and them writing a report to support your claim.

An assessment of your situation is needed before any projections can be given. Settlements reflect the long term impact on your life so it’s worth remembering that large settlements are associated with long term or life altering injuries.

It depends on various factors, such as:

• how complicated your situation is
• how serious your injuries are
• what treatment you will need before your injuries will stabilise
• what treatment you will need before your injuries will stabilise

Each claim is different. So we can’t give you an estimate here. But once we get to know you better, we can give you a clearer idea of the timeframes involved in your claim.