To obtain WorkCover benefits, including weekly payments for time off work and the amount of your medical expenses, you must be a worker and have suffered an injury.

A “worker” is someone on PAYG wages or in most cases, a ‘contractor’ paid on hourly or weekly rates which supply no more than labour and hand tools. A genuine subcontractor does not come under the WorkCover system.

If you are a worker who suffers an injury, you are entitled to statutory benefits including:

1. Weekly payments for time off work;
2. Payment of medical expenses; and
3. A possible lump sum for any permanent impairment if the accident happened at work or travelling to or from work.

If you do not meet the two criteria (being a worker and suffering an injury), you may be entitled to bring a claim for damages outside the WorkCover system. To find out what else you are entitled to claim, contact our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers today.

There is no single formula to distinguish between a true employee and a true contractor.

Important factors are:- whether you only work for one employer; whether the employer supplies materials and equipment; whether you make your own decisions about the hours you work and how you perform the work; whether you must fix any mistakes during your own time without pay; whether your pay is linked to the hour’s work or work produced. It is recommended to speak to Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers to discuss how to take the best course of action.

You may be able to claim workers’ compensation if:

• you’ve had an accident at or as a result of work (which may include injuries sustained during a recess, such as a lunchtime or morning and afternoon breaks)
• your health and wellbeing have been affected in the workplace
• a pre-existing injury or illness worsens in the workplace.

Workers’ compensation covers reasonable expenses including medical, personal, occupational and rehabilitation expenses—and potentially more. Speak to our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers to discuss your situation.

Yes. If the employer is responsible for your injuries i.e. an unsafe system of work, then you can claim injury compensation outside of the WorkCover system.

You should get early legal advice from Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers so that you know exactly where you stand.

To assist your Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers with the TPD or accident insurance investigation, it is important to try to do the following:

• Make notes of your recollection of all events relevant to the accident
• Record names and addresses of witnesses
• Take photos and video of the place where you were injured. “A picture tells a thousand words”. Sketches are also helpful
• Take photos and video of any product, equipment or object that injured you
• Take photos of your injuries
• Keep any defective product which caused an injury
• Keep details of your absences from work caused by the injury
• Make a list of visits to doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors etc, for treatment and follow-up visits
• Keep all invoices and receipts for medical, chemist etc expenses
• Record details of assistance provided by friends and family members
• Collect contractual records. For sporting injuries, this includes club membership application forms and sign-in forms. For injuries in a car park or theatre, this includes the entry ticket
• Collect documents showing your loss of earnings and earning capacity, including wage slips, group certificates, income tax returns (for 6 years prior to the accident and each year after), references and resumes

Time limits vary. It is best practice to report an injury from work as soon as possible, preferably on the same day or the day following when the injury occurred.

A workers’ compensation application must be lodged within six months of the date of injury. TPD claims can be lodged within the time limit under the policy.

If you are considering a damages claim, court proceedings must be filed within 3 years of the injury date. It is recommended to speak to a Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers to discuss how to take the best course of action.

The time limit varies. However, it is essential to report the work-related injury to your employer and the WorkSafe QLD authority as soon as possible. If lodged, your claim is covered within the 30 days you’ve become aware of the injury. This time frame includes you getting a Medical Certificate and submitting an application form.

It’s essential to speak to Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers if you’re unsure about the amount of time you can claim, even if it’s been more than 30 days since your injury.

Lodging a WorkCover claim is an important step in any work accident recovery proceedings including for TPD or accident insurance.

If your employer tries and talks you out of making a WorkCover claim you should get prompt legal advice. You are also not obligated to notify your employer that you intend to make a WorkCover claim. If your employer refuses to assist you with your WorkCover claim, it can be lodged by other means. Speak to our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers to see what available options you are entitled to.

WorkCover Queensland (WCQ) will assess your permanent impairment after you have returned to work after they consider your injury has stabilised or after they believe your symptoms are no longer related to the accident. This will probably occur about twelve (12) months after the accident.

A Notice of Assessment will then issue from them to you expressing their determination of your bodily impairment as a percentage. Based on this percentage, they will offer you a “lump sum” payment.

At that point, you have the following options:-

1. Accept the “lump sum” they offer; or
2. Proceed with a lawsuit process that will typically yield you far higher compensation than the “lump sum” provided negligence, i.e. that there was something defective concerning the system of work.

In cases of severe injury, you can do both. This depends on the impairment assessed. Contact us immediately if you receive a WorkCover Notice of Assessment. It would be best if you did NOT accept any lump sum offer of compensation from WorkCover without discussing that with a Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers, as you will risk the loss of significant compensation rights.

Rather than accepting a lump sum, you may elect to sue your employer’s insurer for negligence and claim damages (in some cases you may be able to do both). To succeed in a damages claim you must be able to establish that your injury was due to a fault in the workplace (i.e. negligence) and you must satisfy other specific liability criteria.

In most cases, the amount of damages that flow from this type of claim is far greater than the lump sum that WorkCover may offer you under the statutory benefits scheme.

If your work-related impairment WRI is less than 20%, you cannot accept the lump sum and sue for damages. You must choose one or the other.

Don’t delay in getting in touch with our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers regarding workplace injury. Carter Capner Law is here to help you with your claims. For free, no-obligation chat, call our no win no fee lawyers today.

The majority of compensation and insurance claims are settled before court proceedings are started. In the unlikely event your claim ends up in court, your presence is required to determine the outcome of the case.

If you need more information, please contact our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers, who are here to help.

The fact that a worker is interstate or overseas at the time of an injury does not preclude Queensland workers’ compensation from being payable if your employment is connected to Queensland, for example, by being based here, usually working here, or your employer’s principal place of business is here.

Access to Queensland workers’ compensation for workers from other countries injured in Queensland and Queensland workers wounded elsewhere is determined by the location of the worker’s normal place of employment. The location of your employer’s “primary place of business” is also important.

If you want a personalised assessment of your compensation entitlement, contact our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers and speak with one of our specialist lawyers.

It is not required to seek legal counsel from a Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers in order to file a WorkCover claim or receive compensation for TPD. There are numerous advantages to having a Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers handling your claim:

• Free consultations – Before proceeding with your claim, obligation-free consultation with Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers can be scheduled. A dedicated legal assistant will be assigned to your case, in addition to a workers’ compensation lawyer.
• Insurance claim knowledge – Your workers’ compensation lawyer has expertise in negotiating with insurers, which can provide you peace of mind when it comes to collecting your compensation and determining what you’re legally entitled to.
• seasoned and time-conscious – It is your Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers’ responsibility to guarantee that your claim is filed on time. Many self-represented applicants are unfamiliar with the timeframes associated with workers’ compensation cases.

Yes, you can, as long you are covered by income protection highlighted in your superannuation policy. If you’re unable to attend your job due to your injury, you may be entitled to request a superannuation lump sum.

It is recommended to speak to a Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers to discuss how to take the best course of action.

If a WorkCover claim has been lodged on your behalf and accepted WorkCover may also offer you a lump sum payment once your injuries have stabilised (usually about nine (9) to fifteen (15) months post-injury).

The offer of a lump sum depends on the level of WRI, which is assessed medically and depends on the nature and extent of your injury. In most cases, the amount of damages which flows from this type of claim is far greater than the lump sum which WorkCover may offer you under the statutory benefits scheme. contact our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers today for an initial consultation.

For workers’ compensation claims, the expenses incurred due to the work-related injury include:

• Medical, hospital, GP, Ambulance, nursing
• Rehabilitation
• Occupational therapy
• Personal and household

The insurer may also approve compensation for expenses on attendant care, home or car modification, home care and transportation costs. For more information on benefits entitlements, get in touch with our Workers Compensation Contractor Lawyers today.