Perth Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
If you have suffered an injury in the workplace which has had a negative impact on your quality of life, no matter how big or small, you may be eligible to make a claim for workers’ compensation.
Should the worst happen at work, it is very easy to feel powerless, vulnerable and out of your depth. When it comes to sorting out the legal side of things, though, you should not feel like you need to go it alone… that’s where we come in.
At Tindall Gask Bentley, we work hard to fight your corner and protect your rights. Our expert team of experienced Perth workers’ compensation lawyers are always on-hand to guide you through the process from beginning to end, helping you take back control over your work and personal life.
Because the laws which govern workers’ compensation differ from state-to-state throughout Australia, it is important that you contact the right Perth WorkCover lawyers so that your case can move forward quickly.
We are a leading firm which specialises in personal injury and workers’ compensation. Contact us today to get the ball rolling; we will manage your claim whilst you focus on your recovery.
Common work-related injuries
There are several work-related injuries which fall under workers’ compensation. They are more common than you may think and, in many cases, those eligible for Perth WorkCover don’t realise it.
If you are unsure about an injury you have suffered – physical or psychological – our Perth workers’ compensation lawyers are on-hand to clarify your situation.
Some common work-related injuries include:
- Office-related injuries: It is possible to suffer harm in the corporate or office environment, especially if you are performing repetitive tasks such as pushing, pulling or lifting. These injuries can be both physical and psychological.
- Construction-related injuries: Working on a construction site comes with obvious risks and, unfortunately, accidents are common. Even when all safety precautions have been met incidents can still happen, and these usually have devastating repercussions. Slips, trips and falls all come under the scope of WorkCover.
- Psychological injuries: Injuries do not need to be physical; workplace events can have a serious impact on your mental wellbeing. Psychological injuries have a direct impact on your ability to work and can lead to low efficiency, physical harm and loss of income.
Determining whether your injury is work-related is an important first step. It is the very first thing your Perth personal injury lawyer will look at when deciding if you have a claim.
Who is eligible for workers’ compensation?
Workers’ compensation – also referred to as WorkCover – is available to people who have either been injured at work or have suffered an illness or disease because of their employment.
Eligibility is something which needs to be determined on a case-by-case basis, and this is something our Perth WorkCover lawyers can guide you on. Generally speaking, you could be eligible for workers’ compensation if:
- You have had an accident at work or because of your work, even if said accident was sustained during a break.
- You have a pre-existing condition (injury, disease or illness) which has been worsened in the workplace.
- You have suffered a negative impact to your overall health and wellbeing due to your workplace.
Workers’ compensation does not just cover full-time employees, it can be claimed by part-time workers, casual workers and, in certain cases, subcontractors; our Perth workers’ compensation lawyers can provide guidance on this.
Any injuries which have occurred either in full or part because of your employment can be claimed for. Illnesses and pre-existing conditions such as cancer, asthma, heart conditions and degenerative conditions are also covered under workers’ compensation.
Seeking compensation is not the same as suing your employer. In Western Australia, your right to sue your employer depends on a limited set of circumstances and this can have a negative impact on your compensation rights.
What can I claim for?
Figuring out exactly what you are entitled to claim for is one of the most frustrating parts of personal injury. Depending on the severity of your case, it can take a serious toll on your day-to-day life and bring everything to a dramatic halt.
Luckily, TGB’s WorkCover Perth lawyers have many years’ worth of expertise in personal injury litigation and consistently bring about successful workers’ compensation claims.
What you can claim for depends entirely on the merits of your case, however, typical WorkCover under the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 include:
- Weekly payments calculated based on your average weekly earnings
- Medical and other expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Permanent disability or impairment
You may also be able to claim for additional compensation under the common law, such as:
- Overall pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost superannuation contributions
- Inability to work
Our team of expert WorkCover WA lawyers can advise you on the particulars of your claim, and there are several other possibilities which can be claimed for depending on the circumstances of your case.
What role does TGB’s Perth WorkCover lawyers play?
Simply put, all of them.
If you have a claim, our team of expert lawyers will handle everything from start to finish. Workers’ compensation claims often include negotiations with your employer, any involved third parties and insurance companies. In addition to this, we will acquire medical reports from your doctor and have your capacity to work assessed.
This is all stuff which the team working on your case will handle. Throughout, we will work closely with you to gather all the information necessary to ensure the success of your claim.
It is important you concentrate on your recovery; our WorkCover Perth lawyers understand this and will only involve you in the claim as and when necessary, leaving you with the freedom to carry on with your life.
How long does a claim take?
There are many variables at play when it comes to personal injury claims and, unfortunately, this is not something which can be determined easily.
The amount of time your claim will take depends entirely upon its nature. Most of the time spent on personal injury claims involves negotiations between our specialist Perth personal injury lawyers, your employer and any third parties or insurance companies which are involved.
Successful negotiations are crucial to the success of your claim as they involve agreeing to a compensatory figure and avoid litigation which can take months or, in some cases, years to go through the courts.
It is important to remember that you cannot bring your claim until you have fully recovered from your injuries; once a claim is finalised it cannot be altered and thus waiting until you have recovered enables us to claim for the full extent of your injuries.
Moving forward after your claim
When our Perth workers’ compensation lawyers have settled your claim and you have had your compensation paid out, you can finally start to move on with your life and return to normality.
Many of our clients decide to move onto new jobs after they have fully recovered and resolved their claim. As a result, one of the most common questions our WorkCover Perth lawyers are asked is whether a previous claim needs to be disclosed when applying for new jobs.
The short answer to this is: No, not necessarily. Unless you are asked, there is no need to disclose workers’ compensation claims history to a new employer.
If, however, you have been left with an injury which has a lasting impairment on your ability to perform certain duties or tasks then this should always be disclosed to a potential new employer.
Tindall Gask Bentley’s Perth workers’ compensation lawyers are leaders in their field. If you have suffered a work-related injury and want to know where you stand, get in touch today for a free, no-obligation claim assessment. Call our West Perth office on (08)9211 5800 or book an appointment here and our team will be in touch soon.