Personal Injury Law Specialists - Workers Compensation Lawyers

STACKS/GOUDKAMP - WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS - SYDNEY AUSTRALIA.

If you have suffered an injury in the workplace, or whilst travelling to or from work, you may be entitled to claim workers compensation from your employer or WorkCover under your state or territory’s Workers Compensation Act. You should immediately contact a lawyer with expertise in workers compensation claims to assess your legal position.

Stacks/Goudkamp offers some of Sydney’s leading personal injury and workers compensation lawyers with over 20 years of experience in helping victims of workplace accidents claim the workers compensation they are entitled to.

We charge no fees unless the workers compensation claim is successful and we generally pay all outgoings (e.g. disbursements for medical reports). We also provide free parking at our Sydney office for those clients with mobility problems

In this page, you will find information covering all aspects of workers compensation, Work Cover and the Workers Compensation Act. To find what you are looking for specifically, please choose from the list below:

- STACKS/GOUDKAMP - EXPERTS IN WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS.
- WHAT IS COVERED BY WORKERS COMPENSATION?
- COMPENSATION FOR INJURY SUSTAINED TRAVELLING TO & FROM WORK.
- AGGRAVATION OF A PRE-EXISTING INJURY, CONDITION OR DISEASE.
- ARE YOU THE FAMILY MEMBER OF AN INJURED WORKER?
- WHAT COMPENSATION AM I ENTITLED TO UNDER WORKERS COMPENSATION?
- YOUR RIGHTS TO RECIEVE WORKERS COMPENSATION.
- HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I RECEIVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORKERS COMPENSATION?
- WHO DO I CLAIM WORKERS COMPENSATION FROM?
- WHAT HAPPENS IF MY EMPLOYER DOESN’T HAVE INSURANCE?

Please use the information on this page to become familiar with how the workers compensation scheme functions, then contact Stacks Goudkamp to arrange a meeting with a workers compensation lawyer.

WORKERS COMPENSATION LAWYERS WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS

With more than 20 years experience in workers compensation matters, Stacks/Goudkamp can provide a range of services to assist you with your workers compensation claim:

Workplace injury advice
Rehabilitation planning
Attendance and representation at conciliation sessions
Compensation Court - representation and litigation with WorkCover or your employer
Workers compensation and personal injury advice for common law proceedings
Employment issues arising from claims
Assistance with WorkCover's requirements
Workers' compensation for subcontractors, hired or outsourced labour

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WHAT IS COVERED BY WORKERS COMPENSATION / WORKCOVER CLAIMS?

Although the legislation is slightly different from state to state, to be eligible to claim workers compensation, you need to be defined as a ‘worker’ by your state authority and must have suffered an injury as defined by your state’s Workers Compensation Act. If so, you are eligible to claim workers compensation from WorkCover.

Most importantly, WorkCover must be presented with proof that your employment conditions were a ‘significant contributing factor’ to causing injury.

Under the Workers Compensation Act, compensation may be awarded for:

Pain and suffering – damages can be awarded for the mental anguish caused by permanent disfigurement, pain and suffering
Economic losses – such as loss of wages and working benefits (including superannuation)
Medical expenses, including initial consultation, medical reports and treatment
Rehabilitation expenses, both short and long term

Work injuries that may qualify for workers compensation from either WorkCover or your employer include:

Broken bones, fractures and other bodily damage (cuts, damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments etc)
Debilitating sickness or disease (including respiratory conditions and sickness/disease caused by travelling abroad)
Aggravation of previous personal injury, pre-existing medical condition/disease
Death due to sickness, disease or injury
Psychiatric/psychological disorders (this includes those suffered by family members of injured workers)

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COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED WHILST TRAVELLING TO & FROM WORK

Your state’s Workers Compensation Act protects you from injuries sustained whilst travelling to and from work. However, there are strict rules governing transportation – WorkCover (or your state’s statutory body for workers compensation, see below) will not provide compensation if the injury is:

Completely or partly caused by your action (e.g. reckless driving, DUI)
Caused during or after a substantial delay or interruption/deviation from your journey (prior to commencing your journey)

It’s important to act as soon as possible – minor injuries can gradually worsen over time, so it is your responsibility to have the injuries accurately documented by the correct authorities and to seek legal advice from a workers compensation lawyer as swiftly as possible to remain eligible to claim compensation.

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AGGRAVATION OF A PRE-EXISTING INJURY, CONDITION OR DISEASE

If your employment is a ‘significant contributing factor’ to the aggravation of a pre-existing condition, injury or disease, you may be entitled to workers compensation. It is important to carefully document the nature of the injury/injuries that led to further aggravation and best to seek legal advice regarding the process.

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ARE YOU THE FAMILY MEMBER OF AN INJURED WORKER?

Australia’s workers compensation laws allow for workers compensation claims from family members of primary household income earners who suffer injury or death in workplace related accidents. Contact Stacks/Goudkamp for details.

If your claim for workers compensation is successful, you may be entitled to the following statutory benefits (the amount of workers compensation you are entitled to relate directly to the severity of your injury):

Weekly workers compensation payment (up to 85% of average weekly wage total)
Medical treatment costs
Hospitalisation costs
Rehabilitation costs
Transportation expenses
Lump sum compensation

Don’t settle out of court with your employer for a token amount of compensation. Medical examinations may reveal more damage than expected, treatment of which can prove costly and inconvenient. If your work environment can be shown to have been a ‘significant contributing factor’ to your injuries, it is within your rights to claim compensation from your employer to cover the costs of treatment.

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HOW CAN I MAKE SURE I RECEIVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORKERS COMPENSATION?

Although you won’t be making a claim against WorkCover, as your state’s statutory authority, they can help review the documentation provided by your employer to confirm they have calculated a fair amount of compensation.

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WHO DO I CLAIM WORKERS COMPENSATION FROM?

In Australia, each state and territory has its own statutory authority for Workers Compensation Acts. They are as follows:

South Australia - WorkCover Corporation
ACT - ACT WorkCover
Northern Territory – WorkSafe
Tasmania - Workplace Standards Tasmania
Victoria – Victorian WorkCover Authority
Western Australia – Western Australia WorkCover
Queensland – WorkCover Queensland

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WHAT HAPPENS IF MY EMPLOYER DOESN’T HAVE INSURANCE?

Contact WorkCover right away – it is an offence for your employer to not have an insurance policy that protects employees from harm. It is then pertinent to contact Stacks Goudkamp's workers compensation lawyers as these matters can be complex.

For all workers compensation and WorkCover enquiries, please contact Stacks Goudkamp to arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced workers compensation lawyer and WorkCover expert.

Stacks Goudkamp | Workers Compensation Lawyers | WorkCover Experts | Sydney Australia