What is workcover compensation?
Workcover compensation is part of a compulsory insurance provided to employees, by their employers. Each company will have a different coverage scheme with different rules in place for their Australian employees. If you get injured at work you may be able to make a workers compensation claim.
If you suffer a workplace injury or disease, the workers compensation claim may be able to provide you with weekly workcover benefits, medical and hospital expenses, rehabilitation services, certain personal items and a lump sum payment for permanent impairment on the basis set by the particular scheme.
The basic criteria in order to be covered by workcover is;
- you must be a worker; and
- the injury must be a work-related injury. That is, the injury arose out of or in the course of your employment or your employment is a significant contributing factor to the development of the injury/condition.
How much compensation am I entitled to?
There are many factors that will influence the amount of compensation you receive for your injury sustained from workplace accidents or illnesses, and is completely individual.
However, there are generally four different types of claim or benefits you may be eligible to receive;
- weekly payments,
- reasonable medical and like expenses,
- impairment benefit for permanent injury (also referred to as ‘lump sum compensation’)
- sue for further compensation (referred to as a ‘common law claim’) – this can include compensation for ‘pain and suffering’ as well as loss of earnings
If you have been injured at work you are entitled to payment of reasonable medical and like expenses. This includes costs such as ambulance and hospital expenses, doctors and other medical attendances, medications, and aides such as crutches. You may also be entitled to personal and household expenses, and rehabilitation costs.
You are also entitled to claim for travel expenses to appointments for medical treatment (for example, to see your General Practitioner (GP), surgeon, or physiotherapist) and other medical examinations.
Call us for a free claim check with one of our expert workcover lawyers to discuss your position.
What injuries are covered in a workcover claim?
Work-related injuries can include a varying range of;
- physical injuries (such as fractures, or laceration)
- psychological disorders, or
- diseases (such as skin, respiratory, or digestive)
It can also include aggravated or ongoing symptoms of any of these injuries or illness. According to Australian Workers’ Compensation Statistics 2017-2018,
“Injury and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 88.5% of serious claims in 2017–18. Of these, the most common were traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injuries. Diseases were responsible for 11.5% of serious claims, with the most common being mental health conditions (7.5% of all disease claims)”
These injuries or illness can happen while you’re at work, travelling to or from your job, on a scheduled break, or as a direct result of doing your job.
Meet our WorkCover Claims Lawyers
Jamie Nemme
Partner *
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Works across NSW
Steven Notarianni
Director
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Works across VIC
Heine Papenfus
Director
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Works across WA