Office Locations

Brisbane Level 8 239 George Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Phone: (07) 3025 9000 (Brisbane metro) or 1800 683 928 (Queensland country) Fax: (07) 3025 9049
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Injury Compensation - Your Rights Under the Law

Work related claims
Motor vehicle claims
Accidents at public places
Defective products
Rehabilitation
Time limits
No Up Front Payments

Work related claims

If you are an employee or contractor and you are injured at work, you should have entitlements under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. If your injury has been caused by the fault or neglect of your employer, you may also be entitled to additional lump sum compensation through court proceedings. Finding your way through Queensland’s Worker’s Compensation Scheme can be difficult and Turner Freeman’s specialists will assist you to achieve the right outcome.

Motor vehicle claims

If you have been injured as a result of a motor vehicle accident which was not your fault, either as a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, or a cyclist, you may have a strong case for compensation. Compensation may even be available where you have been partly at fault in the accident.

Accidents at public places

Injuries caused by faulty walkways or staircases can also give rise to entitlements to compensation. New procedures for the bringing of these claims have recently been introduced in Queensland. Our specialist knowledge will ensure that you are getting up to date advice.

Defective products

Injuries caused by a faulty product may give rise to compensation entitlements from the manufacturer or supplier of that product. Our considerable resources and experience allow us to bring claims for defective products which have been manufactured interstate and even overseas.

Rehabilitation

For persons injured in motor vehicle accidents, the Motor Accident Insurance Act 1994 creates entitlements to rehabilitation services. Similar entitlements are available to injured workers under the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. Our professional staff ensure our clients can access these rehabilitation services.

In cases involving injuries other than those suffered in a motor vehicle accident or at work, Turner Freeman can make special arrangements for extra rehabilitation, if required. This is part of our commitment to total service and reflects our readiness to go the extra distance for our clients.

Time limits

If you have been injured in Queensland or interstate, strict time limits and pre-claim procedures can apply to your entitlement to seek compensation. If you do not bring a claim within these time limits or comply with the procedures you may lose your right to claim forever. You should seek the legal advice of an expert as soon as possible after the injury, to ensure that your rights are protected.

No Up Front Payments

If we believe your case has reasonable prospects of success, we will handle your case free of up front payments – you will only be billed by us if your claim is successful. This assurance as well as full details of the basis upon which we charge will be set out in a written costs agreement at the commencement of your claim.

Asbestos and Dust Diseases Compensation - Your Rights Under the Law

Your Entitlements
Time limits
No Up Front Payments

Your Entitlements

There are a variety of possible entitlements to compensation that may be pursued by persons who develop asbestos disease in Queensland. The decision as to which form of compensation to pursue can be confusing and complex.

What entitlement is pursued depends upon many factors including:

Where the exposure to asbestos occurred
Whether the person has suffered loss of earnings
The severity of the asbestos disease
Whether the person was employed or self employed
From what type of products the exposure resulted

Importantly, a person diagnosed with asbestos disease should contact a solicitor immediately as time limits apply to commencing compensation proceedings.

When mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer, is caused by exposure to asbestos in Queensland employment, WorkCover Queensland provides lump sum compensation. In many cases this is the appropriate form of compensation to pursue, particularly when a claimant is retired. However, if the claimant is of working age when struck down with mesothelioma, the appropriate course to obtain maximum compensation may be to bring a court claim for damages rather than apply to WorkCover.

If the exposure to asbestos occurred as a result of self employment, or outside of employment, such as a housewife washing her husband's asbestos contaminated work clothes, a court claim for damages would generally be the appropriate option.

If you choose to bring a court claim, special procedures can be used which allow cases to be heard quickly and with little of the formality often associated with court proceedings. Court claims have been completed as quickly as a few weeks from commencement of the proceedings.

Whatever the circumstances of exposure to asbestos, careful analysis must be given as to which avenue of compensation to pursue. Turner Freeman lawyers have been successfully obtaining compensation for persons with asbestos disease for over fifteen years and can provide advice to you, whether exposed in Queensland, interstate or overseas.

Time limits

No Up Front Payments

If we believe your case has reasonable prospects of success, we will handle your case free of up front payments - you will only be billed by us if your claim is successful. This assurance as well as full details of the basis upon which we charge will be set out in a written costs agreement at the commencement of your claim.