NSW workers’ compensation claims: The three things you should do immediately if you’re injured at work

Everyone has the right to go to work each day, knowing they’ll come home safely. If you’ve been injured or become ill at work you may be entitled to make a claim for workers’ compensation to cover lost wages, medical and rehabilitation costs, retraining expenses or a lump sum payment for permanent injuries.

There have been a lot of changes to arrangements in NSW for seeking workers’ compensation in recent years. You could be forgiven for being a little confused about where to start. After all, workers’ compensation laws and entitlements are already a little hard to keep up with because they vary between states and territories and may be known as WorkCover, CTP or WorkSafe. Compensation and benefits can vary greatly depending on your injury and on the law you’re covered by.

If you were injured at work, would you know what to do? This blog provides essential reading on what you need to know.

What should I do if I’m injured in the workplace?

Not everyone instinctively knows what to do if they’ve been injured in their workplace. It’s understandable if you’re feeling shocked, bewildered, scared, or all of the above. You might have been taken to hospital, sped to the doctor, or gone home. Alternatively, you may have an illness or injury that have manifested over a period of time, and be unsure about what your obligations are.

There are some important things that you need to do to ensure your rights are protected.

1. Ensure you take care of your medical needs

If you have been injured at work and need treatment, seek medical help or assistance straight away.

2. You need to notify your employer that you’ve sustained a work related injury or illness

You’ll need to give them

· the date and time of the injury, or the period over which the injury emerged

· a description of how the injury happened

· a description of the injury.

3. Get in touch with an expert in workers’ compensation law

Workers’ compensation cases can be complex and technical. They can initially seem straightforward – statutory cases where the worker’s compensation insurer accepts liability and pays for weekly compensation and medical treatment expenses. Seems simple, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. What if your injuries are significant and you think they are a result of your employer’s negligence? This can be difficult to establish on your own. The employers’ own investigations are not necessarily the best way at establishing the facts, and can even see you being blamed for your injuries.

Littles can help. We understand workplace safety requirements and can push for an objective, external investigation of what happened to get to the bottom of the matter.

Did you know that if you are unable to return to work because of illness your injury, you may also be eligible to make a TPD insurance claim under your super?

Read more here: I’ve been injured in NSW. If I make a common law negligence claim for my workplace injury, can I also make a claim under the NSW workers’ compensation scheme? – Littles

IMPORTANT: There are strict time limits for making and disputing a claim, so take advantage of our FREE initial consultation and get in touch. You have nothing to lose by speaking to one of our compensation law experts. The sooner we determine your eligibility to make or appeal a claim, the sooner we can help you to obtain or continue getting funding from the insurer so your rehabilitation can proceed smoothly.

Free advice and no upfront fees 

Not only do we offer a FREE initial consultation we handle most insurance claims on a no win, no fee basis.

The Head of our NSW team, Jessica Cheung, is an expert in NSW workers’ compensation claims. If you think you might have a claim, reach out to Jessica and her team for high quality legal advice.

Please note that this information is intended to provide general guidance only. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of such information. Appropriate professional advice should be sought based upon your individual circumstances. For further information, please contact Littles.

Like? Share it with your friends.

Contact the Author

Topics

More Articles