Personal Injury Lawyers Brisbane

Basically any injury that has been caused by the negligence and/or fault of another can be claimed for. Injuries that can be compensated include:

•  Neck and spinal injuries (including whiplash);

•  Head injuries;

•  Shoulder injuries;

•  Hand and finger injuries;

•  Arm injuries;

•  Hip and pelvis injuries;

•  Leg injuries;

•  Foot injuries; and

•  Psychological injuries (including PTSD and adjustment disorder/depression).

Personal injury compensation is usually a total figure made up of a number of different components including:

•  Pain and suffering;

•  Past loss of income;

•  Future loss of income;

•  Unpaid care and assistance;

•  Past out of pocket expenses; and

•  Future medical expenses.

Speaking very generally, the main driver of personal injury compensation tends to be lost income, but other components such as unpaid care and assistance (being the time family, loved ones and/or friends spend looking after you) can amount to very significant sums.

Most claims for personal injury compensation are subject to time limits. The main time limit is a three (3) year period of limitation that applies to the commencement of court proceedings but other time limits apply as well depending on the type of matter involved:

•  In claims for injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents, the pre-court processes is to be commenced within the earlier of nine months from the date of the incident or one month from the date a solicitor is consulted about a claim.

•  For slip and fall injuries, medical negligence injuries, or other injuries that occur in public places, the pre-court notification must be similarly be made within nine months from the date of the incident or within one month from the date a solicitor is instructed to bring the claim,

Notifications can be given outside of these periods as long as there is a reasonable excuse for delay.

In the case of workers’ compensation injury claims, the pre-court notification need only be notified within the general three year limitation period. There are other time limits as well. Where workers’ compensation is sought following a work related injury, the application for compensation must be lodged within six months from the date of the incident.

But even where you think a time limit may have expired, you should always seek legal advise about it, because it may be that you will be able to get an extension of the time period.