WorkCover : Assessments of Permanent Impairment

You may recall our last newsletter gave a brief run-down of changes to Queensland’s WorkCover scheme which came into effect on 15 October 2013. In particular, we mentioned the threshold which had been introduced to restrict workers’ entitlements to claim for damages arising out of work accidents. 

We are now starting to see the impact of those changes. Many of our clients are assessed by WorkCover as having only minor or no degree of permanent impairment, despite suffering injuries that will significantly impact on their ability to work in the future. If those injuries were sustained on or after 15 October 2013, those clients have no entitlement to bring a claim for damages.

This means it is more important than ever before for workers to consult a lawyer at an early stage and, in particular, when they receive WorkCover’s assessment of permanent impairment. 

If you would like to learn more about the changes to WorkCover claims, please do not hesitate to call any of the partners of MurphySchmidt. You might also like to raise any concerns you might have about the changes with your local Member of Parliament.