Average Payout for Back Injury at Work in Australia?

If you have or are currently suffering a back injury, you will know how serious it is, and the consequences can be devastating. The average payout for a back injury that you can claim depends on many factors.

Safe Work Australia estimates the average back injury payout is around $100,000.

What You Should Do if You Have Been Injured at Work

If you have suffered a back injury at work, you should do the following as soon as possible:

Visit the doctor or go to a hospital to get urgent treatment.
Obtain a work capacity certificate from the doctor seeing you.
Advise your employer of your back injury and hand in your work capacity certificate.
Claim through WorkCover (alternatively, speak to your employer if they are self-insured).
Make a copy of your work capacity certificate to support your claim.
Start rehabilitation. This aids in recovery, and your employer must assist you with this.

Remember to contact a lawyer for legal advice and to make sure that you observe the strict timeframes that apply when making a claim.

Payouts and Support

There are many ways that WorkCover can support you in your back injury recovery. However, payouts or other support are only given if your claim has been accepted.

You can get support from the time your doctor initially assessed your injury. Your doctor will provide you with a work capacity certificate to allow leave from work or for the duration that treatment is needed.

What Compensation Are You Entitled To?

Workers’ compensation could compensate you for the following:

Lost earnings (weekly compensation).
Medical and rehabilitation expenses.
Travel necessary for making your claim or acquiring treatment.
Permanent damage or latent onset injuries through a lump sum payout; or
Deceased benefits and funeral charges.

WorkCover could also reimburse you for costs related to your medical and rehabilitation treatment.

Factors That Determine Your Amount of Compensation

There are lots of factors that affect the total amount that you are entitled to claim, such as the following:

The surrounding circumstances of the incident;
The type and extent of your injuries;
The kind and severity of any pre-existing injuries;
Your age and life expectancy;
Whether these injuries affected your ability to make an income in the past;
Whether these injuries will affect your ability to make an income in the future;
Prior and future care needed;
Medical or other costs incurred; and
Possible future expenses.

Once these factors have been considered, your claim will be quantified.

What Expenses Are Not Covered?

When you suffer any injury, you will experience a related financial loss. Unfortunately, not all of these costs are covered.

WorkCover does not compensate you for the following:

Damaged clothing or jewellery
Car repairs if the injury occurred while travelling for work
Certain hospital expenses aren’t approved.

You can approach your lawyer to find out if there are other ways to recover these costs.

Additional Support

WorkCover can give you additional support to assist you with returning to work with programs such as:

Recover at Work (RaW) program.
Employment Connect program.

You need all the support you can get to get back on your feet; these programs are very helpful.

Conclusion

The financial impact of any injury, particularly a back injury, can be devastating. You can claim compensation through WorkCover or your employer’s specific insurer.

With the average payouts being as high as they are, it is a good idea to consider claiming if you have been injured at work. You can contact Smith’s Lawyers to claim on your behalf and advise you on the ensuing steps.

Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash

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