No Win No Fee Lawyers Rockhampton

Road Accidents

In Queensland, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance provides coverage for personal injury compensation in road accidents, including those occurring on Rockhampton's major roads like Bruce Highway or Yaamba Road. If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident due to another driver's negligence, you may be entitled to claim compensation for:

• Medical costs
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Ongoing care needs

Workplace Injuries 

Workplace injury compensation in Queensland is governed by the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. There are two main types of claims:

WorkCover Claim

WorkCover claims operate on a no-fault basis, meaning you are entitled to make a claim regardless of who was at fault for your personal injury, whether it happened in a Rockhampton office, construction site, or other local workplace. Under a WorkCover claim, you may be eligible for:

• Weekly payments for lost wages
• Coverage for medical expenses
• Lump sum compensation for permanent disability or impairment
• Travel expenses for medical appointments

Common Law Claim

If your personal injury was caused or contributed to by the negligence of your employer or another party, you may also pursue a common law claim. This allows you to seek compensation for:

• Past and future economic loss
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of life enjoyment
• Future medical expenses

Under Queensland compensation law, to make a common law claim, you must prove that your employer or another party breached their duty of care, resulting in your personal injury. While receiving WorkCover benefits, you can explore the possibility of a common law claim. However, if successful, you may need to repay some of the WorkCover benefits received.

Public Liability Claims

If you're injured in a public place due to someone else's negligence, you may be eligible to make a public liability claim under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002. This includes accidents in locations like Rockhampton's Botanic Gardens, shopping centres, or local parks.

Based on available information and general road safety trends, here's an overview of road accidents in the Rockhampton region:

Most Common Injuries

Although specific injury data for Rockhampton is limited, common road accident injuries in the region typically include:

• Whiplash: Often resulting from rear-end collisions, particularly in urban areas and at busy intersections.
• Fractures: Especially in high-impact collisions or accidents involving vulnerable road users, such as cyclists or pedestrians.
• Head injuries: Including concussions and more severe traumatic brain injuries, which can occur in various types of crashes.
• Soft tissue injuries: Such as sprains and strains, common in rear-end and side-impact collisions.
• Spinal injuries: Potentially severe, particularly in high-speed crashes or rollovers.

Types of Road Users Injured

The Rockhampton region sees a variety of road users impacted by accidents, including:

• Car drivers and passengers: Representing the majority of road users injured in accidents, particularly on major roads like Bruce Highway and Yaamba Road.
• Motorcyclists: At higher risk of severe injuries due to lack of protection, especially on rural roads and areas with fast-moving traffic.
• Cyclists: Vulnerable on busy roads, particularly in suburban areas and near popular cycling routes.
• Pedestrians: At risk in high-traffic areas, particularly near shopping centres, schools, and busy areas like Rockhampton Botanic Gardens.

Common Causes of Road Accidents

While specific data for Rockhampton is not available, common causes of road accidents in Queensland generally include:

• Speeding: A major factor in serious and fatal crashes, particularly on highways like the Bruce Highway.
• Drink driving: An issue in both suburban and rural areas, especially during weekends and holiday periods.
• Distracted driving: Including mobile phone use while driving, which remains a significant cause of accidents.
• Fatigue: Especially among shift workers and long-distance drivers, which can be an issue on routes connecting Rockhampton to regional areas.
• Failure to give way: Common at intersections and roundabouts, particularly in busy urban areas.

Accident Hotspots

High-risk areas in Rockhampton include:

• Busy intersections such as those along Yaamba Road and George Street.
• Major roads like the Bruce Highway and Capricorn Highway, which see a high volume of traffic, including both commuters and heavy vehicles.‍
• Tourist areas with inadequate pedestrian infrastructure, increasing the risk of pedestrian accidents, particularly near Rockhampton Botanic Gardens and other popular attractions.

The Rockhampton region encompasses a range of industries, from healthcare and education to agriculture and construction. This analysis highlights work injury trends in Rockhampton using local data and Queensland-wide statistics. 

Recent Statistics and Trends

According to WorkSafe Queensland, the Rockhampton region recorded an average of 1,078 accepted workers' compensation claims per year from 2014-15 to 2016-17, representing 2% of Queensland's total claims. The region also saw an average of 2.3 fatal claims per year, accounting for 5% of Queensland's total fatal claims.

The return to work rate for injured workers in Rockhampton was 94.3%, slightly above the state average of 94%. The average number of work days lost per claim in Rockhampton was 48.7 days, compared to the Queensland average of 45 days.

Highest Risk Industries

The highest risk industries in Rockhampton, based on average annual claims from 2014-15 to 2016-17, include:

1. Health Care and Social Assistance: 172 claims per year.
2. Construction: 120 claims per year.
3. Manufacturing: 108 claims per year.
4. Transport, Postal, and Warehousing: 100 claims per year.
5. Retail Trade: 89 claims per year.

The industries with the highest statutory costs per claim were agriculture, forestry, and fishing ($23,224 per claim) and construction ($20,093 per claim).

Most Common Work Injuries

The most frequent work-related injuries in Rockhampton, based on mechanisms of injury data, include:

1. Body stressing (31%): Common in healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, often resulting from repetitive movements or muscular stress.
2. Falls, trips, and slips (20%): Frequently occurring in healthcare, retail, and construction sectors.
3. Being hit by moving objects (18%): Often seen in manufacturing and warehousing.
4. Hitting objects with a part of the body (14%).
5. Vehicle incidents (9%): Relevant in the transport and warehousing sectors.

Where Do Personal Injury Accidents Happen in Rockhampton?

The healthcare and social assistance sector in Rockhampton has the highest number of injury claims, reflecting the region's significant focus on healthcare services. The construction sector also presents a high number of claims driven by ongoing development projects in Rockhampton. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries, while having fewer claims overall, have the highest statutory costs per claim, indicating the challenging nature of outdoor work environments in the region.

The transport, postal, and warehousing sector also contributes to a high number of claims, particularly those involving vehicle incidents, highlighting the need for enhanced safety measures for drivers and logistics workers.