No Win No Fee Lawyers Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast Compensation: Road Accidents

In Queensland, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance provides coverage for injury compensation in motor vehicle accidents, including those occurring on the Sunshine Coast's main roads like the Bruce Highway or Nicklin Way. If you are injured in a car accident, or any motor vehicle accident, due to another driver's negligence, you may be entitled to a compensation claim for:

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

Workplace Accidents

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 injury, whether it happened in a Sunshine Coast office, construction site, or other local workplace. Under a WorkCover claim, you may be eligible for:

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

Common Law Claim

Under Queensland law, if your 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 an initial consultation with accredited specialist to seek compensation for:

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

To make a common law claim, you must prove that your employer or another party breached their duty of care, resulting in your 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.

Experienced Compensation Lawyers Sunshine Coast: Public Liability Claims

If you suffer injuries 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 Mooloolaba Beach, Maroochydore shopping precincts, or local parks.

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

Most Common Injuries

Although specific injury data for the Sunshine Coast 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 Sunshine Coast sees a variety of road users impacted by accidents, including:

• Car drivers and passengers: Representing the majority of road users injured in accidents.
• Motorcyclists: At higher risk of severe injuries due to lack of protection, especially on busy roads like the Bruce Highway.
• Cyclists: Vulnerable on busy Sunshine Coast roads, particularly in areas popular with tourists, such as coastal routes and near recreational paths.
• Pedestrians: At risk in high-traffic areas and popular tourist spots, such as Maroochydore and Noosa, where pedestrian activity is high.

Common Causes of Road Accidents

While specific data for the Sunshine Coast 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 and Sunshine Motorway.
• Drink driving: Particularly an issue in tourist and entertainment areas where alcohol consumption is more common.
• Distracted driving: Including mobile phone use while driving, which remains a significant cause of accidents.
• Fatigue: Especially on longer routes or among shift workers, which can be an issue on the stretches of highway connecting regional areas.
• Failure to give way: Common at intersections and roundabouts, particularly in areas like Caloundra and Maroochydore.

Accident Hotspots

High-risk areas on the Sunshine Coast include:

• Busy intersections in Maroochydore, Caloundra, and Noosa.
• Major roads, such as the Sunshine Motorway and Bruce Highway, which see a high volume of traffic, including tourists unfamiliar with local conditions.
• Tourist areas with heavy pedestrian activity, particularly during peak holiday seasons, increase the risk of pedestrian accidents.

The Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions encompass a variety of industries, with a significant presence in healthcare, tourism, and construction. Below is an analysis of the work injury trends in these areas according to local data from Worksafe Australia. 

Recent Statistics and Trends

According to WorkSafe Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions recorded an average of 2,892 accepted workers' compensation claims per year from 2014-15 to 2016-17, representing 4.4% of Queensland's total claims. The region also saw an average of 1.3 fatal claims per year, accounting for 3% of Queensland's total fatal claims.

The return to work rate for injured workers in these regions was 93.3%, slightly below the state average of 94%. The average number of work days lost per claim was 47.7 days, compared to the Queensland average of 45 days.

Highest Risk Industries

The highest risk industries in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, based on average annual claims from 2014-15 to 2016-17, include:

1. Health Care and Social Assistance: 471 claims per year.
2. Construction: 400 claims per year.
3. Retail Trade: 331 claims per year.
4. Manufacturing: 326 claims per year.

The industries with the highest statutory costs per claim were transport, postal, and warehousing ($24,659 per claim) and agriculture, forestry, and fishing ($14,464 per claim).

Most Common Work Injuries

The most frequent work-related injuries in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, based on mechanisms of injury data, include:

1. Body stressing (34%): Common in healthcare and manual labour roles, often resulting from repetitive movements or muscular stress.
2. Falls, trips, and slips (19%): Common in retail, construction, and healthcare sectors.
3. Hitting objects with a part of the body (17%).
4. Being hit by moving objects (16%): Frequently occurring in manufacturing and warehousing.
5. Vehicle incidents (9%): Relevant in the transport and warehousing sectors.

Where Do Accidents Happen on the Gold Coast?

The Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions are known for their tourism, healthcare, and construction industries. The healthcare sector has the highest number of injury claims, partly due to the region's ageing population and demand for healthcare services. The construction sector also sees a high number of claims, reflecting the ongoing development and construction projects in these areas.

The transport, postal, and warehousing sector has high statutory costs per claim, which indicates ongoing risks associated with vehicle use and manual handling work. Additionally, the outdoor work environments prevalent in these regions increase risks such as falls and injuries caused by contact with environmental hazards.

WorkSafe Queensland remains focused on reducing workplace incidents in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa through targeted safety programs, particularly in high-risk sectors like healthcare, construction, and transport.

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