No Win No Fee Lawyers Townsville

Road Accidents

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

• Medical expenses
• 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. A Townsville personal injury lawyer can help with this. There are two main types of claims: 

Compensation Law: WorkCover Claim

WorkCover claims operate on a no-fault basis, meaning you are entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim regardless of who was at fault for your injury, whether it happened in a Townsville 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 impairment
• Travel expenses for medical appointments

Compensation Law: Common Law Claim

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 seek compensation for:

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

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.

Personal Injury Law: Public Liability 

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 The Strand, shopping centres, or local parks.

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

Most Common Injuries

Although specific injury data for Townsville is limited, common road and car 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 can occur in various types of crashes.
• Soft tissue injuries: Such as sprains and strains, are 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 Townsville 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 Flinders Highway.
• 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 popular cycling routes along the Ross River.‍
• Pedestrians: Vulnerable to serious injuries, particularly at intersections, crosswalks, and areas with heavy foot traffic.

The Townsville region includes Townsville City, as well as surrounding areas like Ingham, Charters Towers, Ayr, and Home Hill. The following analysis highlights work injury trends in Townsville using local data and Queensland-wide statistics. These statistics are according to WorkSafe Queensland’s Townsville Region Work Health and Safety Profile Report.

Recent Statistics and Trends

According to WorkSafe Queensland, the Townsville region recorded an average of 1,984 accepted workers' compensation claims per year from 2014-15 to 2016-17, accounting for 3% of Queensland's total claims. The region also saw an average of 1.7 fatal claims per year, representing 3.9% of Queensland's total fatal claims.

The return to work rate for injured workers in Townsville was 92.7%, slightly below the state average of 94%. The average number of work days lost per claim in Townsville was 53.4 days, compared to the Queensland average of 45 days.

Highest Risk Industries

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

1. Health Care and Social Assistance: 305 claims per year.
2. Manufacturing: 290 claims per year.
3. Construction: 172 claims per year.
4. Retail Trade: 167 claims per year.
5. Transport, Postal, and Warehousing: 158 claims per year.

The industries with the highest statutory costs per claim were agriculture, forestry, and fishing ($25,221 per claim) and construction ($20,944 per claim).

Most Common Work Injuries

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

1. Body stressing (33%): Common across healthcare, manufacturing, and construction, often resulting from repetitive movements or muscular stress.
2. Falls, trips, and slips (19%): Common in healthcare, retail, and construction sectors.
3. Being hit by moving objects (18%): Frequently occurring in manufacturing and warehousing.
4. Hitting objects with a part of the body (12%).
5. Vehicle incidents (9%): Relevant in the transport and warehousing sectors.

Where Do Personal Injury Accidents Happen in Townsville?

Townsville's healthcare and manufacturing sectors see the highest number of injury claims. The healthcare sector has a particularly high number of claims due to the prevalence of manual handling tasks and physical demands in caregiving roles. The manufacturing sector also presents a high claim rate, emphasising the risks related to heavy machinery and repetitive tasks.

The construction sector is another major contributor to Townsville workplace injuries, reflecting the region's ongoing development. Additionally, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector has some of the highest statutory costs per claim.