Who is WorkCover WA?
WorkCover is the government agency responsible for overseeing the worker’s compensation scheme in WA under the Workers’ Compensation and Injury Management Act 1981 (the Act).
The scheme is designed to ensure workers that are suffering from a work-related injury or illness are compensated for any lost wages, medical expenses and other associated costs.
The scheme is based on a ‘no-fault’ principle, meaning an injured worker does not need to prove that anyone was at fault or negligent in order to make a claim.
How do I make a WorkCover Claim?
If you have been injured while at work, you should:
1. Seek first aid and inform your employer of the injury.
2. See a doctor as soon as possible and ask for a First Certificate of Capacity.
3. Fill out a Workers’ Compensation Claim Form.
4. Make a copy of both the Certificate and Claim Form for your own records and then hand over the original documents to your employer.
5. Your employer has five business days to complete their section of the Workers’ Compensation Claim Form and to lodge both documents with their insurer (employers are legally obliged to obtain workers’ compensation insurance for all workers). They could receive a penalty if they fail to do this within the 5-day timeframe.
6. The insurer should notify you within 14 days after receiving your claim form (if you have not been contacted by the insurer within that time frame, please contact us). You should be informed whether your claim has been accepted, disputed or pended.
If your claim is accepted, you should receive compensation payments on a weekly basis (if your injury prevents you from working) and compensation for your reasonable expenses.
If your claim is disputed, you will not receive compensation and the insurer should advise you of the reason why. If you disagree with the insurer’s decision, you should seek legal advice as an application to WorkCover WA may be required.
The insurer may put your claim on hold pending further information. The insurer has a further 10 days to make a decision or the claim is deemed to be in dispute. If you disagree with the insurer’s decision, you should seek legal advice as it may require an application to WorkCover WA.
What can a WorkCover Lawyer do for me?
Anvil Legal are trusted Worker’s Compensation Lawyers in Perth. We can assist you with WorkCover compensation claims and will always provide you with expert advice relevant to your particular situation and will always work with your best interests at heart.
Our Principal Lawyer Brett Owen has first-hand knowledge of how frustrating and exhausting going through the worker’s compensation claim process can be whilst suffering from an injury, that is why we are dedicated to making the process go as smoothly as possible for you.
We understand that the cost of legal action can put many people off – particularly when their wages have been impacted due to an injury – that is why we offer our No Win No Fee* Solution to most clients with a workers compensation or common law claim.