Accident Compensation - Why Bother With A Compensation Claim?

The days of the entitlement culture are over. If you have had an accident, and it's someone else's fault, you should be entitled to compensation. More often than not, employers just don't want to pay attention to injuries caused on the workplace. Working for a company that doesn't handle accidents properly can lead to more problems down the road for your health and well-being.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch." That may have been true in days gone by, but it's not entirely the case when it comes to compensation. You can file a claim and get money out of it (a lot of money, in some instances), but you have to have a certain amount of proof that you work for a company who has liable them for your accident.

I'm going to give you an example. I was on an errand for my boss at the time (around 12 years ago). I was crossing the road on the zebra lines without looking when someone ran into me with their car. It was their fault 100%, and luckily, no one else was injured or involved in the accident.

But here's the thing...my boss did not have liability insurance with the NRMA, nor did he pay into a compensation fund. Confused already? Like I said, the entitlement culture is over. You can't just get money out of nowhere anymore. You have to work for it. The first step is submitting a claim through your employer's insurance company (if they have one!) and see if they'll cover some or all of the costs of your treatment or ongoing healthcare.

If they say no, then you will need to obtain compensation from THEIR insurance company, in which case you will be using a "Compensation Recovery Service" to help you through the process of obtaining that money from their insurer .

You should expect to pay a percentage of your damages before you even receive the money. This is an industry that thrives on money, and this is what it's about. You don't want your claim rejected halfway through? Too bad! Go back and give them another go at it until you do get the amount of compensation that you're after. It's a cycle, but one that will definitely get you somewhere in the end. It's not meant to be easy, but if you're serious about getting compensation, then chances are you'll have no other choice but to bite the bullet and give it a good go!

( Photo Source: dailymail.co.uk )

I fought for compensation and here's what I got in return.

The worst part is that this is just the beginning. You want to know the real kicker? Some compensation funds in Australia do not even accept direct claims anymore; they will only go through your employer's insurance company. You will have to go through that avenue before you can get the money back from them later on (the money you are owed). This is one reason why you should consider writing down everything from your claim just to make sure you get it all in the end.

Compensation is a part of injury and illness that will change your life for the better, but it can also change yours for the worse if you don't do things correctly. This may be a simplistic explanation on my part, but I feel like it makes the obvious points about how compensation works in Australia. The information above is just some basics that you should know if you're thinking about filing a claim, but I would recommend checking out this great article by The Age here .

I've been waiting nearly a month to hear back from ACC. It's one of the worst experiences I've ever had, and after discovering that the insurance company that they told me to contact could not explain their claim process (that's right, I had to listen to a recording), I cancelled my claims with them and asked for help from my insurance company. This is how you should do it too! Search "Cancelling my claim" at your insurance company's website or even call them on the phone if you can't find any information on the process.

Interested in seeing more about this topic? Then check out this article:  http://www.h2owebdesigns.com/articles/general-injury/how-to-file-an-accident-recovery-claim

Compensation is just one of the tips that I can give you to help you with your injuries. Remember, this can be a long process, and you have to be extra careful about the companies that you decide to take on for insurance. Here are a few more tips I've come across over my time in the industry that I would recommend: Always use protection when on the job. If it's not there, then it's not there! Always wear ear defenders as well! This will protect your hearing from loud noises, including machinery and machinery tools. Don't forget your sun block and lip balm. This is to protect your skin against the suns UV rays and the windy weather. Remember to always drink plenty of water when you're on a job, even if it's hot outside! Having a drink can help you keep hydrated in the heat, or help keep you alert when it's cold out. If you're working in an office, take breaks regularly to help clear your head.

Conclusion

I hope that this article helped you out with how compensation works in Australia. This is a very controversial topic, and I'm sure that some people will be angry about it.

What are your views on the Australian compensation culture? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

If you want to read more from me, check out these other great articles below: 

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