The five most common injuries Canberrans claim compensation for
Posted on
Nobody expects their twenties or thirties to include a serious injury. But unfortunately, it’s the reality for some Canberrans.
According to Safe Work Australia, workers aged 20 to 34 account for a significant proportion of serious workplace injury claims each year. And when they do, the stakes are often higher, because the years ahead of them are longer. Here’s what young Canberrans need to know about seeking compensation and the injuries that most commonly bring them to a law firm.
Workplace injuries
Injuries can happen anywhere: construction sites, hospitality venues, warehouses, and healthcare settings. Canberra’s younger workforce is concentrated in some of the industries with the highest injury rates.
The most common workplace injuries we see in younger clients include back and spinal injuries from heavy lifting or falls, fractures and breaks from machinery or site accidents, and psychological injuries from traumatic workplace incidents or unsafe environments. Many young workers assume that because they’re new to a job, or because they signed something when they started, they don’t have options, but they do.
Road accidents
Canberra’s roads, and particularly its surrounding highways and rural routes, are the scene of more serious accidents than most people expect for a city of this size.
If you were injured in a road accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, your medical expenses, your lost income, and the longer-term impact on your life. Even if the accident was partly your fault, you may still have a claim.
Slips, falls, and unsafe spaces
A wet floor in a shopping centre, an uneven footpath, or a sporting facility that wasn’t maintained properly. Public liability claims arise when someone is injured on another person’s or organisation’s property because of a failure to maintain a safe environment.
These claims are more common among young Canberrans than people realise, particularly among those who are physically active, working in hospitality or retail, or spending time in public spaces.
Medical negligence
When medical care falls short and causes lasting harm, the impact on a young person’s life can be profound. Misdiagnosis, surgical complications, medication errors, and failures in emergency care can affect everything from physical health to mental wellbeing to career trajectory.
If something went wrong during medical treatment you received in the ACT, it’s worth understanding whether the care you received met an appropriate standard.
Psychological injuries
Psychological injuries are increasingly recognised in Australian compensation law, and for good reason. Anxiety, PTSD and depression can follow a traumatic incident, a hostile work environment or a serious accident, with significant consequences for a person’s life and wellbeing.
Depending on the circumstances and the type of claim, compensation may be available for a psychological injury that meets the relevant legal requirements. The impact on your ability to work, daily life and overall wellbeing may all be relevant when assessing your claim.
What to do if you think you have a claim
The most common thing that stops young Canberrans from seeking legal advice is the belief that what happened to them isn’t serious enough, or that the process will be too hard or too expensive.
Neither of those things has to be true.
Maliganis Edwards Johnson has been helping Canberrans navigate personal injury claims for over 40 years. They offer free, confidential consultations, and can talk you through your options in plain language, without the confusing legal jargon. Just call 1800 570 778 or reach out to their team online.
