Brain, spinal and other serious injuries: why experienced legal support matters

While any injury that impacts a person’s day-to-day life is devastating, we classify some injuries as ‘serious or catastrophic injuries’ due to their completely life-altering and tragic nature. These types of injuries will be extremely challenging for both the person injured as well as their loved ones.

When an injury is classified by us as serious or catastrophic, a personal injury lawyer with specialised skills, trauma training and experience supporting and guiding clients through the complex legal process is needed. Often, it’s a loved one who becomes the main contact for the injured person, so we’re here to support the whole family through this difficult time.

What are considered serious injuries?

Serious or catastrophic injuries, can include:

• brain injuries
• amputations
• spinal cord injuries (paraplegia, quadriplegia, tetraplegia)
• burns to the majority of the body
• blindness or loss of an eye
• very serious back or other injuries where the injured person has been taken out of the workforce.

Serious injuries can also cover dependency claims where somebody has passed away.

Due to the catastrophic impacts of these injuries, the legal process can be more complex when bringing a claim. These claims are usually considered ‘high value’ (meaning a high-value amount of monetary compensation) and if court proceedings are commenced are done so in the Supreme Court.

For serious injuries, it’s therefore important that you can access specialised and dedicated legal support, so you are listened to, respected and supported in a way that suits your needs.

Our specialised team

We have a specialised team of legal experts – which we call our complex litigation team – who have decades of experience supporting seriously injured clients and their families.

The team is made up of five of our most experienced lawyers in Queensland. They’ll travel to you, wherever you need them to be, when you need them.

Alison Barrett, Principal Lawyer and Accredited Specialist of the Queensland Law Society, (leads the team)

Darren Moore, Special Counsel and Accredited Specialist of the Queensland Law Society

Scott Keft, Special Counsel and Accredited Specialist of the Queensland Law Society

Julian Brown, Special Counsel

Sarah Atkinson, Special Counsel

Types of claims

Our complex litigation team will ensure you are able to quickly access medical treatment and rehabilitation funded by the relevant insurer to support your recovery. We will work with you and your treatment providers to ensure you and your family receive all the support needed to optimise your rehabilitation and quality of life. 

In addition to claiming through the relevant insurer, such as WorkCover, the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurer or a Public Liability Insurer, people with serious injuries may also be eligible to claim under the National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS) or the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The NIIS is a no-fault scheme that provides lifetime treatment, care and support to those who sustain eligible serious personal injuries in a road or work accident.

The types of serious injuries covered by NIIS include brain injuries, blindness, amputations, spinal cord injuries and serious burns.

Whether or not you are eligible to make a claim under NIIS can be complex and there are strict time limits. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch today.