Injured at Work as a Stevedore? Your WorkCover & Compensation Explained
Arnold Dallas McPherson are Victoria’s leading law firm for stevedores seeking compensation for injuries at work.
Stevedoring is physically demanding, high-risk work. Injuries on the job are common whether from lifting, falls, machinery, or unsafe conditions.
As a stevedore, you are entitled to a WorkCover Claim if you are injured while working on the docks, driving straddles over uneven surfaces, loading/unloading cargo, or performing any other duties associated with your role.
Extremely serious injuries have been suffered by stevedores which have ruined a worker’s ability to earn money, both as a stevedore and in any other employment.
In addition to WorkCover, stevedores are regularly entitled to compensation under common law if their injury is caused by the negligence of another party, or if WorkCover does not fully cover the costs of the injury.
Arnold Dallas McPherson have extensive experience of bringing successful claims against Victoria’s Stevedoring operations.
Common Stevedore Injuries
We regularly help stevedores with serious injuries like:
- Back and neck strain
- Hip and knee injuries for straddle drivers
- Crush injuries and broken bones
- Falls from height or slips on wet surfaces
- Repetitive strain and long-term wear and tear
- Machinery or forklift-related accidents
- Industrial Hearing Loss from loud machinery
What You’re Entitled To Under a WorkCover Claim
WorkCover Benefits
- Medical Expenses — all necessary medical treatment and rehabilitation costs.
- Weekly Payments — if you’re unable to work, WorkCover provides weekly payments based on a percentage of your pre-injury earnings.
- Lump Sum Payments — for permanent impairments resulting from serious injuries, you may be entitled to a lump sum payment.
Common Law Compensation
Compensation for serious injuries can often be sought to assist with future financial planning following injuries as a stevedore, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Past and future loss of income
Other Insurances
Many stevedores pay for other insurance for disability, such as under superannuation. ADM commonly brings claims for permanent disability under superannuation insurance policies.
What To Do If You’re Injured
- Report it immediately — Tell your supervisor and report it utilising your employers incident form.
- See a doctor — Get checked, record the injury, and if needed, obtain a WorkCover Certificate.
- Contact ADM — For over 30 years, we’ve helped injured stevedores secure the full compensation they deserve.
We’re the legal firm that’s there for you
At ADM, we understand the unique challenges faced by stevedores in high-risk environments. We work tirelessly to ensure that you get the financial support necessary to recover and continue with your life, whether that involves returning to work or adjusting to life after an injury.
Legal Costs
Legal costs can be expensive, but we will do all we can to help. What we can do includes:
- Free first interview
- No charges until you win (in approved cases). Please discuss what this means at our first interview.
- Paying for medical reports, Court fees, and other expenses (in approved cases).
We will discuss costs in detail with you at our first interview. We will always answer your questions about costs. We will clearly advise you of the total costs when you come to settle your claim, and pride ourselves on being able to be clear as to what you will receive in hand, after payment of costs, before you settle your case.