If you are here, that means you probably typed this exact question into google. I remember doing that myself (except when I did it there was not article to answer the question).

For anybody reading this, firstly I would like to acknowledge that you are having to ask yourself the impossible question of should I lodge a workers’ compensation claim? Anxiously deliberating over whether or not to sign that form and whether the benefits of getting treatment and most importantly paid for your time off for a genuine workers compensation injury outweigh the negative impacts it may have on your life.

There is no other way to put it other than lodging a workers compensation claim can be life changing and unfortunately, not for the better.

But what do you do? You cannot continue to work day in day out with constant pain in your shoulder, until you get to the point that it completely ruptures and you can’t work again. You also cannot continue to front up to work with a brave face, but under the surface know that your stress due to bullying or workload is building up to a point that you are going to explode.

There is no doubt that lodging a workers compensation claim can be harmful to your future self. The amount of payout in a common law claim, while it sounds like a lot of money, can quite quickly be eaten up in legal fees, on-going medical and living costs, especially if you cannot work again.

But sometimes you don’t have a choice.

Lodging a workers compensation can be so emotionally taxing that if you don’t have a psychological condition before you almost definitely will by the end.

I am not going to tell you whether or not you should make a claim, but I am here to support you if you decide that you have to claim and need guidance. My only promise is to provide frank and fearless advice, tailored to your situation. Whether you do or don’t lodge a claim, make sure you are Work Cover Wise.