Wills and Probate Matter
By leaving a Will it is the best way to ensure that once you pass away your family members are properly provided for and the likelihood of disputes occurring is reduced.
Further, we all know that life throws curve balls at us in challenging and stressful circumstances where we may be required to make important decisions about a family member or loved one. If the family member or loved one does not have a
Power of Attorney, someone needs to be appointed to ensure that the best interest of the family member or loved one can be met.
When somebody becomes incapable of managing their own affairs, important legal steps must be taken to reduce the possibility of disputes by ensuring that their care, welfare and administration of their financial and legal affairs are managed in their best interests.
Hearing Loss / Industrial Deafness Claims
Noise induced hearing loss can occur over a number of years and involve more than one employer. If you are concerned about your hearing, you should consult your family doctor.
For instance, if you have
six per cent (6%) or more binaural (both ears combined) hearing loss as a result of exposure to noise in the workplace,
you may be able to make a workers compensation claim for the cost of reasonably necessary hearing aids and certain hearing tests.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be entitled to make a claim for permanent impairment if you are assessed as having a minimum of 20.5 per cent (20.5%) binaural hearing loss - i.e.
greater than 10 per cent (10% Whole Person Impairment)
A workers compensation claim should be made as soon as you become aware of any noise induced hearing loss. If you are no longer working in a noisy industry you make the claim on the last known noisy employer.
If you are concerned about your hearing, you should firstly consult your family doctor who will provide you with a a
WorkCover Certificate of Capacity together with a referral to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialist.
We can help you with all of those arrangements if required.
Call us now for an obligation free chat and further information on incident/injury reporting procedures, making a claim for workers compensation, the benefits an injured worker may be entitled to, and resolving problems and disputes about workers compensation claims.
Motor Vehicle Accident Claims
Who Can Claim
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in NSW, there are a number of circumstances in which you may be eligible to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
Other driver or owner at fault
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident and you can show that a driver or owner of a vehicle, other than you, was partially or completely at fault you can make a claim for personal injury compensation.
Any kind of road user can make a claim including a driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist or pillion passenger.
If you were partly at fault in causing your own injuries, you may still be able to make a claim, but the compensation you receive will be less than it would have been if you were not partly at fault. Examples of where you may be partly at fault include:
- not wearing a seatbelt
- driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- travelling in a vehicle where you know the driver to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- driving at an unsafe speed
- not wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle
If you were 16 years or older, and were completely at fault in the accident in which you were injured, you may not be able to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
Call us now for an obligation free chat and further information on incident/injury reporting procedures, making a claim for compensation, the benefits you may be entitled to, and resolving problems and disputes about compensation claims.
Superannuation (TPD) Disability Claims
Every worker in Australia receives Superannuation.
What many people do not know is that they may have additional insurance benefits attached to their policy which provides Insurance Cover for them in the unfortunate event they cannot return to work because of any injury, illness or disability, however or wherever this may have happened
It does not matter if you were injured at work or at home! It is effectively a 24 hour cover of insurance
You could be covered for:
Death Benefit Cover: This is an insurance benefit that provides a lump sum benefit to your beneficiaries nominated in your Superannuation Fund in the event of Death. The way beneficiaries are nominated can effect whether they can or cannot receive a benefit so it is important that youconfirm the position.
Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD): The definition of TPD varies from Fund to Fund. Most TPD definitions refer to "any-occupation" definition and usually arises if you satisfy the following:
- A person has been unable to be gainfully employed for acontinuous period of six(6)months; and
- On the balance of the medical evidence, the Trustee of the Superannuation Fund determines that you are unlikely to ever return to gainful employment for which you are reasonably qualified by reason of your education, training and/or experience.
In recent times we have found that Funds have cleverly sought to change the definitions of TPD across the various Policies and therefore it is very important you know where you stand at all times.
Income Protection or Group Salary Continuance Insurance: This insurance will usually cover a person for up to 75% of their pre-injury earnings subject to certainconditions and satisfaction of a waiting period;
At
Koutzoumis Lawyers, we have established an enviable reputation for the knowledge and experience in processing and litigating claims against many Superannuation Funds including but not limited to HESTA, CBUS, REST, Australian Super, AMP and Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund, TWU Superannuation, Sun Super, MTAA Super, REST, Comminsure and many others. This experience is invaluable to ensuring our clients get the right advice and outcome.
Contact Us today to discuss your personal situation with one of our friendly Staff. ALWAYS REMEMBER……it costs you absolutely nothing to talk to us about your circumstances.
Slip/Trip and Fall Accident
“Slip and fall" is a term used for a personal injury case in which a person slips or trips and falls, and is injured on someone else's property. These cases usually fall under the broader category of cases known as "public liability/occupiers liability" claims, because slip and fall accidents usually occur on property (or "premises") owned or maintained by someone else, and the owner or occupier of the property may be held legally responsible.
Dangerous conditions such as torn carpeting, changes in flooring, poor lighting, narrow stairs, or a wet floor can cause someone to slip and hurt themselves inside a building.
Other instances of slip and fall incidents can occur when people trip on broken or cracked public footpaths, or trip and fall on stairs or escalators. In addition, a slip and fall case might arise when someone slips or trips and falls because of rain, ice, snow or a hidden hazard, such as a pothole in the ground.
These cases can get rather complex and you only have a limited time within which to act so call us now for an obligation free chat and further information on incident/injury reporting procedures, making a claim for compensation, the benefits you may be entitled to, and resolving problems and disputes about compensation claims.
Conveyancing / Leases
Whether you are a First Home Buyer or an experienced property investor, at Koutzoumis Lawyers we strive to provide you with a tailored service depending on your needs.
The experience of our solicitors and our tried and tested systems enable us to provide clients with a true "value for money" service. Your matter, regardless of how big or small a transaction it is, will be managed from start to finish by our highly experienced Solicitor, Graham Anthony Kinsey who maintains a long standing and reputable existence in and around our local community. All matters are fully supervised at all times by our Principal, Mr Gary Koutzoumis, with the support of highly experienced Staff.
When it comes to
Commercial Leases it is important to know the “ins and outs” of Commercial Leases before signing on the dotted line.
Essentially, a commercial lease is a contract between a landlord and a tenant for the rental of commercial/retail property.
Before signing a Commercial Lease, it is important to obtain legal advice to understand the lease contract that defines the rights and responsibilities of each party.
Email us right now at
conveyancing@koutzoumislawyers.com.au
Workers Compensation Claims
Workers compensation provides protection to workers in the event of a work related injury or disease.
Through the workers compensation system, injured workers may have an entitlement to:
- weekly payments
- lump sums for permanent impairment (and pain and suffering where applicable)
- payment of medical bills
- provision of legal assistance to pursue a claim
When a worker is injured at work, the employer, injured worker, insurer and treatment provider have responsibilities to ensure that the injured worker is provided with benefits and assistance to recover and return to work.
Call us now for an obligation free chat and further information on incident/injury reporting procedures, making a claim for workers compensation, the benefits an injured worker may be entitled to, and resolving problems and disputes about workers compensation claims.
