A duty of care creates a legal responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of others, including taking reasonable care not to prevent foreseeable harm to a person or their property. A duty of care can exist in a number of settings, including: Employers to employee’s Shops to their customers Doctors to their patients Manufacturers to consumers Landlords to tenants Have you been injured from someone’s negligence? If another party has breached their duty of care owed to you, the possibility may arise for you to claim compensation under negligence, and public liability law. In order for this to be ..read more

Q Fever is a disease that is caused by the bacteria, Coxiella burnetii. This bacterium may cause infection in both animals and humans and is diagnosed via blood tests. There is a 2-3 week incubation period between exposure and onset of symptoms. Common signs and symptoms include: Chest pain Chills and Sweats Confusion Endocarditis Fatigue Fever Head and muscle aches Hepatitis Nausea pneumonia Vomiting Symptoms and the extent of symptoms can vary between those infected from some people experiencing no symptoms to a long-lasting chronic Q fever. Whilst acute Q-fever typica ..read more

Australia is known for having one of the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide. Statistically, two out of three Australians will develop skin cancer by the time they are 70. In 2019, it was estimated that 1.6 billion people were exposed to UV radiation while working outdoors. According to the Cancer Council, people who are required to work outdoors due to the nature of their occupation are five to ten times more likely to develop skin cancer. What is Skin Cancer? Over exposure to UV radiation can cause damage to the skin cells, causing skin cancer to develop. There are three types of skin can ..read more

Every year, knowledge and awareness about the dangers related to road accidents rise, but as we continue to depend on our roadway systems in our day to day lives, it always remains possible that an accident may occur. This becomes exemplified during public holidays, such as the upcoming Labour Day long-weekend, where busier roads and more drivers increases the likelihood of an accident arising. With many people expecting to be travelling for social events and various trips, the expected increased traffic establishes a higher risk of something unexpected happening. At Zaparas Lawyers, we witnes ..read more

Returning to work after an injury can be a challenging and delicate process, both for the injured employee and the employer. In Queensland, the WorkCover legislation is in place to provide a structured framework that aims to facilitate a smooth and supportive transition back to the workplace. At Zaparas Lawyers, we know how important it is to understand your rights and responsibilities under the WorkCover legislation. Overview of Queensland WorkCover Legislation: Queensland WorkCover legislation is designed to protect the rights of both injured workers and employers. It establishes a system th ..read more

On the 18th of January the Work Health and Safety Ministers agreed to an immediate reduction in the workplace exposure standards for welding fumes. The exposure standard for welding fumes has been reduced from an 8- hour time weighted average of 5mg/m3 to 1mg/m3. Since 2019, three Victorian workers have died due to diseases caused by being exposed to welding fumes. Zaparas Lawyers currently act for a number of terminal welders suffering from lung cancer and therefore unfortunately this death rate will continue grow. These reductions of the previous standards have been made to protect those who ..read more

What started out as an investigation into whether a Medical Panel determination in a Public Liability Claim was invalid by way of jurisdictional error, proceeded to and continues to disrupt the Personal Injury sphere across Victoria. In Victoria, whether you are permanently injured in a public space, at work or in a transport accident, your injuries will be assessed in accordance with the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 4th Edition (‘the AMA Guides’). The AMA Guides allow for a determination as to percentage of whole person impairment (‘WPI’) that ..read more

In accordance with the Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic) (‘the Wrongs Act’), if a person injured in a public place wishes to initiate a claim for pain and suffering, they must first establish that they have a significant injury. In the first instance, the injured party would be assessed by an independent accredited medicolegal doctor who would assess their level of impairment. If their level of impairment meets the relevant threshold level to establish a significant injury, then they will provide the injured individual with a Certificate of Assessment (‘the certificate’). The Role of the Medical Panel Onc ..read more

A Paint Factory in Dandenong was recently engulfed in a fire as a delivery of solvents and chemicals were being unloaded when a large explosion and subsequent fire occurred. Unfortunately, three workers were in the proximity of the blast, which lead to two of the workers being taken to hospital for injuries and one fatality. This occurrence is another reminder of the dangers of the risk workers can face when working within these factory settings, especially one containing an array of chemicals. Volatile Organic Compounds Paint contains volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), exposure to the compou ..read more

Workplace injuries can have profound physical and psychological effects on employees and their families. It is every worker’s right to expect a safe work environment, and if an injury does occur, taking the right steps is crucial for appropriate and timely treatment and potential compensation. The Importance of Your Own Doctor When injured at work you should always go and see your own personal doctor. There are occasions where an employer will try to get an injured worker to go see a “company doctor”, however this is not an offer you should take as seeing your own doctor has the following bene ..read more