Area of law
Catastrophic Injury Claims
Catastrophic injury claims involve the severely injured, such as quadriplegics, paraplegics and those with severe brain injuries.
These types of claims require a highly specialised legal response: one that balances legal expertise, medical understanding, and strategic foresight. Our team is known for delivering trusted guidance, meticulous analysis, and robust defence in the most challenging matters.
We act for general liability, CTP, and workers’ compensation insurers, self-insured corporates, government agencies and public sector entities as well as claims managers and third-party administrators.
The HBA team has deep experience in sensitively managing high-severity, high-exposure matters involving life-altering injuries and complex liability, quantum, and care considerations. Clients rely on HBA to provide robust, evidence-based strategies that address both immediate risks and long-term exposure.
We act in claims involving:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Amputation and severe orthopaedic trauma
- Severe burns and inhalation injuries
- Birth trauma and lifelong care needs
- Catastrophic psychological and psychiatric injuries and nervous shock claims
- Multi-trauma and polytrauma cases
- Dependency claims and compensation to relatives claims
Our team is expert at acquiring detailed medical analysis, coordinated expert input, and careful evaluation of lifetime care, support, and accommodation requirements. We work with leading medical, economic, engineering, and rehabilitation experts to quantify or contest claimed losses, and undertake early and structured investigations, ensuring all liability arguments are explored and fully evidenced.
We recognise that catastrophic injury matters involve individuals and families facing significant trauma and uncertainty. Our team approaches these cases with professionalism, sensitivity, and respect, while maintaining a strong, strategic defence for our clients.
Examples of catastrophic injury claims managed by HBA:
- Acted on behalf of an insurer of a trampoline centre, where a plaintiff sustained a catastrophic spinal injury and claimed damages of over $8 million AUD (Supreme Court of NSW).
- Acted for a recreational horse riding business in defence of a claim involving a minor who fell off a horse and sustained a traumatic brain injury (Supreme Court of NSW).
- Handled a claim of alleged negligence and breach of contract arising for catastrophic injuries sustained by a claimant who dove headfirst into a swimming pool.
- Advised a private hospital and its Australian insurer on the successful resolution of a $14 million catastrophic brain injury claim, including recovery of a substantial contribution from a third party.
- Acted on numerous fatalities and injuries directly related to work conditions at coal mines, including injuries and deaths caused to multiple workers in incidents including coal bin fire, arc flash, tyre explosion, roof collapse, high wall collapse.
