TPD Compensation Lawyers offer services on a No Win, No Fee agreement. Such an arrangement is fairly common for lawyers handling Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) claims in Australia, but there are several factors that set our firm apart.
Hiring a No Win, No Fee lawyer means you pay nothing upfront and are only charged fees if the matter is resolved favourably. But, unlike many other firms, TPD Compensation Lawyers do not charge disbursements unless we obtain a payout on your behalf.
The agreement you sign should plainly state what you will be charged and at what point in the course of your TPD claim. Call TPD Compensation Lawyers at 03 9966 7188 for immediate assistance or keep reading for information on the fee structures usually applied by law firms in TPD matters.
How TPD Claims Work
Before we delve into how much you may be charged, it is important to have a basic understanding of the TPD claims process. The general steps include:
- Confirming your eligibility.
Our lawyers will assess your Total and Permanent Disability insurance cover and ensure any and all policies are valid. - Completing the application.
Super insurers require multiple materials to determine whether you meet the threshold for Total and Permanent Disability. We will assemble all needed medical records and other documentation to ensure that your application is complete and submitted properly. - Awaiting a decision.
The insurer may ask you for additional information or require you to attend additional medical examinations. A decision can take anywhere from 3 months to a year or more. - Receiving the decision.
You will receive a letter from the insurer notifying you whether your claim has been accepted or rejected. If your application is approved, you should receive the TPD entitlement in full within several weeks. - Appealing a rejection (if necessary).
If your application is denied, our lawyers can help you appeal the decision. We can handle additional communications with the insurance company, lodging a complaint, and/or preparing for court proceedings as needed.
Now that you understand the process of lodging a claim for TPD compensation, let’s take a look at what goes into the charges for these claims.
What Affects the Cost of a TPD Claim?
Legal fees for a TPD claim are made up of the following:
- Fees for legal services such as research, preparing documents, attendance at legal proceedings, etc.
- In Victoria, for example, costs are based in part on the Practitioner Remuneration Order issued each year by the Victorian Legal Costs Committee.
- Disbursements (i.e., payments made to third parties such as the courts, expert witnesses, etc.).
- As mentioned above, clients of TPD Compensation Lawyers don’t pay disbursements unless we achieve a favourable result. However, this is not the case for all TPD lawyers.
- Uplift fee (i.e., additional compensation paid to a No Win, No Fee lawyer for the risk they take in representing a client without upfront payment).
- In Victoria, for example, an uplift fee may not exceed 25% of the legal costs.
Please note that lawyers in Australia are not allowed to charge contingency fees. At no point will you be required to pay a percentage of the recovery.
As you can see, there is no way to determine how much you may be charged for a TPD claim. The costs discussed above are all variable based on several important factors:
The Complexity of the Matter
Legal costs in a TPD claim are directly proportional to the amount of time and effort required. This includes:
- Research and evidence gathering
- Compiling and copying documents
- Obtaining medical records and expert opinions
- Completing and submitting the TPD application
- Meeting with and counselling the client
- Reviewing the insurer’s decision
- Appeals, complaints, and court proceedings (if necessary)
Relatively straightforward claims take less time and involve less work. Meanwhile, more complicated claims (e.g., claims involving substantial medical evidence, expert testimony, etc.) entail significantly more time and effort on your lawyer’s part. What you are charged depends on the time and labour invested by your lawyer.
Read More: How Long Does a TPD Claim Take?
The Costs Incurred
No Win, No Fee lawyers are entitled to remuneration for expenditures in handling a client’s claim. Legal practitioners are allowed to charge clients for the following items:
- Creating and preparing legal documents
- Transmitting or receiving documents via a facsimile machine
- Sending formal or circular letters via the post or email
- Perusing or reviewing documents
- Court attendances
- Travelling more than 16 km from the practitioner’s place of business on a client matter
Our clients are not charged for these costs while their matter is pending. Rather, the charges will be included in the fees should the claim prove successful.
The Lawyer’s Experience and Expertise
Experience counts. While no lawyer can guarantee success, more experience tends to translate into more favourable outcomes. Lawyers who are more experienced in TPD claims may charge more, but they may also be able to resolve the matter faster and for a higher payout.
Meet TPD Compensation Lawyers
How Much Does a TPD Claim Cost?
The ultimate cost of a TPD claim depends on multiple factors. Without an in-depth understanding of your particular situation, we do not wish to speculate on what the fees for a given matter might be.
Rather, we reiterate our commitment to treating each client fairly and charging only what we are owed for our work while leaving you with as much of the TPD entitlement as possible. Ways we maximise your compensation include:
- Stating upfront, in plain language, how fees are structured when a client retains our services.
- Handling each claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.
- Charging a fixed fee schedule for the services we provide—this means no surprises when the claim is resolved and fees are due.
- Not charging disbursements unless we win.
- Striving to obtain the maximum payout you are due.
It is not uncommon for super insurers to try to pay less than a TPD claim is worth. We are dedicated to ensuring that you have the money you need—and deserve—to cover the costs of a Total and Permanent Disability and make up for the income you lose.
Get Help with Your TPD Claim Today
We have the experience and expertise to help you apply for an entitlement if you have a Total and Permanent Disability. Our experience dealing with insurance companies is unparalleled, enabling us to protect your rights and pursue the benefit you deserve.
As No Win, No Fee lawyers, we don’t charge anything for our legal services until the matter is successfully resolved. This allows disabled individuals and their families to seek legal counsel without the worry of additional expenses.