Nicola comes from a family with over 40 years' experience in personal injury law. She is a North Queensland local but has also lived and worked in Brisbane and London. Nicola completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Townsville at James Cook University and a Bachelor of Laws in Brisbane at Queensland University of Technology.

​From the entire team at Arthur Browne & Associates, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
 
Our office will close at 5pm Tuesday 23rd December for the Christmas break and will re-open at 8.30am Monday 5th January 2026.
 
Thank you for your support throughout 2025.

SLIPS AND FALLS – PART 1
 
I slipped over in a shopping centre, can I make a claim?
 
You may be able to make a claim for compensation for injuries which you sustained from a slip and fall in a public place if the injuries were the result of negligence on the part of someone else.
 
You cannot make a personal injury claim if you have slipped and fallen and it was your own fault.  You have to be able to point to someone else as having caused or contributed to the injuries.
 
Things like carelessness, or failing to properly clear a walkway of hazards are examples of negligence.
 
Slips and falls can occur for a number of reasons.  It may be because of the floor surface being slippery or recently mopped, unsafe shoes, or spilt food/drink.  Here are a few of the most common ways that slips and falls occur:

• a freshly mopped floor
• drink/other liquid spills in a shopping centre
• fruit dropped in the fruit and vegetable area (grapes are a common one!)
• drink spills at restaurants/bars
• tiles or pavement outside in rainy weather

For most personal injury claims, a legal action must be commenced within 3 years of the date of the injury. If you miss this deadline, you will lose the right to claim compensation.
 
However, depending on where your injury occurred or who you are claiming against, specific pre-court procedures may apply which may have much shorter time limits. If you miss these time limits you may lose your right to claim unless you can provide good reason for delaying and why you should be allowed to proceed with your claim. 

If you have been injured at work or as a result of work, you should seek medical advice from a doctor/treatment provider as soon as possible. Focussing on your recovery is extremely important, but it is also important to think about whether you can make a claim against your employer for workers’ compensation.
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It is compulsory for all employers to have workers’ compensation insurance in place and most employers in Queensland have insurance cover through WorkCover Queensland.

Upcoming Changes to WorkCover Claims: What Workers and Employers Need to Know from 1 July 2025

​From 1 July 2025, significant changes will come into effect regarding how WorkCover Queensland handles provider-lodged work capacity certificates. These changes reflect new privacy obligations under the Information Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 and will impact both injured workers and employers.