If you’ve suffered a workplace injury or have been injured in a public place, you may have heard of the term ‘whole person impairment.’ It refers to permanent damage to or permanent loss of use of any body part, bodily system, or function. It may be a physical or psychological injury.
Here we explain the meaning of whole person impairment, its impact on your compensation claim and how we may be able to help you.
What is whole person impairment
Whole person impairment (WPI) is the method used to measure and determine the degree of permanent impairment from your injury. Once measured, it’s translated into a percentage.
For your injury to be assessed under your state or territory’s relevant whole person impairment scale, it will most likely have been sustained in your workplace, in a transport accident or in a public place. The definition and percentage values for whole person impairment differs between states and territories, depending on the relevant legislation.
How do you know if your injury is a whole person impairment?
The whole person impairment definition (or ‘WPI definition’) depends on which state or territory your workplace, transport accident or public place injury occurs. You can only be assessed for whole person impairment once your injury has stabilised. This is the point at which your injury won’t improve or worsen in the coming 12 months without further treatment.
Independent medical assessment for whole person impairment
Depending on the legal requirements of your state or territory, an independent medical examiner will assess your injury. They will work out the percentage of permanent impairment of your injury, which in most cases becomes your whole person impairment percentage.
Your whole person impairment percentage is what will be used to help determine your entitlement to lump sum workers’ compensation or public liability compensation.
What about whole person impairment psychological injuries?
Whether you receive a payout for whole person impairment psychological injuries depends on the legal definition in your state or territory. Generally, your workplace, transport accident or public place psychological injury must impact your ability to work, concentrate and look after yourself.
An example of a whole person impairment psychological injury may be a post-traumatic stress disorder.
What are some examples of whole person impairment assessment
Examples of physical or psychological injuries that may be of such a serious nature as to be assessed as whole person impairment may be:
Amputation
Shoulder or knee injuries
Loss of sight, hearing or another sense
In most states and territories, an independent medical assessment must determine your whole person impairment to be at least 11% for a physical injury.
What you need to know about whole person impairment payouts
One you have received your WPI workers’ compensation assessment or whole person impairment assessment for your work, public place or transport accident injury, legislation tables are used to determine your lump sum compensation.
These tables are found in the workers’ compensation, transport accident or public liability legislation in your state or territory. The tables can change. Most medical assessments for whole person impairment are made based on your primary (or main) injury. You may have, for example, a spinal injury and PTSD, or injuries to your shoulder, neck and back.
The importance of an experienced personal injury lawyer for whole person impairment
Ensuring you are medically assessed for all relevant injuries in determining your whole person impairment is critical. This is where an experienced personal injury lawyer can help give you the best chance of maximising the lump sum compensation available to you.
A whole person impairment payout is received as a lump sum payment. Its purpose is to compensate you for the impact of your workplace injury, transport accident injury or public place injury, on your life.
The lump sum whole person impairment payout is additional to any weekly payments or compensation for medical expenses you may have already received.
How Shine Lawyers can help
If you or your loved one has been injured in the workplace, transport accident or in a public place, it’s important to get in touch with Shine Lawyers. Our experienced workers’ compensation, public liability and personal injury lawyers can help you navigate the compensation process.
When you’re assessed for whole person impairment, it’s important that the doctor examines every one of your injuries and their impact on your life. We can help you to identify your eligibility for lump sum compensation, to ensure you receive every dollar you’re entitled to.
And as Shine Lawyers have offices across Australia, we’re aware of the time limits and legislative requirements for whole person impairment no matter where you’re located. Get in touch with us today or use our free claim checker for workers’ compensation or public liability to find out if you have an eligible claim.
