Claire Gibbs

When a Gold Coast father died after being struck by a car on his way home from work in January, his three adult children were left to crowdfund his funeral while waiting for compensation claims to be processed.

Our Compensation Law Special Counsel Claire Gibbs, who is assisting the King family, spoke to the Gold Coast Bulletin about the human cost of delays in Queensland’s insurance and workers’ compensation systems — and what could be done to fix it.

Claire called for the introduction of interim funeral payments in fatal accident matters, noting that an early, capped payment mechanism would bridge the gap between a family’s immediate needs and the time required to finalise claims.

“I understand why investigations take time, but even where liability appears clear, families are often required to fund funeral expenses upfront and await reimbursement after a coroner’s report,” Claire said.

Read the full article here.

Queensland families who lose a loved one in a workplace or road accident are often left covering funeral costs out of pocket while investigations are still underway — even in cases where liability is not seriously in dispute.

Our Compensation Law Special Counsel, Claire Gibbs, reflects on 20 years representing families in fatal accident claims in a piece published by Lawyers Weekly, calling for the introduction of capped interim funeral payments in Queensland and urging lawyers and insurers to communicate earlier and more clearly with grieving families.

“Before there is a settlement, before there is a determination, before there is a cheque – there is a kitchen table and a family trying to fathom what just happened,” she writes.

Read the full piece here.