Queensland solicitor, Kerry Splatt has been nominated for the prestigious Queensland Law Society award for Outstanding Accredited Personal Injury Specialist Lawyer, for his dedication to compensation law, and his steadfast belief that everyone should understand their legal rights when harmed by uncontrollable circumstances. This nomination recognises Kerry (and Splatt Lawyers) as one of the best personal injury law firms in Queensland.

The QLS Awards were developed to shine a light on the efforts of

Queensland’s legal professionals, providing the opportunity for outstanding

solicitors to showcase their ingenuity and contribution to both the legal profession and the broader Queensland community.

Currently the Practice Principal of Splatt Lawyers, Mr Splatt has been instrumental in maintaining Queensland’s enviable common law system and compensation scheme.

Queensland law ensures compensation is tailored to the individual circumstances of injured people, while the statutory schemes in other states offer fixed amounts under a scaled system, with inadequate compensation and high insurance premiums.

Thanks to Kerry’s dedication, Queensland now offers the lowest insurance premiums in Australia for both motor vehicle and workers compensation insurance, while enjoying a cooperative relationship with the relevant stakeholders.

The result of Mr Splatt’s work is a well-balanced Queensland law system, ensuring fair compensation, fewer frivolous claims, and lower overall costs.  Queensland’s mandatory pre-litigation procedures have further reduced court rates, meaning faster and more cost-effective processes for complainants.

In fact, the results have been so positive that, according to Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) figures, Queensland claimants with legal representation give their lawyer a 78 per cent approval rating.

Mr Splatt was also instrumental in eliminating cold calling and ambulance-chasing by UK call centres who sought to “farm” Queenslanders in a relentless bid to chase profits, with no interest in adding to their welfare.

But perhaps the biggest change to the Queensland legal industry, thanks to Mr Splatt, was the capping of personal injury compensation legal fees.

Mr Splatt said he felt honoured to be nominated for such a prestigious award.

“I’m honoured to receive this nomination and believe it’s due to my passion for the personal injury legal profession in Queensland,” Mr Splatt said.

“The Queensland Law Society is the only organisation with the power to determine who has the skill and expertise to be an Accredited Specialist,” said Mr Splatt.

“For an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law, this is the highest recognition, so it’s an absolute thrill to be recognised.”

Throughout his illustrious career, Mr Splatt has experienced a range of career highs and lows but said watching his injured clients receive the compensation they deserved was the most rewarding aspect.

“I had a client who worked in the construction industry and was working on a highway project when he fell from scaffolding,” Mr Splatt said.

“He suffered horrific injuries and sadly, became a paraplegic.”

Ms Splatt said the man’s family would have been destitute, had he not fought for his legal rights – and won.

“That fight ultimately secured their future, as we achieved a multimillion-dollar settlement,” he said. “It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to help people who have already suffered so much.”

“Having the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of other people is what gets me out of bed every day.”

But his QLS award nomination isn’t his first accolade. In 2016 Mr Splatt was named ALA Queensland Civil Justice Award Winner. He received the award for his passionate advocacy for injured workers and the defence of common law rights.

“His robust defence of a healthy, fair and balanced workers’ compensation scheme and his principled, ethical position was, and remains, in and of itself inspirational to members of the legal profession,” ALA Queensland President Rod Hodgson said at the time.

Kerry’s dedication to the legal industry shines, not just through his remarkable achievements, but through his active involvement in the sector and driving the industry forward.

As well as being actively involved with the Queensland Law Society, for the last 20 years. He served on the inaugural foundation committee for the Queensland Plaintiff Lawyers Association, which later became the Australian Lawyers Alliance, and is now the leading National Plaintiff Lawyers Association in Australia.

Mr Splatt also served on the practice and procedure committee of the Law Council of Australia and the Queensland Law Society insurance task force.

His hard work has helped ensure Queensland’s low litigation rates, the introduction of fee capping, balanced legal marketing, and faster claims processing.

Combined, Kerry’s accomplishments save injured Queenslanders time and money, helping them secure the finances they need at one of the most challenging time’s in their life.