South Australia · Riverland Region
You placed your trust in a professional. Maybe it was a solicitor handling a land transaction, a financial adviser managing your savings, or a conveyancer dealing with a Murray River water licence. When that trust is broken — when a mistake costs you money, time, or opportunity — the sense of betrayal can be profound. And in a community like the Riverland, where many people know each other, it can feel even harder to act.
Fair Go Australia helps people across South Australia — including throughout the Riverland — pursue professional negligence claims. We work entirely remotely, so the distance from Adelaide is no barrier. No travel required. No upfront cost. Just a straightforward conversation about what happened and what your options are.
Understanding your rights
Professional negligence occurs when a qualified professional fails to meet the standard of care that a reasonably competent person in their field would have provided — and that failure directly causes you measurable loss.
The Riverland’s economy is built on professional relationships. Solicitors manage complex water entitlement transactions and rural property transfers. Accountants advise growers on income structuring, tax obligations, and farm succession. Financial planners are trusted with retirement savings that may represent a lifetime of agricultural work. When any of these professionals get it wrong, the consequences can be significant — and lasting.
Professional negligence claims in South Australia are governed by the Civil Liability Act 1936 (SA), alongside long-established common law principles. To succeed in a claim, four elements generally need to be established: the professional owed you a duty of care; they breached that duty; that breach directly caused your loss; and the loss is real and quantifiable. If those elements are present, there may be a viable claim worth pursuing.
Claim types
Fair Go Australia handles a wide range of professional negligence claims. The following are among the most common situations our Riverland clients bring to us.
If your situation doesn’t fit neatly into one of these categories, that doesn’t mean you don’t have a claim. The free case evaluation is the right starting point — we’ll tell you honestly what we think your options are.
South Australian law
The Civil Liability Act 1936 (SA) is the primary statute governing how negligence claims are assessed in this state. It sets out how courts evaluate whether a professional’s conduct fell below the expected standard — not perfection, but the level of competence a reasonably skilled practitioner in that field would have delivered.
Legal professionals in South Australia are regulated by the Law Society of South Australia. Where medical or health practitioners are involved, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) is the relevant regulatory body. Financial advisers fall under ASIC oversight. These regulatory frameworks run separately from civil compensation claims — a disciplinary outcome doesn’t compensate you for your losses, but a negligence claim may.
Depending on the quantum of your claim, proceedings may be commenced in the District Court or Supreme Court of South Australia. Our team handles all of this — you won’t need to navigate the court system alone.
In a close-knit community like the Riverland, many people are reluctant to take formal action against a professional they know personally — or they assume the problem will work itself out over time. That instinct is understandable. But it can cost you your right to claim.
In South Australia, professional negligence claims must generally be commenced within 3 years of the date you became aware — or should reasonably have become aware — of the negligence, under the Limitation of Actions Act 1936 (SA). Missing this deadline can permanently extinguish your right to claim. If you are unsure whether your limitation period is still open, contact our team for a free assessment as soon as possible.
Australia-wide coverage
Specialist professional negligence representation isn’t always easy to find outside the capital cities. That’s exactly why Fair Go Australia was built the way it was. We handle everything remotely — phone consultations, video calls, document exchange by email — and the quality of representation you receive is no different from what you’d access in Adelaide.
The 250-kilometre distance from Adelaide is not a barrier. Renmark, Berri, Loxton, Waikerie, Barmera — we assist clients across the Riverland and can progress your matter from initial evaluation through to settlement or litigation without you needing to travel anywhere.
We focus exclusively on professional negligence claims. This is not a general practice firm. That specialisation matters — the legal arguments, evidence requirements, and tactical considerations in professional negligence litigation are distinct, and experience in this area makes a real difference to outcomes.
Take the first step
A free case evaluation costs you nothing and commits you to nothing. Tell us what happened — our team will assess your situation honestly and explain your options in plain English. If there is a viable claim, we will tell you. If there isn’t, we will tell you that too.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question that isn’t answered here? Contact our team — the initial conversation is free and confidential.