Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
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When a professional you trusted gets it badly wrong — and you’re left dealing with the consequences — it can feel like there’s nowhere to turn. Maybe a solicitor dropped the ball on your property transaction. A financial adviser steered you into investments that were never right for your situation. A doctor dismissed symptoms that turned out to be something serious. Whatever happened, you deserve to know whether you have a claim — and what your options actually are.
At Fair Go Australia, professional negligence is all we do. We work exclusively on behalf of claimants — people like you — and we operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, so there’s no financial risk in getting a free case evaluation.
Professional negligence occurs when someone who holds themselves out as having specialist skill or knowledge falls below the standard expected of a reasonably competent professional in their field — and that failure causes you measurable loss.
Under the Wrongs Act 1958 (VIC), professionals operating in Victoria are held to an objective standard of care. Where that standard is breached, and where the breach directly causes harm — financial, physical, or otherwise — a claim can arise.
Bayside sits among Melbourne’s more established suburbs, home to a concentration of solicitors, GPs, financial planners, accountants, conveyancers, and architects. That density of professional services is generally a good thing. But when any one of them fails a client, the consequences can be severe — and for Bayside residents dealing with some of Melbourne’s most significant property and financial decisions, the stakes are often high.
Not every professional failure is actionable — but many are. These are the claim types we most commonly see from clients across the Bayside area:
Victoria’s professional negligence framework is grounded in the Wrongs Act 1958 (VIC), which sets out how courts assess duty of care, breach, and causation in civil liability claims.
To establish a professional negligence claim in Victoria, four elements generally need to be present: the professional owed you a duty of care; they breached that duty by falling below the expected standard; that breach caused your loss; and your loss is of a kind the law recognises as compensable.
Courts in Victoria also apply proportionate liability provisions where multiple parties may share responsibility — but that doesn’t eliminate a negligent professional’s accountability. It simply affects how damages are apportioned.
The Law Institute of Victoria regulates legal professionals in the state. Where the negligent party is a solicitor, complaint pathways exist through the Victorian Legal Services Board — though a formal complaint is separate from, and does not replace, a civil negligence claim.
For larger claims, proceedings may be commenced in the County Court of Victoria or the Supreme Court of Victoria, both sitting in Melbourne. The High Court of Australia’s decision in Rogers v Whitaker [1992] HCA 58 remains a foundational authority on a professional’s duty to disclose material risks — relevant across medical, legal, and financial negligence matters alike.
This is one of the most important questions you can ask — and the answer depends on the nature of your claim.
Under the Limitation of Actions Act 1958 (VIC), the general limitation period for professional negligence claims is six years. For personal injury claims arising from negligence, a three-year period applies from the date you knew — or reasonably should have known — that you had suffered loss caused by the professional’s failure.
The limitation clock can start earlier than people expect. If you’ve had concerns for some time but haven’t yet sought legal advice, the window may already be closing.
In Victoria, professional negligence claims must generally be commenced within six years (three years for personal injury) of the date you became aware — or should reasonably have become aware — of the negligence. Missing this deadline can permanently extinguish your right to claim. If you’re unsure whether your limitation period is still open, contact our team for a free assessment as soon as possible.
Unlike general practice firms that treat negligence matters as one service among many, professional negligence is the only area we work in. That focus matters — it means our legal team understands the nuances of these claims, the way insurers respond to them, and what it genuinely takes to build a case that holds up.
We act exclusively for claimants. We are always on your side — not the professional’s, not their insurer’s.
Bayside clients can access our services entirely remotely — there is no need to travel to an office. We handle professional negligence matters across Victoria and throughout Australia.
Free case evaluation — we review the facts, identify whether the key elements of a claim are present, and give you an honest, no-obligation assessment.
No-win, no-fee engagement — if we take your case, you pay nothing unless your claim succeeds.
Investigation and evidence gathering — expert reports, documented loss, liable party identified.
Negotiation or litigation — many claims resolve through the professional’s indemnity insurer; where they don’t, we pursue the matter through the courts.
Your initial case evaluation is completely free, entirely confidential, and carries no obligation. We respond within 1 business day.
We respond within one business day.
Yes. Fair Go Australia assists clients throughout the Bayside area and across Victoria. You don’t need to attend an office — we handle everything remotely. If you’ve suffered loss due to the negligence of a professional, we can assess your claim at no cost and with no obligation.
In Victoria, the general limitation period is six years from the date of the negligent act, or three years for personal injury claims, measured from when you knew or ought to have known about the negligence. Because the clock can start earlier than expected, it’s important to seek advice promptly rather than waiting until you’re certain.
Any professional who owes a duty of care to a client can potentially be subject to a negligence claim. This includes solicitors, barristers, doctors, surgeons, financial advisers, accountants, architects, engineers, conveyancers, mortgage brokers, and other specialist service providers.
With Fair Go Australia, the answer is nothing upfront. We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you don’t pay legal fees unless your claim is successful. Your initial case evaluation is always free and completely confidential.
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
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