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Free Tool — No Obligation
Answer 8 plain-English questions. Find out where you stand in under 3 minutes.
When a professional lets you down, it can be hard to know whether what happened to you constitutes a legal claim — or whether you are simply out of luck. This checker is designed to give you a clear, honest starting point. It is not a legal determination, and it does not commit you to anything. It simply looks at your situation against the four key elements a court will consider, and tells you what it finds.
What type of professional are you making a claim against?
What type of harm did you experience?
Select all that apply to your situation.
Did you have a professional relationship with this person?
A duty of care typically exists when a qualified professional provides advice or services in their professional capacity. It can be a formal engagement or an informal one where you reasonably relied on their expertise.
Do you believe the professional failed to meet a reasonable standard of care?
This means they did something a competent professional would not have done — or failed to do something a competent professional should have done. Honest mistakes can still be negligent.
Did that failure directly cause your harm?
The law requires a clear link between what the professional did (or didn't do) and the harm you suffered. The harm must flow from their failure — not simply happen at the same time.
When did you first realise something had gone wrong?
Strict time limits apply to negligence claims in Australia. The clock typically starts from when you became aware — or reasonably should have become aware — that something went wrong.
What outcome matters most to you?
Select up to two. This helps us direct you to the right information.
Where should we send your eligibility summary?
Your details are completely confidential. We will only use them to review your eligibility and contact you about your matter.
Your responses indicate that the four key elements of a negligence claim — duty of care, breach, causation, and measurable harm — may be present in your situation. That is significant.
This is not a legal determination. No online tool can give you that. But it is a strong signal that your matter is worth a proper assessment by a specialist lawyer. Many people in your position have a genuine claim and do not pursue it simply because they are not sure whether they have one.
The next step is a free, confidential case evaluation with our team. There is no cost, no obligation, and you will get an honest assessment of your prospects — not a sales pitch.
Some of your answers indicate uncertainty around key elements of the claim. That is completely normal at this stage. Many people are not sure of the full picture until a lawyer actually reviews the detail — and the detail is often what makes all the difference.
A free case evaluation will give you a clear answer. Our team will look at your specific circumstances and tell you honestly what your options are.
This does not mean nothing wrong happened. It may simply mean the legal pathway to compensation is not straightforward based on what you have told us.
If you feel your situation was not fully captured in these questions, we would still encourage you to speak with our team directly. Sometimes the details of a situation matter far more than a checklist can capture.
About this tool
Professional negligence claims in Australia require you to establish four things. First, that the professional owed you a duty of care. Second, that they breached that duty by falling below the standard expected of a competent professional in their field. Third, that the breach directly caused your harm. And fourth, that the harm is real and measurable — not just frustrating or inconvenient.
This checker walks through each of those four elements and assesses your situation against them. It will not give you a legal opinion. But it will give you a clear, honest read on whether the key building blocks appear to be in place — and whether speaking with a lawyer is worth your time.
Did the professional have a responsibility toward you in their professional capacity?
Did they fall below the standard expected of a reasonably competent professional in their field?
Did that failure directly cause the harm you suffered — rather than simply coinciding with it?
Is the harm you suffered real and capable of being measured — financially, physically, or otherwise?
Important to know
This tool provides a preliminary eligibility signal based on your answers. It does not account for every nuance of your situation, and it cannot. Australian negligence law is complex, and whether a claim succeeds often turns on facts that a checklist will never capture.
What this checker does is help you decide whether it is worth taking the next step — which is speaking with a qualified professional negligence lawyer who can properly assess your matter. That conversation is free, confidential, and carries no obligation whatsoever.
Who this covers
Fair Go Australia handles claims against a wide range of licensed professionals. If you have been harmed by someone acting in a professional capacity — and you believe their work fell below a reasonable standard — your situation may be covered.
Next steps
We keep this simple. Here is exactly what to expect.
You receive your eligibility summary by email
Within 60 seconds of submitting, a summary of your checker results lands in your inbox. Keep it for your own reference.
Our team reviews your matter
A member of the Fair Go Australia team reviews your responses and any additional detail you provided. This typically happens within 1 business day.
We reach out to discuss your options
If your matter appears to have merit, we will contact you to arrange a free case evaluation with a specialist professional negligence lawyer.
You decide what to do next
There is no pressure and no obligation at any stage. The evaluation is free. You are in control of what happens after.
Act before time runs out. Professional negligence claims in Australia are subject to strict limitation periods — generally three years from the date you became aware, or reasonably should have become aware, of the negligence. The exact period varies by state. Missing this deadline can permanently extinguish your right to claim, regardless of how strong your case may be. If you are not certain whether your time limit is still open, contact our team immediately for a free assessment. Do not assume you have more time than you do.
That is completely understandable. You can speak directly with our team for a no-obligation conversation about your situation — no forms, no pressure.
The short answer is: you may not know for certain until a lawyer reviews the full facts of your matter. What you can do right now is check whether the key elements appear to be present — a professional relationship, a failure to meet the expected standard, a direct link to your harm, and a measurable loss. Our eligibility checker above walks you through exactly that. If the result suggests you may have a claim, the next step is a free case evaluation with our team.
Yes, completely. The checker costs nothing to use, takes under three minutes to complete, and carries no obligation. The subsequent case evaluation, if applicable, is also free of charge.
Your information is kept confidential and is only used to assess your eligibility and contact you about your matter. We do not sell, share, or distribute your details to any third party. You can read the full details in our Privacy Policy.
Possibly — but you should seek advice urgently. Limitation periods in Australian negligence law are complex, and exceptions do exist. The clock typically runs from the date you became aware of the negligence, not necessarily the date it occurred. In some circumstances, courts may also grant an extension. Whether your time limit has passed is something only a qualified lawyer can properly assess. Do not assume it is too late without checking. Contact our team for a free assessment as soon as possible.
That is completely normal. Many people are not sure how to categorise what happened to them — and it does not matter at this stage. Complete the checker using the “Another type of professional” option if needed, and our team will work out the relevant category when they review your matter. You can also explore the types of claims we handle for more context.
Fair Go Australia (fga.net.au) is a legal claim assistance platform connecting Australians with specialist professional negligence lawyers. The content on this page, including the eligibility checker, is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Results from the checker are not a legal determination of your rights. You should obtain independent legal advice specific to your circumstances.
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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