Workplace Accident Compensation Claims

An accident at work can leave you dealing with physical injuries or ill health that may prevent you from carrying on with life as normal. it can also make you feel understandably anxious about your health, your working life, your livelihood and your future.

If you’ve been harmed in an accident at work, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Making a work accident compensation claim can help you to access the treatment you need and cover any financial losses you’ve experienced as a result of your injuries.

This can enable you to get on the road to medical and financial recovery and get back to leading a full life.

Find the right accident at work solicitor for you today using our comparison service.

What Should You Do After An Accident At Work?

Being involved in an accident can come as a shock. It can be difficult to think straight when you’re distressed but it’s important to try to follow as many of the steps below as possible. This will give you the best chance of recovery and of getting the compensation you deserve later on. Doing this can also help you to claim benefits such as Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).

1. Get Medical Help

If you’re involved in a workplace accident, the first thing you’ll want to do, of course, is get the medical attention you need. You may be able to get immediate help from a designated first aider in your workplace but you should also be properly examined and treated by a medical professional as soon as possible.

2. Make Your Colleagues Aware Of Any Danger

Make your co-workers aware of the incident that has occurred. This will alert them to any potential dangers and may prevent someone else from suffering the same fate.

3. Make A Note Of What Happened

Note down what happened to you while it’s fresh in your memory. Include drawings if it will help.

4. Speak To Witnesses

Get the contact details of anyone who witnessed the incident. Ask them to write down what happened from their perspective and share their notes with you.

5. Take Photos

Try to take photographs of any injuries you sustained. You should also try to get pictures of anything that you believe may have contributed to the injury, such as faulty wiring or slippery surfaces. It could also help to take photos of your working environment.

6. Report The Accident To Your Employer

Your employer has a duty of care to protect your health and safety. They should record accidents and report specific serious accidents to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). This includes burns, fractures (except to the fingers, thumbs and toes) and any injury likely to lead to permanent sight loss or reduced vision. Certain near misses should also be recorded and reported.

7. Ensure Your Accident Is Recorded

Accident books at work can serve as evidence that an accident has taken place and your employer was informed. So, make sure that your accident is officially recorded in your workplace’s accident book at the earliest opportunity.

If your employer refuses to record the incident, write to them or send them an email so that you have evidence that you attempted to report the accident.

8. Record Your Symptoms

Keep an up-to-date diary of the symptoms your experiencing. Also note down any medical treatment you receive and any medication you have been prescribed. This will help to show the impact the accident has had on your health and wellbeing.

9. Log Your Financial Losses

If you’ve had to pay for medical treatment or travel expenses out of your own pocket, you should keep a log of how much you’ve had to pay. You should also keep track of any income loss that has been caused by your accident.

10. Get Advice From A Specialist Workplace Injury Solicitor

Work accident claims can be complex and time consuming. Your employer may also try to persuade or intimidate you in the hope that you don’t take legal action.

If you have been injured in an accident that isn’t your fault though, you could have a right to compensation. To give yourself the best chance of making a successful claim, you’ll want a solicitor with experience in this area fighting your corner.

Can I Make A Work Injury Claim?

If you have had an accident at work that wasn’t your fault in the last three years, you should be able to make a claim for work injury compensation. If you’re not sure, get in touch with our accident helpline.

Common types of workplace accident claims include:

• Slips, trips or falls
• Falls from height, related to working on ladders, roofs and scaffolding
• Lifting and handling injuries
• Injuries from machinery or equipment, such as cuts, lacerations or even lost fingers
• Collisions with moving objects such as on-site vehicles
• Industrial deafness after exposure to loud persistent noise
• Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
• Respiratory damage caused by inhaling toxic fumes

What Are The Causes Of Workplace Injuries?

Many workplace injuries and accidents are avoidable and are caused by negligence. This could be related to inadequate training or supervision, or not being provided with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). Other causes include inadequate or missing risk assessments, preventable spillages and poorly maintained equipment.

How Much Workplace Injury Compensation Am I Entitled To?

Accident at work compensation amounts depend on a variety of factors, including what kind of injuries were sustained, how bad they were and how they have impacted on your quality of life. If any income has been lost or reduced, this will be taken into account too.

You may also be able to claim for the costs of medical treatment, rehabilitation and care and also for any modifications needed to your home.

To give you an idea of how much you could receive, here are some guideline figures for common workplace injury claim payouts:

• Head injury claims – £2,000 to £430,000
• Upper body injury claims – £4,000 to  £150,000
• Back injury claims – Up to £160,000
• Injuries to hand, wrists or arms – £3,000 to £130,000

A specialist workplace accident solicitor can help you to get the maximum amount of compensation you’re eligible for. Check out our claims calculator to get an idea of how much you might be entitled to.