Have you been injured at work?

Nobody wants to be injured at work but unfortunately workplace injuries are very common. Every year thousands of people are injured in a work accident.

We can help you make claim for compensation if you have been injured in an accident at work. Compensation will cover the pain and suffering caused by the injury in addition to financial losses or expenses.

We have over 20 years of experience handling accident at work claims so you can be confident that your claim is in safe hands.

BOOK A FREE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION

Claiming compensation after an accident at work

We handle all types of accident at work including:

Frequently Asked Questions: Accident at Work Claims

Can I make a claim for a work accident or injury?

Any worker injured at work may be able to make a claim for compensation. The right to make an accident at work claim covers all employees including temporary, casual and permanent employees. Full time and part time workers can claim. It is not necessary to have a written contract of employment to make a claim.

Self-employed workers injured as a result of another person’s actions may also be able to bring a claim.

Will I lose my job if I make a claim after an accident at work?

Employees are often reluctant to make a work injury claim against their employer. This is often because they are afraid that it may cause difficulties for them at work. It is important to remember that your employer is not allowed to take any action against you simply because you make a claim. It is against the law for an employer to dismiss a worker because they make an accident at work claim.

Is there an automatic right to claim compensation for a work accident?

There is no automatic right to compensation after a work injury. To receive compensation, an injured worker must be able to show that the injury was caused by some failure on the part of their employer or other people at work.

A claim can be made if an employer fails to take proper steps to protect workers’ safety.

According to the HSE, over 600,000 workers were injured at work in 2016 / 2017.

What must employers do to avoid workplace accidents and injury?

There are a number of ‘duties’ that an employer owes to his workers. These duties include

Providing a safe workplace
Ensuring that all staff receive adequate training and instruction
A duty to provide adequate protective clothing and equipment
Assessing the risk of injury from lifting heavy weights or equipment
A duty to maintain equipment and machinery in a safe condition

A claim could arise if an employee is injured as a result of the employer’s failure to comply with these duties.

Keeping workers safe at work

There are lots of simple ways that employers can keep workers safe including:

Who pays the compensation awarded for an accident at work claim?

By law every employer must have a policy of insurance known as Employers Liability Insurance. The purpose of this insurance is to pay any compensation awarded following an accident at work claim. This means that the compensation and costs of making a claim are paid by the insurance company rather than the actual employer.

No time off work or paid in full? Can a claim still be made?

Loss of earnings if often a big factor when assessing work accident claims. Many people believe that a claim can only be made for an accident at work claim if the injury resulted in time off work or loss of earnings. This is not true. A claim can still be brought by an injured worker, even if they were able to continue working after an accident.

If you received full pay or company sick pay you may not have lost any earnings but you can still make a claim for compensation. It is important to remember that a significant part of any claim will be for the pain and suffering caused by the actual injury.

Medical evidence for a work accident claim

If you are injured in an accident at work you will most likely receive first aid at work. It is not always necessary to attend hospital after an accident or injury. It is usually sensible to seek some kind of medical treatment after a workplace injury.

If you don’t feel that your injury is so severe to require hospital treatment you should at least make an appointment to see your GP. Your GP will give advice about your injury and any follow-up treatment that might be required. You should ensure that you tell your GP how the injury was sustained.

It can be useful to take photographs of any visible injuries.

Reporting an accident at work

All accidents and injuries sustained at work should be reported. This includes minor injuries. Accidents and workplace injuries should be reported to a supervisor or manager.

All employers must have a method of recording workplace injuries. This is usually an accident book. Some companies have an accident reporting helpline or online reporting system.

If the employer does not have an accident book you should still tell your employer or manager about the accident. Ask your employer to make a record of the accident and injury. The accident book record will be useful in supporting any accident at work claim brought later on. It is also helpful if you keep details of any witnesses to the accident.

Is ‘no win – no fee’ available to make an accident at work claim?

Yes. There are no up-front charges and no hidden fees. Contact us to find out more about the way that no win – no fee works.

More questions?

We are here to help! If you would like free, no obligation advice following a work injury you can call us freephone on 0800 731 5434 to speak to a personal injury solicitor. If you prefer, you can book a free telephone consultation using the link below.