Learn About Office Accident Claims

Suffering an accident at work can result in physical pain and mental distress. When an employer is at fault for the injury, you may not know where you stand legally. There is a wealth of information available, but this can sometimes feel overwhelming. In this guide, we explain some key information about office accident claims and answer the important questions. Personal injury compensation can help those affected pay rehabilitation costs, allowing them to focus on their recovery rather than worrying about how they will cope financially.

Read about the eligibility criteria for making a workplace accident claim. You can also find out about the different factors that impact your compensation total and how your employer covers the cost. Additionally, we take a look at some of the common causes of injuries in the workplace that you could claim for.

Furthermore, we explain whether you can be fired for starting a claim and how long you have to get your claim started. You can also read about the different pieces of evidence that may lend support to your case.

Finally, you can find out how a No Win No Fee agreement works. Our solicitors work on this basis, offering an excellent path to legal representation without exorbitant fees. You can contact our advisors at any time to enquire about our No Win No Fee contracts or with any general queries about the process. They can assess the eligibility of your claim for free and potentially start your journey towards gaining compensation:

• Contact us online
• Call us on 0161 509 2856
• Ask about claiming compensation in our live chat.

Jump To A Section

1. Can I Make A Claim After Suffering An Office Accident Injury?
2. How Much Office-Based Accident Compensation Could I Get?
3. What Can Compensation Help With After An Office Workplace Accident?
4. Would My Employer Have To Pay For My Compensation?
5. The Most Common Examples Of Office Accident Claims
6. Can I Be Sacked From My Office Job If I Claim?
7. How Long Do I Have To Make A Claim For An Office Accident?
8. What Evidence Is Needed For Office Accident Claims?
9. Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
10. More Information

Can I Make A Claim After Suffering An Office Accident Injury?

If you meet the criteria, you might be able to claim compensation for an injury sustained in an office accident. The eligibility for office accident claims is as follows:

1. Your employer must have owed you a duty of care
2. They failed to act according to their duty
3. This caused you to suffer a personal injury

All employers owe a duty of care to their employees. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA), an employer must take reasonable steps to help ensure the safety of the employees. When an employer fails to act according to such legislation, they have failed to fulfil their duty of care.

You may also be eligible to claim on behalf of another person who is unable to claim for themselves. Under such circumstances, you would be acting as a litigation friend and could claim for someone who is:

• Under the age of eighteen
• Unable to make decisions for a claim due to incapacity

As a litigation friend, you must make decisions that are in the best interests of the person impacted. It would also be your responsibility to make efforts to tell the person what is happening to gain an idea of their wishes.

If you have any questions about whether you could be eligible to claim compensation, do not hesitate to contact our team of advisors for a free initial consultation. They will let you know whether you are eligible to proceed with an experienced No Win No Fee solicitor from Advice.

How Much Office-Based Accident Compensation Could I Get?

The amount of compensation you may receive depends on the specific circumstances of your claim. We have included some figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) below. This is a document that legal professionals may use when assessing compensation for office accident claims. It pairs a variety of injuries and severities with compensation guideline brackets.

The figures below should not be viewed as a guarantee of the compensation you may receive. Calculating compensation values is a complicated process that aims to account for the total impact of your injuries. We recommend that you reach out to our advisors to access our free case assessment service. This will give you a better idea of what your compensation may cover, as the advice is tailored to your situation.

The first figure we have included was not provided by the JCG.

• For multiple injuries and their associated losses, you could claim up to £1,000,000 or more.
• In cases involving a very severe brain injury, the compensation guideline is £344,150 to £493,000. Such an injury involves the injured party showing almost no response to their environment.
• If you have suffered a severe (ii) neck injury, you could receive between £80,240 and £159,770. This covers injuries such as damaged or fractured discs.
• A severe shoulder injury covers injuries that typically impact the brachial plexus. The compensation bracket for such cases is between £23,430 to £58,610.
• If you have sustained a severe (iii) knee injury, you could receive between £31,960 and £53,030. Your injury may cause symptoms such as pain and require surgery in the long term.
• A severe (iv) moderate leg injury refers to multiple or complex fractures of the bones in the leg. This could entitle you to between £33,880 to £47,840.
• You could receive between £29,900 and £47,810 for wrist injuries that cause permanent and serious disability with some remaining movement.
• For a less severe arm injury, you could receive between £23,430 and £47,810. This covers cases of substantial disability of the arm where some recovery will occur.
• A moderate (i) back injury, which includes a variety of injuries, such as crushed lumbar vertebrae, could entitle the claimant to receive between £33,880 and £47,320.
• Less severe elbow injuries are paired with a compensation bracket between £19,100 and £39,070. These injuries involve reduced functioning but no need for major surgery.

How Would My Compensation Be Calculated?

Compensation for office accident claims is based on a variety of factors. As stated, the JCG provides helpful guidelines that cover some aspects of the compensation. However, there are other things to consider, as an array of complex circumstances may impact your compensation.

One thing to consider is the amount and type of evidence you can supply. We discuss this in further detail later in the guide, but there are certain costs that you cannot recover without evidence to support you.

Additionally, legal professionals will need to consider the type of injury you have sustained. This can be more complex if there are multiple injuries involved. Serious injuries can also have an impact on your ability to work in future, so the compensation may need to reflect this.

If you have any questions about the calculation of compensation, do not hesitate to contact an advisor for more information. You can also keep reading to learn about the two different aspects of compensation and what they cover.

What Can Compensation Help With After An Office Workplace Accident?

Your compensation can help you recover from your injuries.

In successful office accident claims, general damages will be awarded. These compensate you for the pain and suffering you have experienced in relation to the injury. This can also cover the suffering you may experience in future due to the injury.

In addition, you can also receive special damages. These cover the financial impact of your injuries, such as:

• Lost income due to time taken off work
• The cost of medical treatment
• Travel expenses made to attend medical appointments
• Payments made for professional care
• The cost of making adjustments to your home (such as a handrail)

Interim Payments

Since recovering from serious injuries can be a long and expensive process, some claimants find themselves struggling financially. You may be able to apply for an interim payment if you find yourself in this situation. This is a payment made to you before the claim has been completely settled.

You will need to meet certain criteria in order to qualify for an interim payment. For example, the court may find that a compensation award is inevitable. If you work with a solicitor from Advice, they can help you to apply for an interim payment.

Does My Employer Have To Provide Sick Pay If I’m Unable To Work?

If your employer does not offer sick pay, you can apply for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). If eligible, this entitles you to £118.75 a week, which you can claim for up to twenty-eight weeks.

In order to claim this, you must:

• Be an employee and have completed work for your employer
• Have suffered from illness or injury for more than three consecutive days
• Earn an average of £125 per week (or more)

You can call our advisors if you have any questions about claiming SSP. We understand that recovering from a serious injury can be a difficult and costly process. Our advice is offered free of charge to give you the information you need before you decide to proceed.

Would My Employer Have To Pay For My Compensation?

Your employer’s insurance will typically cover any compensation that is owed. Employers are legally required to take out employers’ liability insurance (unless they employ a family member or someone who lives abroad). This covers them for the payment of compensation relating to illnesses or injuries suffered in the workplace.

Claiming compensation from your employer can make you feel like you’re in an awkward position. You can reach out to our team of advisors, who can address your concerns free of charge.

The Most Common Examples Of Office Accident Claims

There are a variety of accidents that you could suffer in an office. People often associate workplace injuries with more obviously dangerous working environments, such as construction sites. However, office accident claims may be appropriate in cases where:

• You are hit by a falling object due to a shelf not being properly fitted, resulting in an injury to your head. Your manager was aware that the shelf was faulty but did nothing to fix the issue.
• You slip on a wet floor in the office. There was no wet floor sign to warn you of the risk. As a result, you suffer a wrist injury
• You trip over a wire that should have been tidied away and secured. This causes you to sprain your ankle.

There are many other examples that could qualify you for a workplace accident claim. You can contact our advisors to discuss the specific details of your personal injury claim and find out whether you may be able to proceed.

Can I Be Sacked From My Office Job If I Claim?

Generally, your employer cannot sack you from your office job if you make a claim for an accident that was not your fault. As we covered at the start of our guide, your employer is legally bound to follow the laws in place to protect you. Therefore, it is your legal right to seek compensation for an injury that resulted from your employer’s negligent actions.

However, if you were responsible for the accident, your employer may have the right to fire you. For example, if you were working under the influence of alcohol.

We understand that starting a claim against your employer can be an intimidating prospect, so why not speak with an advisor? They can provide a more detailed answer to the question ‘Can you be fired for a work-related incident?‘..

How Long Do I Have To Make A Claim For An Office Accident?

Most office accident claims must begin within three years from the date on which the accident occurred.  This is due to the legal time limit established by the Limitation Act 1980. 

However, there may be an exception if the claim involves a person who is:

• Below the age of eighteen
• Mentally incapacitated

For such claimants, the three-year time limit can be frozen until they either reach their eighteenth birthday or recover mental capacity. However, as previously mentioned, a family member or loved one may be able to make a claim on their behalf.

To find out more information about the limitation period, please do not hesitate to contact our advisors. They can advise you on the next steps and potentially connect you to one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

What Evidence Is Needed For Office Accident Claims?

In order to make a claim for compensation, you will need to prove your injuries and the circumstances that caused them. You can do this by providing:

• A copy of your medical records
• An accident report (your employer may be legally required to report your accident)
• Photos of your injuries or videos of the incident (this can include CCTV footage)
• Contact details of those who witnessed the scene (they may be called on later to provide a supporting statement)
• Bank statements and payslips (to show lost income or expenses relating to your injuries)

If you have any questions about what evidence you may need to support your claim for compensation, get in touch with an advisor. They can tailor their advice to the specific circumstances of your claim.

Can I Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?

Our solicitors represent office accident claims on the basis of No Win No Fee. This means that, by signing a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you would not have to pay for your solicitor’s representation:

• Before your workplace accident claim begins
• While the claim is proceeding
• In the event that you do not receive compensation

However, if you are compensated, you will need to pay a success fee under this form of agreement. This is taken as a percentage of your compensation. Additionally, there is a legal limit on this percentage, which ensures that you keep the majority of the money yourself.

Contact Advice

You can reach out to our advisory team if you have any questions about what has been discussed in this guide. When researching your claim, you will likely come across a lot of new information, which can feel overwhelming. Our team of advisors are experienced in explaining legal processes in simple terms, giving you the straightforward answers that you need.

They are available 24/7 to advise you, free of charge. Why not get in touch today to find out whether they can connect you to an excellent No Win No Fee solicitor from Advice?

• Contact us online
• Call us on 0161 509 2856
• Ask about starting a claim in our live chat.

More Information

You can visit our other workplace injury compensation guides below:

• Advice on claiming if you are unable to work due to your injury.
• Learn about warehouse accident claims
• Read our guide on claiming for an accident caused by defective work equipment

External resources:

• Follow the advice from the NHS on administering first aid
• Read some statistics on workplace accidents from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
• Government guidance on how to request CCTV footage of yourself.

Thank you for reading our guide on office accident claims. We hope that you now have the information you need to proceed.