Skip to content 
Last Updated 14th April 2026. What happens if an employee does not report an accident or injury at work is that your claim will undergo the usual process. You just may need to gather other evidence to support it. This evidence will need to prove that your employer was at fault and this caused the accident in which your injuries were sustained. Accidents at work can be very traumatic, therefore, in the panic of the moment, it is understandable that you may forget to make a formal report. As long as you have other forms of evidence, such as the contact details of witnesses, then you still have the foundations to make a successful claim.
Making your accident at work claim with one of our expert solicitors will also support success as they can give you expert advice that is specific to your circumstances. Therefore, you will know exactly what to gather despite having not made a report on your accident at work. Our friendly advisors are also available 24/7 and are happy to answer any of your initial questions before connecting you with a solicitor. Use the details below to get in touch:
- Call us on 0161 509 2856
- Contact us by filling out our online contact form
- Use our free live chat function
Chat With Us Today
Select A Section
- Types Of Reportable Incidents And Injuries
- What Happens If An Employee Does Not Report An Accident Or Injury At Work – Could They Still Claim?
- What Evidence Will I Need To Prove My Accident At Work Occurred?
- Do All Types Of Work Accidents Need To Be Reported?
- How Advice Can Help You Claim For An Accident At Work If You Didn’t Report It
- Frequently Asked Questions
Types Of Reportable Incidents And Injuries
There are certain workplace incidents and injuries that your employer must report to the Health And Safety Executive, under their obligations to RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013). They include:
- 7+ days of a worker being unable to perform their normal work duties
- Dangerous occurrences
- Gas incidents
- Non-fatal accidents to non-workers
- Occupational diseases
- Specified injuries to workers
- The death of a person
The Health and Safety Executive regulate workplace health and safety in Britain by providing information and guidance on good practice while working for a variety of different industries.
Specified Injuries
The list of specified injuries that must be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 includes:
- An amputation
- Broken bones/fractures other than to toes, thumbs or fingers when confirmed by a doctor
- Burns that are serious, or scalding, that affects over 10% of the body or causes significant harm to vital organs, eyes or the respiratory system
- Crush injuries to torso or head that cause internal organ damage or brain damage
- Injuries caused by enclosed space working that involve hypothermia or heat-induced illness or requires the injured party to be resuscitated or treated in hospital for over 24 hours
- Injuries leading to reduction or permanent loss of sight
- Loss of consciousness due to asphyxia or head injury
- Scalping that requires hospital treatment
What Happens If An Employee Does Not Report An Accident Or Injury At Work – Could They Still Claim?
While you are working, your employer owes you a duty of care. This means that they have to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that you are kept safe, and this is outlined by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). If your employer breaches this duty of care, and you are injured as a result, this is known as negligence.
Reporting work related accidents is always good practice for both major injuries and minor injuries. However, you may still be able to claim compensation for an injury if you didn’t report it, as long as you can prove that you were injured because your employer failed to adhere to health and safety legislation.
There are other forms of evidence you can use to support your claim if you did not record it in an accident book. For example, if you note down the contact details of potential witnesses, their witness statements can be taken at a later date.
Contact our team of advisors today to learn more about claiming if you didn’t report a work accident. Or, read on to get more information on claiming compensation for work related accidents.
Accident At Work Time Limits
As established by the Limitation Act 1980, the time limit for starting a personal injury claim is three years. This time limit starts from the date your workplace accident occurred. More information can be found in out guide on what is the personal injury claim time limit.
Contact our team of advisors today if you have suffered an accident in the workplace to see if you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
What Evidence Will I Need To Prove My Accident At Work Occurred?
The evidence that you will need to prove that your accident at work occurred can include photo and video evidence. So don’t worry if you did not report your accident in the log book immediately after it occurred. Some useful steps to follow to put you in the best position to make your claim are given below.
Get Medical Help As Soon As Possible
Accidents at work can be extremely severe. For example, where heavy machinery is involved or you have fallen from scaffolding. Therefore, your main priority should be to seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor, before worrying about gathering evidence or reporting your accident. There is still time to do this after seeking treatment and your updated medical records are evidence in itself.
Secure Information And Evidence About The Incident
After seeking medical attention and you feel well enough to do so, it is important that you begin gathering information and evidence. This can include the contact details of any of your colleagues who witnessed your accident happen and images of the hazard in the workplace that led to your injuries. You can find more examples of evidence needed for a personal injury claim in our dedicated guide.
Make An Official Record Of The Accident
Even if the record of your accident is late, it is still important to log it in the accident report book at work. This will establish that your accident actually happened. Make a note of the date that your accident happened, what happened and how. You can also tell the head of HR at your work what happened in writing to create a paper trail. This should be done as soon as possible whilst you can remember all of the details.
Keep Ongoing Notes About Your Injury And Losses
Each day after your accident, log the extent of your pain and the payments that you have had to make that are associated with your injuries. This is so your compensation is fair to the diagnosis and the finances that you have lost.
Get Advice From A Personal Injury Specialist
Advice from a personal injury specialist will confirm whether you are still able to make your claim despite not reporting your accident straight away. They can support in making the process clearer and tell you what other evidence can strengthen your claim. Our solicitors are experts in advising people on what to do after an accident at work. They have a proven record of ensuring that claims succeed even if a report was not made immediately. Give them a call today.
For more guidance on the steps to take when making a personal injury claim, contact one of our helpful advisors today.
Do All Types Of Work Accidents Need To Be Reported?
As highlighted earlier, your employer is legally required to report certain types of accidents under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR). However, there are numerous kinds of work accidents that could potentially occur that do not need to be reported.
It is good practice to always make an accident report at work for any such incidents that occur, even if there is no legal obligation to do so. If you do end up injured in a work accident, it would be beneficial if you, or a colleague who can assist, ensures that the incident is recorded properly in your employer’s work accident book.
If you start a claim for work accident injuries after your employer breached their duty of care, then the report on the work accident you had could later be used as evidence to support your case.
For more advice on the steps to making a work accident claim or what other evidence could be gathered, please contact our advisors for free today.
Chat With Us Today
How Advice Can Help You Claim For An Accident At Work If You Didn’t Report It
Advice can help you claim for an accident at work if you didn’t report it by connecting you with one of our expert solicitors. Their services have proven to succeed, despite some claims having missing accident reports. The services that they offer which will help your claim include:
- Advise accordingly on the other evidence that you can gather to support your claim. They can also help you make a report of your accident at work, even if it is late.
- Contacting your colleagues who witnessed your accident, your employer and HR for statements and reports.
- Meeting your needs by carrying out home visits where your accident at work has left you with low mobility.
- Ensuring that your medical records are up to date and have a report of each of your injuries by organising medical assessments.
- Handling legal documentation and retrieving evidence, such as CCTV footage, so that your main focus can be your recovery.
You can find out more about the services of our solicitors and how they can help with what happens if an employee does not report an accident or injury at work by contacting us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below you can find answers to questions aside from what happens if an employee does not report an accident or injury at work.
How Long Do I Have To Report A Workplace Injury?
You should try to report a workplace injury within 10 days so that your employer can report it to the enforcing authority. However, you can still make your claim without having reported it provided that you have other sufficient evidence and you make your claim within the 3 year personal injury time limit.
Can I Be Fired For Not Reporting An Accident?
Yes, you can be fired for not reporting an accident as a failure to follow a company’s safety and reporting procedures can be considered as gross misconduct and therefore justifies dismissal.
What If My Employer Refuses To Record The Accident?
If your employer refuses to record the accident, you should make a report of it to HR at your company. This refusal can also be taken to the Health and Safety Executive or local authority as your employer is not meeting their legal obligation.
If you have any more questions on what happens if an accident at work is not reported, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our advisors. Use the contact details below:
- Call the Advice.co.uk team on 0161 509 2856
- Complete our contact form
Thank you for reading our guide on what happens if an employee does not report an accident or injury at work.
