Have you been injured by a sharp object? Was your injury the result of someone else’s negligence? If so, you may be able to claim compensation. Injury caused by a sharp object can have a big impact on your quality of life. In this guide, we look at how a No Win No Fee lawyer may be able to help you claim for an injury of this kind.
When we’re out in public, on the road or in the workplace, we’d like to think that we are safe from the risk of harm. However, this isn’t always the case. An injury caused by a sharp object to you in any of these locations could result in compensation for you, provided that it resulted from a breach of duty of care to you.
Injury caused by sharp object compensation
It’s important to point out that you can start a claim on your own to seek damages, and there’s no legal requirement to have a solicitor work on your behalf in making a claim. However, you may find that a solicitor’s representation could make the process much smoother and could maximise the compensation you’re owed.
If you’re ready to begin a claim for injuries you’ve sustained through third party negligence, or just want more information, simply:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Fill out our callback form
- speak to an agent at our ‘live support’ portal to the bottom right of this screen
Our friendly personal injury specialists are available 24/7 to provide free legal advice, and there’s no obligation to proceed with a claim. But if you would like to pursue compensation, we can help you start your claim for injury caused by a sharp object today.
Select a Section
- A Guide To Claiming Compensation Payouts For An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object
- What Constitutes A Sharp Object?
- How Can You Suffer An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object At Work?
- An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object In A Public Place
- How Can You Suffer An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object In A Road Traffic Accident?
- Key Details For Personal Injury Compensation Calculations
- What Are Special Damages?
- Case Study: £17,000 For An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object
- Free Legal Advice To Evaluate Your Claim
- Gain Access To No Win No Fee Policies
- Our Specialist Free Legal Advice
- More Resources And Guides On Injuries Caused By A Sharp Object
- An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object FAQs
A Guide To Claiming Compensation Payouts For An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object
In this guide, we will look at the process of claiming compensation for an injury caused by a sharp object. We will begin by looking at what a sharp object injury is and the kind of repercussions that can come about after an injury of this nature.
You may be wondering who may be responsible for your safety in a scenario where you could be injured by a sharp object. We’ll address this by looking at the duty of care that is owed to you at work, on the road and while out in public. Similarly, we’ll look at how to tell when a breach in this duty of care has taken place.
This guide will go on to look at what a compensation claim following a sharp object injury could cover and how claims like this are calculated. We’ll look at the distinction between general and special damages and the evidence that’s required for each to be included in your claim.
Furthermore, we’ll describe exactly how the service we offer can help you. Using a typical case study, we examine the process of making a compensation claim. To conclude, we explain how we could put you in touch with a No Win No Fee personal injury lawyer to represent you in your claim.
What Constitutes A Sharp Object?
In everyday life, we come into contact with materials that, under the right conditions, could puncture the skin and cause injury. Some examples include:
- Glass panels, windows and windscreens
- Sharp cutlery or utensils
- Hypodermic needles
- Jagged metal
- Splintered wood (for example, from fences)
Anything that can be fashioned into a sharp point can cause injury or be used as an offensive weapon that could stab, cut, and pierce the body. An injury caused by a sharp object could result in:
- Blood loss
- Tissue damage
- Nerve damage
- Damage to tendons or ligaments
- Punctured organs
- Infection
We’re all responsible for ensuring our own safety when out in public, at work or on the road. But sometimes, the negligence of a third party means that we’re injured despite the care we’ve taken. In these cases, it may be possible for you to claim compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained.
Read on to find out more about how you could suffer from a sharp object injury in different scenarios. Alternatively, if you would like to start your claim today, you can get in touch with our team for free legal advice.
How Can You Suffer An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object At Work?
There are various workplaces and job roles where you have a risk of injury caused by a sharp object resulting from employer negligence. For instance, those working in the healthcare sector often need to administer medication to patients using syringes.
Furthermore, other sharp objects such as scalpels may be used in other medical procedures. Similarly, any workplace where glass or sharp pieces of metal are found must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that they don’t pose a risk of injury.
What Is An Employer’s Duty Of Care?
The Health and Safety At Work etc. Act 1974 is a piece of legislation that sets out the duty of care that all employers owe to their employees. It requires them to adhere to some specific things to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their employees.
The responsibilities that are included in an employer’s duty of care include:
- Carrying out risk assessments- these should be undertaken regularly so that risks to health and safety can be identified and removed.
- Administering proper training- all employees should be provided with the full relevant training needed to perform their role safely.
- Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- employees should be supplied with the appropriate PPE to do their role safely.
- Maintaining good housekeeping- this includes ensuring that all walkways are free of tripping hazards and well-lit.
How Can My Employer Breach Their Duty Of Care?
If your employer has neglected the duty of care that’s outlined above, and you’ve been injured as a result, then you may be able to claim compensation. For instance, clearly marked and secure containers should be placed close to the areas where medical sharps are used in the healthcare sector. Instructions for disposal should also be clearly displayed in these areas.
If this is not done, it could lead to medical sharps being disposed of in an unsuitable container. If you were to reach into a container where sharps were mistakenly put, you could suffer an injury. Similarly, if you were not given the proper PPE to protect you from sharp objects or were not properly trained on how to handle them, you may be able to claim if you were injured as a result.
Furthermore, you may injure yourself on a sharp object if poor housekeeping leads to you slipping or tripping in the workplace. If you fall on a sharp object, this could cause an injury that may lead you to be able to claim.
Get in touch with our team today to find out more. Alternatively, read on for more information on the duty of care owed to you in a public place.
An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object In A Public Place
The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 seeks to apply a common duty of care to all those in control of a public place. Public places can include locations such as:
- Restaurants, bars and nightclubs
- Leisure centres and gyms
- Shops and retail outlets
- Outdoor public spaces such as beaches or parks
In short, every area that is legally accessible to the general public is obliged to consider the safety and wellbeing of visitors. They can be liable if they fail to uphold this duty of care and someone is injured as a result.
The Duty Of Care Of Those In Control Of Public Spaces
The Occupiers’ Liability Act outlines the duty of care owed by the occupier of a public space. While the act doesn’t specify who the occupier of a public place is, it states that it should be someone who could have been reasonably expected to have predicted that an accident might occur. It should also be someone who has sufficient control over the space to prevent an accident from happening.
The occupier should take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of those who use the space for the intended purpose. For instance, they should oud remove any health and safety hazards from the space. Hazards that cannot be removed, such as high steps or low ceilings, should be signposted.
How Can This Duty Be Breached?
When someone in control of a public space fails to uphold the duty of care, an accident could occur, resulting in an injury. And if the injured person can prove that their injuries were a direct result of the occupier’s negligence, they may be able to claim.
For instance, a customer may drop a glass jar in a supermarket. This could result in broken glass being strewn across the floor and shelves. If a member of staff fails to clean up the glass or signpost it in a timely manner, this could result in a member of the public being injured. If they can show that their injuries were a direct result of negligence, they may be able to claim.
How Can You Suffer An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object In A Road Traffic Accident?
Many of us are aware of how dangerous travelling on the road has the potential to be. As a result, we would like to think that all road users take the same level of care and consideration when conducting themselves on the road. However, this isn’t always the case. The negligent actions of other road users have the potential to result in sharp object injuries. In turn, these could cause serious long-term implications.
Duty Of Care Of Road Users
The Highway Code outlines the duty of care that all road users owe to one another when driving. It says that road users must take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of others while on the road.
The duty of care owed by road users to one another doesn’t make any allowances for drivers who are inexperienced or who don’t have a good understanding of the rules of the road. All drivers are expected to adhere to the standards of skill and care of the average motorist.
How Can A Road User Breach Their Duty Of Care?
There are many ways that a driver may neglect their duty of care on the road, resulting in a sharp object injury. Metal and glass are used in the manufacturing of all cars. Either of these materials has the potential to cause a sharp object injury if the vehicle is damaged in a crash.
A driver may neglect their duty of care on the road by undertaking a dangerous manoeuvre. For instance, they may attempt to merge into a lane where there’s insufficient space. This could cause them to collide with another vehicle.
Furthermore, a road user who pulls onto a roundabout when it’s not safe to do so could cause an accident by colliding with another vehicle. In either of these scenarios, broken glass and sharp pieces of metal have the potential to cause injury caused by a sharp object, which could lead to a compensation claim.
Key Details For Personal Injury Compensation Calculations
We’re often asked, “how is my personal injury compensation calculated?”. A claim for compensation could be made up of two different kinds of damages. The first of these is called general damages.
General damages is the part of your claim that directly compensates you for the injuries you’ve sustained. It will depend on a number of factors like the type of injury you’ve suffered, the severity of the injury and how long it has taken you to recover.
In order to value the general damages head of a claim, you may be invited to a medical assessment with an independent expert. Here, it will be determined how severe your injuries were and how long your recovery is expected to be.
The medical report from this assessment will then be sent on to whoever is handling your claim. They will then refer to the report in conjunction with Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to value your compensation award. The JCG is a publication detailing guideline compensation brackets for different injuries. It’s based on compensation awards that have been paid out in the past.
The other head that could be included in a personal injury claim is special damages. Read on to find out more about what special damages can cover.
What Are Special Damages?
Special damages is the part of your claim that compensates you for the out of pocket expenses or financial losses you’ve experienced as a direct result of your injuries. They’re worked out on a case-by-case basis based on evidence that you provide.
There is a wide range of expenses that can be covered by special damages. Some examples include:
- Loss of earnings if you’ve had to take time off work to recover. You may also be able to claim for future loss of earnings if your injuries prevent you from returning to work at all.
- Medical treatment that you can’t get for free on the NHS.
- The cost of public transport if your injuries leave you unable to drive
- Fuel and parking costs for travel to and from medical appointments
- Care costs if you’ve been unable to care for yourself or a dependant
- Home adaptations if you’re left with injuries that mean you have to make changes to your home
It’s really important that you provide proof for any special damages that you want to include in your claim. These might be payslips to prove your loss of earnings, receipts from buying fuel or invoices for any courses of treatment you’ve undergone. Without evidence, these won’t be able to be included in your claim.
Case Study: £17,000 For An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object
Mr Thomas worked as a landscaper for a gardening firm. They had a central warehouse which all the staff used to store equipment, machinery and materials for upcoming jobs.
One morning, Mr Thomas was walking across the warehouse to collect a hedge trimmer he’d need for the day’s work. Unbeknownst to him, there was a leak in the roof of the warehouse. This had caused a puddle to form on the floor. Furthermore, a broken light above this space meant that the puddle was difficult to see.
Mr Thomas slipped and fell on the puddle and, as a result, crashed into some sharp railing posts that were being stored nearby. He fell directly onto the tip of one of the posts, and it pierced his side.
As he steadied himself, Mr Thomas noticed he was having great difficulty breathing and found that his chest felt very tight. He was immediately concerned and asked for a colleague to call him an ambulance so he could seek medical attention.
What was the outcome of the accident?
At the hospital, it was confirmed that Mr Thomas had suffered from a punctured lung. He had to undergo surgery for this injury and was advised he would need to take 8 weeks off work in order for his injury to heal.
Furthermore, Mr Thomas was left unable to drive while he recovered. The wound in his torso caused him a great amount of discomfort when holding the steering wheel. As a result, this meant that he had to rely on public transport as he recovered.
Because of this, Mr Thomas sought legal advice, and it was clear that his employer had acted negligently, resulting in his injury. The table below details the compensation awarded to Mr Thomas. It also contains a breakdown of the special damages head of the claim.
| General damages | How much? | Special damages | How much? |
|---|---|---|---|
| For a single penetrating wound to the lung causing some permanent damage to tissue but with no significant long-term effect on lung function. | £12,000 | Lost earnings for 8 weeks | £3,700 |
| Damage to clothing (tears and bloodstains) | £150 | ||
| Loss of transport and accommodation costs for a holiday | £600 | ||
| Painkillers and prescription costs for antibiotics | £150 | ||
| Public transport costs | £400 | ||
| TOTAL | £17,000 |
Please note that this is not a real-life compensation claim. Instead, it’s an example based on our team’s experience in valuing and assessing claims.
Free Legal Advice To Evaluate Your Claim
When you get in touch with our claims team, our advisors are able to take details of your accident and subsequent injuries. From here, they will be able to give you an estimate as to how much you could be entitled to.
There are some websites that offer you personal injury compensation calculators. While these can be a useful tool, they often fail to collect the volume of information needed to accurately value your claim.
The more information you are able to give our advisors team, the greater an understanding we can get on the strength of your claim. It’s free, with no obligation to proceed with us. Get in touch today to see how much compensation you could be owed for your injuries.
Gain Access To No Win No Fee Policies
Many of us have heard the phrase “No Win No Fee” used when discussing personal injury claims for compensation. But you may find yourself wondering, “what does a No Win No Fee agreement mean?”.
A No Win No Fee agreement is sometimes referred to as a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). It sets out the criteria that your solicitor has to meet in order for them to receive payment. It means that:
- You won’t be asked to pay before your claim begins or while it’s ongoing
- No payment will be required in the event that your claim is unsuccessful
- If your claim succeeds, a “success fee” will be deducted from your compensation settlement to cover your solicitor’s costs.
Furthermore, this success fee is legally capped, and the percentage to be deducted will be agreed upon before the claims process begins. To find out more about how a No Win No Fee agreement could benefit you, speak to our team today.
Our Specialist Free Legal Advice
We hope that this article has helped in your decision to start a claim for compensation for an injury at work claim. If you would like to start a claim today, you can:
- Call us on 0161 696 9685
- Write or email us at Advice.co.uk
- Speak to an advisor at our ‘live support’ portal to the bottom right of this screen
Our personal injury claims team is on hand to help you today. Get in touch with us now to start your claim.
More Resources And Guides On Injuries Caused By A Sharp Object
For further reading about making out an accident at work claim, read our guide.
Please look at our guide for more information about car accident claims.
If you’ve been injured by a sharp object as a result of negligence on the part of the NHS, our guide on how to claim against the NHS could help.
Are you wondering how much you could be paid while taking time off work to recover? This information on Statutory Sick Pay could help.
The Health and Safety Executive have provided information on what to do following a needlestick injury.
If you’re unsure whether you need a tetanus jab after an accident or injury, read this NHS guide.
An Injury Caused By A Sharp Object FAQs
How much could I be owed following an injury caused by a sharp object?
The amount of compensation you’re entitled to could vary depending on the circumstances of your accident and the nature of your injury. Get in touch with our team today to find out how much your claim could be worth.
What should I do if I am punctured by a needle?
You should seek immediate medical attention if you’ve suffered a needlestick injury. We aren’t able to offer medical advice. However, if you’re interested in making a claim for injuries caused by negligence, we can offer free legal advice.
How long will it take for me to receive my compensation?
The amount of time that it takes for a claim to be processed can depend on a number of factors. Claims involving minor injuries or where liability is clear cut might be resolved within a few months, whereas complex claims where liability is in dispute could take longer to settle.
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