Employers are responsible for making sure that workplaces are safe and hygienic for their employees. If you have been injured because of an accident at work that was not your fault, you may be eligible to make a work accident claim for compensation. Advice.co.uk can help you to start a claim for a work accident. Call us today for your free consultation. We can offer you free legal advice about claiming compensation for a work accident. If we can see that you are eligible to claim compensation, our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors will start working on your accident at work claim right away.
To begin your compensation claim for a work-related accident, call Advice.co.uk on 0161 696 9685. Or use our online accident claims form to contact us about your claim. Our advisors will review your claim in an informal chat. If they can see you have a valid case they may connect you with a personal injury solicitor. Alternatively, continue reading this accident at work advice guide to learn more.
How to claim for a work accident guide
Select A Section
- A Guide On How To Claim For A Work Accident
- Accident At Work Compensation Calculator
- Additional Damages Awarded For Work Accidents
- What Is A Claim For A Work Accident?
- What Are The Different Types Of Accidents?
- Accident At Work Procedures
- Time Limits To Claim For A Work Accident
- How Do I Claim For A Work Accident?
- Why Make An Accident At Work Claim?
- No Win No Fee Claims For A Work Accident
- Speak To An Expert
- Workplace Accident Advice
A Guide On How To Claim For A Work Accident
When we are at work, our employers are responsible for our health and safety. If our employer acts negligently causing a workplace accident, they could be held liable for our injuries.
If you have been injured because of an accident at work you may be wondering how to claim compensation. In this guide, we will explain how to claim compensation for an accident at work. We will also look at what kind of accidents can happen in the workplace and how we can prevent accidents in the workplace. We have also included a table that can be used as an accident at work compensation calculator. This can help you to predict how much compensation you could claim.
If you have been injured or made ill because of negligence on the part of your employer, contact Advice.co.uk to have your case evaluated for free. One of our trained accident claims advisors will be happy to talk in-depth about your workplace accident and offer you free legal advice. What will happen if we can see that you are eligible to claim for a work accident? We will assign a No Win No Fee accident at work solicitor from our panel to your case.
To begin your work accident claim, call Advice.co.uk today. Alternatively, fill out our online claims form to let us know about your accident in writing.
Accident At Work Compensation Calculator
If you have been injured at work because of an accident that was not your fault, you may be owed compensation. The table below can be used as an accident at work compensation table, to predict how much money will be in your compensation payout. The compensation amounts in the table are based on guidelines from the Judicial College. The JC guidelines are used to put values on injuries. But they are only guidelines.
There are two heads of claim: general damages and special damages. General damages can be seen in the table below. This is compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. In the next section of this guide, we will look at special damages.
| Type & Degree Of Injury | Comments On This Injury | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Serious Hand Injury | An injury in which several fingers have been amputated and then have been attached again. There is less than 50% use of the hand. | £27,220 - £58,100 |
| Less Serious Hand Injury | This could include crush injuries to the hand. | £13,570 - £27,220 |
| Moderate Hand Injury | Soft tissue injuries such as penetrating wounds, crush injuries and other soft tissue damage, | £5,260 - £12,460 |
| Amputation of Index and Middle and/or Ring Fingers | Full amputation of these fingers. | £58,100 - £85,170 |
| Very Serious Thumb Injury | A very serious injury. The thumb was amputated at the base and has been surgically reattached. | £18,390 - £32,850 |
| Moderate Thumb Injury | The use, cosmetic look and use of the thumb have been seriously affected. | £9,080 - £11,820 |
| Moderate Neck Injury (i) | A neck fracture or dislocation. | £23,460 - £36,120 |
| Moderate Back Injury (ii) | A wide variety of back injuries are covered at this level. | £26,050 - £36,390 |
| Moderate Toe Injury | Simpler fractures or where the accident makes an existing injury worse. | upto £9,010 |
| Minor to Moderate Elbow Injury | Most elbow injuries are classed as moderate to minor. | upto £11,820 |
These amounts are advisory, the amount of compensation you could claim may vary. The table does not include any special damages that you may be eligible to claim. The outcome of every compensation claim is different.
If you want an accurate value placed on your injuries call Advice.co.uk. We will be able to estimate how much compensation you could claim accurately.
Additional Damages Awarded For Work Accidents
If you make a successful compensation claim for an injury at work, your compensation payout will include general damages and special damages. General damages are the primary part of your compensation payout. They are paid to compensate you for the pain and harmful effects of your injuries. Special damages are paid to reimburse you for any past and future expenses incurred because of your injuries.
Below are some examples of special damages claimants are awarded for an accident at work:
- Medical expenses
- Care expenses
- Travel expenses
- Reimbursement for loss of income.
What happens if you are seriously injured at work and become disabled as a result? You can also claim special damages for mobility equipment, adaptations to your home or car and the cost of rehabilitation. Call us today for free legal advice on claiming for a serious injury.
What Is A Claim For A Work Accident?
Under the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 employers are expected to as reasonably as can be expected to keep their workforce safe. It is fair to say that no place of work can be 100% safe. But employers must keep them as safe as possible. This means that they are obliged to provide them with a safe working environment. How can we prevent accidents in the workplace? To ensure that proper standards of health and safety are upheld, employers should conduct regular risk assessments to identify potential hazards. These are things that put employees at risk of an accident. For example, a loose wire is a trip hazard. The employer must apply control measures. This could be removing the wire or fixing it to a wall.
If an employer identifies a hazard they must either remove it or minimise the risk. Therefore if they do not this could be considered negligence. Moreover, it may breach the employer’s duty of care. What happens if a worker is injured in a workplace accident which happened because of negligence on the part of the employer? The employer would be held liable (responsible) for the employee’s injuries. The employer or worker would be eligible to claim for a work accident. Therefore their employer may have to pay them compensation.
What Are The Different Types Of Accidents?
Now in this accident at work advice guide, we will look at different types of accidents and injuries that can happen at work. What are the different types of accidents? Accidents could be classified as minor accidents, major workplace accidents and industrial workplace accidents. Let’s look at what types of injuries can happen in the workplace, below.
Minor Workplace Injuries
A minor injury is a type of injury that is not serious but still requires medical attention. For example, a shallow puncture wound might not cause serious harm. But if the cut is not cleaned and bandaged properly it can become infected. Examples of minor workplace injuries include:
- Cuts and bruises.
- Soft tissue injuries.
- A minor assault at work.
- Sprain
- Exposure to chemicals causing a rash.
Major Workplace Injuries
A major workplace injury is when a worker suffers an injury that affects them over the long term. It may be a painful and debilitating injury such as a broken leg that will heal over time. Unfortunately, some major workplace injuries can include life-changing injuries that have a permanent effect on the patient. This can include an injury that disables the patient, such as sight loss. Here are some examples of major workplace injuries:
- Partial or complete sight loss.
- A broken bone or fracture.
- Scolding or serious burns.
- A major assault at work.
- The torso or head is crushed.
- An injury to a limb, which means it has to be amputated.
- Hyperthermia.
- An injury causing death.
- Any other type of injury that is serious enough for the worker to be hospitalised.
Industrial Workplace Accidents
An industrial injury is a disease, injury or disability which happens as a direct result of one’s working environment. If you have developed an industrial injury because of negligence on the part of your employer, you may be eligible to claim compensation. Some of the most common industrial injuries include the following:
- Severe cramps
- Tendonitis.
- Industrial asthma.
- Dermatitis.
- Hand-arm vibration syndrome.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Industrial deafness.
- Cancer caused by unsafe working conditions.
What are the top workplace injuries? We will now give some examples of injuries that frequently happen in the workplace.
Slip And Fall Injuries
Unfortunately, accidents, where a person slips and falls or trips and falls at work, are relatively common. According to the Health and Safety Executive slips, trips and falls are the most common type of non-fatal accident at work. They made up 29% of non-fatal accidents. This is because a small obstruction on the floor such as a piece of loose carpeting or spillage can cause a worker to trip or slip.
Some tripping or slipping injuries only result in minor injuries such as shallow cuts or light bruises. However, some slips, trips and falls on the same level cause the worker to suffer serious injuries such as a fracture.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
Musculoskeletal injuries are injuries that affect the muscles, tendons, discs, nerves and blood vessels that make up the musculoskeletal system. These can include slipped discs and carpal tunnel syndrome. Musculoskeletal injuries can happen if workers were required to conduct manual handling activities without the correct training or equipment. They can also be caused by excess repetitive activities such as typing, without a proper break.
Sight And Hearing Loss
There are regulations in the UK about noise levels that workers can be exposed to. Workers who work in environments such as textiles or engineering are at risk of suffering industrial deafness and tinnitus if their employers do not take proper steps to protect them. For example, providing them with earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones.
Sprains And Strains
Sprains and strains are soft tissue injuries that can happen if the muscles, tendons or ligaments become damaged. They can be painful and make it harder to put weight on the affected area. Most strains or sprains go away by themselves. However, some strain and sprain injuries require physiotherapy to get better. People whose jobs involve physical activity may suffer a soft tissue injury.
Lacerations And Cuts
People who work with sharp objects such as glass or metal tools can suffer cuts or lacerations at work. Employers can help prevent laceration and cutting injuries by providing employees with proper training and PPE (personal protective equipment). Picking debris up off the floor and surfaces will also help to prevent cuts.
Accident At Work Procedures
What accident at work procedures should take place if an employee is injured on the job? According to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) an injury that incapacitates a worker for three or more days must be recorded by an employer. An injury that incapacitates a worker for seven or more days, or meets the criteria to be a reportable incident must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
If you suffer an accident at work we recommend you inform your manager or supervisor. They may have to fulfil specific accidents at work procedures under RIDDOR. We recommend you follow up your conversation with an email at a later date so there is evidence in writing of your accident and injuries. You should also make sure that your accident has been recorded in the organisation’s accident report book. Check that the cause of your accident, the type of injuries you have suffered, the date, place and time are recorded accurately. This may be used as evidence to support your work accident claim.
Time Limits To Claim For A Work Accident
There is normally a personal injury claims time limit of three years. This means that you will have three years to begin your compensation claim, beginning from the day of your accident. Alternatively, your time limit will begin at “the date of knowledge”. This is the date that your injuries were diagnosed or you became aware they were caused through negligence. To avoid falling outside of the personal injury claims time limit, call Advice.co.uk to start your compensation claim for a work accident as soon as possible.
How Do I Claim For A Work Accident?
To make a work accident claim, we recommend you first collect evidence to support your claim. You can take photographs of your injuries and the hazard that caused your workplace injury. If there is CCTV footage of your injuries, ask for the tapes. You can also speak to work colleagues that witnessed your accident who may be able to make a witness statement to support your claim. We recommend that you keep any receipts for purchases you made relating to the accident. This could include buying medication or paying for a taxi to the hospital. You may be able to claim these costs back as special damages. Your receipts may also be used as evidence to support your claim.
Why Make An Accident At Work Claim
Many claimants may be put off from making an accident at work claim because they think that they can be fired or they may be treated differently at their workplace. If you make an honest claim according to the law you cannot be sacked or fired. Moreover, if you are treated differently for making an accident at work claim and you are forced to leave your job this can be seen as constructive dismissal. So both cases; unfair dismissal and constructive dismissal can mean that you could take your employer to a tribunal.
Also, if you are worried that your employer may suffer due to you making a claim against the company by law they must have insurance to cover claims made against them. Therefore, the insurance would cover the cost of the claim.
No Win No Fee Claims For A Work Accident
When making a personal injury claim, those who want to use a solicitor are worried about the cost of solicitor fees. That is why we always advise using a solicitor that will work under a No Win No Fee agreement.
With a No Win No Fee solicitor, you will sign a Conditional Fee Agreement which means that you will not have to pay your solicitor unless your claim is successful. Instead, they will charge you a success fee only on the condition that they win your claim. This means that there is less financial risk involved for you. For many claimants making a claim this way is the more affordable way to claim as there is no upfront legal fee to pay. To see if you could fund a solicitor using a No Win No Fee agreement for workplace accident compensation call us to speak to an advisor.
Speak To An Expert
If you have been injured because of an accident at work that was not your fault, we can help you. Call today to speak to a claims specialist who can offer free legal advice about making a claim. If you have legitimate grounds to make a work accident claim we will appoint a personal injury solicitor from our panel.
To begin your claim, get in contact with us right away using the details below.
- Call our claims helpline on 0161 696 9685.
- Fill out our online accident claims form.
- Use our Live Chat widget to speak to an advisor now.
Workplace Accident Advice
Below, you can find links to lots more guides on accidents at work:
- Accidents at work FAQ
- If you’ve suffered an electric shock at work, you may be unsure of your legal rights. If so, this guide offers lots of advice on claiming compensation for your injury and what steps your employer should take to make your workplace safe.
- How to make an accident at work claim
- Agency worker accident claims
- How to make a claim if injured as a temporary worker
- I hurt myself at work, can I make a claim?
- Can you sue your employer for an accident while still employed?
- How to prove an injury at work
- Will claiming against my employer create problems?
- Advice on claims if injured working for cash
- Do I need accident at work solicitors near me?
- Employers’ responsibilities after an accident at work
- What happens if an employee does not report an accident or injury at work?
- How long after an accident at work do you have to claim?
- Do I need a lawyer if I get an injury at work?
- New employee had an accident at work – can they claim?
- I had an accident at work, what are my employers’ responsibilities?
- I didn’t take time off work after an accident, can I still claim?
- Who pays my work injury medical expenses?
- What to do if I injured myself at work?
- Workplace accident claim time limits
- Accidents caused by tiredness and fatigue
- Can you be fired for a work-related accident?
- Foot injuries caused by a lack of safety books
- Could I make a workplace injury claim if I’m not an employee?
- Tendon injury at work claims
- Can you claim for an accident at work if you suffered no injury?
- How to claim for an injury at work when self-employed
- Can I claim if assaulted at work?
- Can I be sacked for having an accident at work?
External Guides
An HSE guide to first aid at work.
An HSE guide to health and safety at work and the law.
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Published by AL.