Work Accident and Injury Claims

No matter where you work or what you do to earn a living, you have the right to a safe working environment.

If you have had an accident at work, our specialist personal injury solicitors understand exactly what you are going through. Perhaps you have had to take time off work due to your injuries or even had to resign because you can no longer do your job. Loss of earnings may have left you unable to pay your bills or look after your family properly.

Making a work accident compensation claim can be overwhelming, particularly if you have concerns about claiming against your employer. Our expert team are on hand to guide you through the claims process and give you all the advice you need.

Claiming personal injury compensation after an accident at work can help ease some of the financial pressures you may be facing due to your injuries. It can also:

• Pay for private medical treatment and rehabilitation to aid your recovery
• Provide any additional care and support you may need (e.g. a care assistant)
• Reimburse you for travel expenses to medical appointments
• Pay for house or vehicle adaptations
• Make up for any lost income now and in the future

Novum Law has helped thousands of people secure maximum work accident compensation after a serious injury in the workplace.

We offer No Win No Fee funding which means there is no financial risk to you or any hidden or unexpected costs. It is highly unlikely your work accident claim will be unsuccessful, but if it is, you will not have to pay any money. Click here to find out more information about No Win No Fee.

Book a free initial chat with our personal injury solicitors

If you have suffered a serious injury at work, our friendly and professional personal injury team can give you specialist legal advice and support.

Our network of regional offices includes Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon.

To book a free, no obligation chat with us call 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form.

Our expertise with work accident claims

Our expert personal injury solicitors have extensive experience helping people make compensation claims after an injury at work.

Some examples of accidents at work we can help with include:

• Falls from height
• Being struck by heavy objects
• Injuries from moving or defective equipment
• Electric shocks and electrocution
• Manual lifting and handling injuries
• Burns including chemical burns
• Cuts and lacerations
• Exposure to toxic materials (e.g. asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma)

We have helped many clients who have been involved in serious accidents at work and have suffered harm such as:

• Brain and head injury
• Spinal injury
• Bone fractures
• Burns injuries
• Amputation and limb loss
• Loss of sight
• Nerve injury
• Chronic pain
• Fatal injury

How making a work accident compensation claim works

Free initial chat to see if you may be owed work accident compensation

If you want to find out more about making an accident at work claim, we offer a completely free initial consultation. You are under no obligation and one of our expert work accident solicitors will explain everything you need to know about the legal process.

To book your free initial chat call Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to arrange a free consultation.

No Win No Fee work accident claims

Making a work accident compensation claim with Novum Law is straightforward and completely risk-free thanks to our No Win No Fee funding. There are no upfront or hidden costs and in the highly unlikely event your claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay a penny. Click here to find out more about No Win No Fee.

Investigating your accident at work claim

Your employer has a legal responsibility to keep you safe from injury. Whether you are a permanent member of staff or have a temporary contract, you have a right to do your job safe from harm.

This means that your employer is legally obliged to make sure you are properly trained, provide the personal protective equipment (PPE) you need, carry out risk assessments and provide a safe working environment that minimises risks to your health and safety.

If you think your employer’s negligent working practices has led to you having an accident at work, then you may be entitled to make a compensation claim.

Our expert team will be able to advise you free of charge whether you have sufficient grounds to make a work accident compensation claim.

If you would like to proceed with your accident at work claim, we will start gathering the evidence needed to make your compensation claim. There are several things you can do to support your claim:

• Complete an entry in the accident book at work
• Gather any photographic evidence if you can
• Speak to colleagues who may be able to provide witness statements
• Seek medical attention so there is a medical record of your injury
• Record your injury details and symptoms (keeping a diary can help support the medical evidence)
• Keep the details of any financial losses you have incurred due to your injury

If you do not manage to complete the above steps, it does not necessarily mean you cannot make a claim. If you are unable to obtain any evidence, your personal injury solicitor will be able to obtain this through a process known as ‘disclosure’ when pursuing your claim.

Working out how much compensation you are owed for an accident at work

The amount of work injury compensation you receive depends on the severity of your injury or illness and the effect it has had on the quality of your life. Your specialist personal injury solicitor will include several factors to ensure you are properly compensated including:

• General damages – the extent of your injury or illness, how much pain and suffering you are experiencing and your loss of amenity (the impact on your quality of life).
• Special damages – the financial impact including loss of earnings, medication and treatment costs, rehabilitation and care costs, travel expenses to appointments, house and vehicle adaptations, any specialist equipment you need

Click here to find out more about how compensation is calculated.

Time limits for work accident compensation claims

Typically, you have three years from the date of your work accident or diagnosis (knowledge) of a work-related medical condition to make a compensation claim.

However, there are a few exceptions to the three-year limit that may apply:

• If you are under 18 at the time of the accident, you have three years from your 18^th birthday
• If you are making a claim on behalf of a loved one who lacks mental capacity (e.g. if they suffered a traumatic brain injury)
• If the work accident occurred overseas the limitation period that applies is the time limits in the country of the accident
• If the work accident occurred in the air, on a boat or ship, the time limits is two years

Time limit rules can be complex. It is important to seek specialist advice from a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible.

Call Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form to arrange a free consultation.

You can read more about time limits (known as ‘limitation’) in our blog article.

Frequently Asked Questions about work accident claims

What are my rights if I have an accident at work?

If you are injured at work or have become ill as a result of your work, and it was not your fault, then you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim against your employer.

One of the most common concerns among potential claimants when thinking about making an accident at work claim is what their employer will think or how they will react if they claim compensation.

The simple fact is that all employers are compelled by the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 to have an insurance policy in place to cover these types of claim.

What this means is that while the defendant will be named as your employer, any compensation, and costs payable to you will come from their insurance policy.

You should not be penalised or sacked for making a compensation claim against your employer. There is employment law in place to protect you if your employer treats you unfavourably or terminates your employment because of your accident at work claim.

What is Employers’ liability insurance?

Employers’ liability insurance protects businesses against the cost of compensation claims. For most businesses in the UK, it is a legal requirement and not having adequate cover can lead to significant fines.

I am on a zero-hour contract; can I still make an accident at work claim?

Yes, if your accident was your employer’s fault, you can still make an accident at work claim. The same employment law protection is in place to protect you regardless of the type of contract you have.

Can I claim for an accident at work if I am a self-employed contractor?

Yes, self-employed contractors have the same health and safety protections as employees.

What happens if my employer has gone out of business?

If your employer has gone out of business, you may still be able to make a claim for work accident compensation. We have the expertise to fully investigate your claim, help you find out who was responsible for your injury or illness and can secure compensation from your former employer’s insurance firm.

Do you have a question we have not answered?

If you have a question that is not listed above, please visit our FAQs page. Alternatively, please get in touch and we will be happy to answer your query.

 

Book your free initial consultation with our personal injury solicitors

If you believe you or a loved one may have a work accident claim our specialist  work accident solicitors in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon are here for you.

To begin your work accident claim, contact us on Freephone 0345 357 9645 or online for a free, no obligation chat.