Accident at work Claims
Workplace accidents can occur in any industry. Our experienced solicitors provide dedicated support throughout your claim and beyond, helping you secure compensation, rehabilitation, and the ongoing support you need.
Can I Make an Accident at Work Claim?
If you have been injured or become unwell as a result of an incident at work, you may be entitled to claim compensation. This can include injuries caused by unsafe working practices, inadequate training, defective machinery, or unsuitable protective equipment. Our solicitors understand how stressful a workplace injury can be and are here to provide clear, practical support.
Employers are legally required to take reasonable steps to protect their employees. This duty of care includes maintaining a safe working environment, providing appropriate equipment and training, and implementing safe systems of work. Where an employer fails to meet these obligations and an injury occurs, the law allows you to pursue a compensation claim.
You can still make a claim even if the accident was caused by a colleague’s mistake or negligence. In such cases, responsibility rests with the employer. All employers are legally required to hold employers’ liability insurance, which ensures that compensation can be paid if an employee is injured or becomes ill as a result of their work. This protection exists to safeguard employees, regardless of the employer’s financial position.
Types of Work Accident Claims
Workplace injuries can arise in many different ways, and our solicitors have extensive experience acting for clients across a broad range of accident at work claims. Below are examples of the types of workplace accidents we regularly handle:
- Construction accidents
Construction sites continue to present significant risks. We act for individuals injured as a result of falls from height, electrical incidents, manual handling accidents, defective machinery, inadequate training, or insufficient safety measures on site. - Defective or unsafe equipment
Employees are entitled to work with equipment that is properly maintained and suitable for the task. Injuries can occur where machinery or tools are faulty, poorly maintained, or used without appropriate safety procedures. - Warehouse and factory injuries
Although safety standards have improved, accidents in warehouses and factories still occur. If you have been injured or made ill while working in these environments, you may be entitled to claim compensation. - Military injuries
We also advise service personnel who have been injured during military service where negligence or failures in duty of care have contributed to the injury.
Common Injuries Sustained at Work
Workplace injuries remain a significant issue across many industries. Data from the Health and Safety Executive indicates that hundreds of thousands of workers report non-fatal injuries each year, with many incidents formally recorded by employers under reporting regulations.
Employees should be made aware of the risks associated with their role and working environment, and employers are legally required to take reasonable steps to protect their workforce. Many workplace accidents arise from preventable failures, including:
- Failure to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Inadequate or missing risk assessments
- Poor maintenance of tools, machinery, or equipment
- Insufficient health and safety training
Where these measures are not properly implemented, the risk of injury increases significantly, often resulting in accident at work compensation claims. Common workplace injuries include:
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Falls from height or injuries caused by falling objects
- Injuries involving machinery or equipment
- Manual handling injuries, such as strains and musculoskeletal damage
What Happens After an Injury at Work?
If you are injured at work, your priority should be to seek medical attention. Many workplaces have a trained first aider, but for serious injuries you should attend Accident and Emergency or call emergency services.
You should also report the incident to your employer as soon as possible, typically through your manager. Employers are required to record workplace accidents in an accident book, creating an official record of how and when the injury occurred.
In cases involving serious injury or illness, employers may also be required to report the incident to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR.
Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need time away from work to recover and may be entitled to statutory sick pay. If the injury was caused by negligence or a failure to maintain safe working conditions, you may also have the right to pursue a workplace accident compensation claim.