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Accident At Work

Accidents At Work Can Be Devastating.

Not just for the victim but for those close to them too. If you’ve been injured at work and somebody else was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation. This can help you to manage the accident’s negative impact on your life – both now and in the future.

Your employer – if they were responsible for the accident – should have insurance to cover claims such as these.

Most employers are required by law to have at least £5 million of cover in case their workers suffer an injury (or disease) arising from their employment. This cover is a legal requirement under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.

Your employer can be fined up to £2,500 for any day that they are without suitable insurance. Failing to display a certificate of insurance or failing to make it available to Health & Safety Executive when required can result in a £1,000 fine.

So it would be the insurer who would pay the compensation if you were to take legal action against your employer for an accident at work or for injuries caused by an industrial disease.

If you have been injured at work, you may have little choice but to claim. You will need compensation to fund your treatment, care and rehabilitation.

What Kind Of Workplace Accidents Can I Claim For?

Injuries at work can be very diverse, depending on when, where, and how the accident happened.

You may expect an office environment to be safer than a construction site and, in many instances, they are – but that doesn’t mean accidents which happen in usually safe environments are any less valid. Your employer has a duty to keep you safe at work, no matter where or how you are employed.

Common workplace accidents which have resulted in claims include:

  • defective or dangerous machinery
  • slips or trips on debris or unsafe surfaces
  • injuries involving lifting or manual handling
  • exposure to harmful and dangerous substances (including asbestos and chemicals)
  • vibration-induced injuries
  • repetitive strain injury
  • falling objects
  • assaults at work
  • stress at work
  • military injuries
  • injuries caused by the negligence of co-workers.

Accidents at work can lead to serious injuries, loss of earnings and even loss of life.

You deserve compensation to make up for what you have lost and to equip you for the future.

Get The Help You Need and Deserve

How Long Do I Have To Raise My Claim

In the UK, there is a standard time limit of three years in which you can raise an accident at work claim.

After this, your case may be considered to be time-barred and you may not be entitled to any compensation – so don’t delay.

The deadline starts from the date that the accident occurred – or from the date you realised that your injury was the fault of your employer.

This clause is very important, as it may take time to establish that your injury was caused by your employment. For example, if you suffer from a repetitive strain injury, the symptoms may develop over weeks or even months, making the onset date difficult to define.

In the tragic event that a workplace accident is fatal, the three-year limitation starts from the date that the victim died. This will also be the case if they die while in the process of raising their workplace accident claim.

If you lose a loved one due to their employer’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for the impact on you and your family. Pursuing a claim can help to provide financial security for those left behind, as well as helping to prevent similar accidents from happening again and causing suffering to other families.

Although there is sometimes flexibility with regard to deadlines, it is very risky to delay your claim. You should contact us right away.

Is My Accident The Responsibility Of My Employer?

Your employer has a legal responsibility to provide a safe and secure workplace, provide competent co-workers, adequate materials and equipment and a safe system of work with proper training and supervision.

Even if your accident was caused by faulty machinery or equipment supplied by another company, the responsibility remains with your employer to ensure that it is safe for you to use and that you have received adequate training.

Will I Face Repercussions From My Employer?

As your employer will have insurance to cover these types of compensation claims, the claim will be dealt with by the insurance company and should not affect the terms of your employment.

If a complication should arise, we have a team of specialist employment lawyers who can advise you on any employment issues and help to provide the security you need.

What Happens If I Can’t Return To The Same Kind Of Employment?

As a result of the injury you have suffered, it may be impossible for you to continue working for your current employer.

Perhaps your previous job involved a lot of manual labour, which you are no longer fit enough to perform. Or maybe your ability to travel to work has been impacted.

In these circumstances, our specialist team of solicitors will obtain funding to help you retrain. This will help you to develop your skills in other areas, so that you are better equipped to begin a new career and look forward to your future.

How Much Is My Claim Worth?

In most cases the amount of damages you receive will be made up of two elements:

General Damages

These are awarded for the injury sustained and for the pain, suffering and ongoing disability associated with that injury.

The amount depends upon such factors as the nature and severity of the injury, the period of recovery and the outlook for the future. General damages are assessed with reference to the medical report on your condition and comparing that report to cases decided previously.

Special Damages

These are your out-of-pocket expenses arising from the accident. They include such things as loss of earnings, medical expenses and travel expenses.

How Much Will It Cost Me To Make A Claim?

A No Win No Fee agreement (also known as a conditional fee agreement) gives you security and peace of mind when making a personal injury claim.

We offer No Win, No Fee agreements so – in the unlikely event that your claim is unsuccessful – it will cost you nothing.

In the likely event that you win your case, you may have to pay your solicitor a limited success fee, which is capped at 25% of the compensation for general damages and past losses.

Find Out More About No Win No Fee Claims

3.4m Compensation For Lift Engineer Paralysed After Fall At Work

A lift engineer paralysed after falling through a glass lift gained £3.4 million compensation with the help of Coles Miller Solicitors.

He suffered severe and permanent spinal injuries – complete paraplegia, including:

  • total loss of sensation in the lower abdomen, pelvis and legs
  • total paralysis in the lower abdomen and legs
  • impaired breathing complications.

The engineer took legal action against four defendants after a series of safety failures at the construction site where he had been working. 

Get Expert Help – Book A Free Chat 

Has an accident at work left you with additional financial burdens or damaged your quality of life? Was your employer responsible for the accident that caused your injury?

Book a free chat with a Coles Miller personal injury lawyer to find out more about No Win No Fee compensation claims. Complete the short email form below to enquire…

Meet the team

Adrian Cormack

Partner, Head of Personal Injury Department

Brian Parsons

Personal Injury Executive

Crispin Cormack

Serious Injury Paralegal

Jonathan Rich

Solicitor

Lauren Newman

Trainee Solicitor

Lucy Andrew

Costs Lawyer

Stacey Park

Serious Injury Paralegal

Jacob Emery

Solicitors Apprentice

Rosie Galway

Legal Secretary