Accidents at work

Accidents in the workplace are a common occurrence, and many of these accidents could have been avoided by employers implementing the correct measures and procedures to minimise the risk of an accident at work from taking place. If you have sustained an injury at work as a result of an accident, then you may be able to make a “no win, no fee” personal injury claim against your employer.

If it can be established that someone else is responsible for your injury, such as your employer, a colleague, or a company performing work at your place of work, then you have the basis of a claim for compensation.

Beacon Law have a team of experienced accident at work solicitors who can assist you in making your injury at work claim for compensation.

If you have suffered an injury at work, claim the compensation you deserve today.

Your employers’ responsibilities

Safety at work is extremely important. Your employer has a duty of care towards you and is obligated by law (the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974) to provide a safe work conditions and a healthy environment in which you can work.

Your employer must always provide appropriate training and where necessary the correct and suitable equipment to help you perform your duties safely. Your employer is also under a duty to properly maintain the work environment and the equipment you use through regular risk assessments to ensure that it remains safe at all times. If an accident does occur in the workplace then your employer must report it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Health and safety laws and legislation have significantly increased the level of protection open to employees. There are numerous written health and safety regulations and laws designed to prevent accidents in the workplace and any breach of these regulations can cause accidents with undesirable consequences. The Health and Safety Executive have set out guidance on their website for employers to assist in the implementation of Health and Safety Legislation on the workplace.

If you have been injured at work as a result of your employer’s negligence, you will have grounds to make a workplace injury claim.

To find out about making a claim for industrial injuries, have a look at this section on our website.

What should I do if I have an accident at work?

In the event you are unfortunate enough to suffer an accident at work then we would recommend that you do the following:

• Report your accident to your supervisor or manager as quickly as possible.
• Make sure that an accurate description of the accident is written in the work accident book. Your employer is legally required to keep an accident book and you should check any entries as it may be important evidence in your case.
• If possible, take photographs and prepare a sketch of the accident area, and any equipment that was involved.
• Ensure you take the contact details of any witnesses to the accident.
• Try to find out if there have been any similar accidents or any complaints that may be relevant to your accident.
• Seek medical advice from your GP or hospital to have your work injuries assessed and treated as soon as is reasonably possible.
• Keep a record of any expenses incurred by you.

Always seek legal advice before agreeing anything with your employer or their representative regarding the accident.

Speak to Beacon Law to find out of you could be eligible for making a work compensation claim.

How long do I have to make an accident at work claim?

There is a three year time limit for all personal injury claims. Your claim will become statute barred and you will lose your entitlement to bring a claim for compensation if you do not make a claim within three years from the date of the accident (or from the date on which you became aware that your injury was caused by an accident at work).

We would recommend making a claim as soon as possible as the deadline relates to the settlement of the case, not the initiation of the case. If the case takes longer than expected to settle, the Court may allow for an extension past the three year deadline.

Can I make a claim if I was partially responsible for the accident?

If the Accident was 100% caused by you, you will be unable to make a claim against your employer as they were not responsible for your accident or injuries. If you were partially to blame for your accident, you may be able to make a claim against your employer if it can be proven that their negligence was the main cause of the accident. If you were partially responsible for the accident, the level of compensation you receive may be reduced to reflect this.

How to make an accident at work claim?

If you have been injured as a result of an accident, you should get in touch with a law firm, such as Beacon Law, who specialise in Personal Injury claims. The process for making a claim against your employer will involve:

• A phone call with an experienced Personal Injury Solicitor: Your Solicitor will need you to provide your employers details, the circumstances, time and date of the accident, the nature of you injuries, and details on whether the accident was reported, or if there were any witnesses present.
• Paperwork: When you have provided your agreement to proceed with the claim on a no win, no fee basis, we will provide you with some paperwork to fill in regarding your claim.
• Claim initiation: As soon as you have provided your signed paperwork, we will contact your employer to advise them of your claim.

Proving an accident at work claim

In order to be successful in an accident at work claim, you will need to provide some evidence to prove that your accident happened as you have alleged, and that your accident resulted in the injuries you have suffered. The types of evidence that you may be required to provide can include:

• Witness statements from other employees present at the time of the accident.
• Photographs of the area of your accident or photos of the defective equipment that caused your accident.
• Your copy of the accident report (if you were provided with this).
• CCTV footage of your accident (we are likely to request this from your employer).
• Photographs of your injuries.
• Copies of any medical records or hospital letters.
• Receipts showing any treatment/ medication costs or other expenses incurred.

How long will it take to settle my case?

It is very difficult to predict how long it will take to settle any case. If your case is straight-forward, your injuries are minor, and your employer admits liability within the required time frames, it should take around 6-9 months to settle your claim. The claims process is not always straight-forward and there are many factors which could cause a delay in settling you claim, such as an unresponsive defendant, difficulties in obtaining evidence, and serious, complicated injuries.

The timescales from the initiation of a claim to obtaining compensation will vary depending on whether your employer admits or denies liability for your accident. The seriousness of your injuries may also have an impact on the amount of time it will take for us to settle your claim.

No win, no fee accident at work claims

We offer all claims on a no win, no fee basis. These claims allow personal injury solicitors and their legal team to proceed with your claim with no up-front legal costs to be paid. Throughout the compensation claim process, there will be no hidden charges or payments required from the injured person.

This type of agreement helps the injured party focus on recovering from their injures without stressing about the financial risks.

If your claim is successful, you will only be required to pay a small amount from your final damages to your solicitor for their a success. These costs will be calculated as a percentage and will be discussed with you before legal proceedings start. This payment is to compensate your solicitor for their time and work put into assisting on your case.

You may also be required to pay a small fee for ATE insurance from your compensation award if your case is successful. This will all be explained to you by your solicitor before you agree to start your personal injury claim.

If your case is unsuccessful, unfortunately, you will not receive any compensation; however, you will not be required to pay us a penny.

Should I go back to work after an accident?

If you are well enough to go back to work, you should return to your workplace. If you are well enough to return to work, but decide not to, you will be unable to recover your loss of earnings for this time off when it comes to settling your claim.

If you are making a claim against your employer, you may feel awkward or uncomfortable when returning to work; but you shouldn’t feel this way. Your employer breached their duty of care towards you and caused you to sustain an injury, therefore, you are entitled to make a claim against them.

The law is on your side in this regard and your employer should not treat you negatively because you are making a claim against them.

Why Choose Beacon Law?

Beacon Law provides a team of highly experienced Solicitors and legal professionals. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure you receive the highest level of accident at work compensation for your injuries. We are specialist Personal Injury solicitors with expertise in all types of claims, including, road traffic accidents, slips, trips, falls, and criminal injuries. Beacon Law is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee funding, have a look at the funding section on our website.

If you have a query regarding making an accident at work claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will be happy to discuss your claim with you, without any obligations.

We deal with all types of personal injury and workplace accident claims. The legal matters which we deal with on a no win, no fee basis, include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Accidents at Work
• Slips, Trips and Falls
• Road Traffic Accidents
• Animal Attacks
• Medical Negligence
• Professional Negligence
• Criminal Injury Claims (CICA)
• Catastrophic Injuries

For a free, no obligation initial discussion, contact us using the form at the top of the page or using our live chat facility. Alternatively, you can call us directly on 0330 1332 857.