Accident at Work Solicitors UK: Making a Claim

Accidents can happen almost anywhere, and accidents at work are extremely common. If you have suffered any type of accident at work, speak to our accident at work solicitors (UK) to find out if you could make an injury at work claim.

Beacon Law has a team of experienced personal injury solicitors to assist with your accident-at-work case. We provide clients with the highest levels of care, guiding them through the claims process with empathy and ensuring the highest levels of compensation.

Your employer’s duty

Your employers have a duty of care to provide a safe working environment, and employees should feel at ease to work. Employers must also report accidents in an accident book. In certain circumstances, they must report health and safety issues and instances to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and related regulations, employers have specific duties to ensure the safety and well-being of their employees and others who may be affected by their work. Below are the essential obligations:

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Employers must:

• Ensure a safe working environment: This includes maintaining facilities, equipment, and systems that do not pose health risks.
• Provide safe equipment and tools: All tools, machinery, and materials must be safe and suitable for the job.
• Offer adequate training and supervision: Employees must be adequately instructed on how to carry out their tasks safely.
• Conduct risk assessments: Employers should identify and mitigate risks associated with the work.
• Maintain safe access and egress: Workspaces must have safe entry and exit points.
• Engage employees in health and safety discussions: Employees must be informed and consulted about health and safety issues affecting them.

Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations 1992

These regulations specifically address the general conditions of the workplace. Key duties include:

• Cleanliness and maintenance: Workplaces must be kept clean and maintained to high safety standards.
• Ventilation, lighting, and temperature: Employers must ensure suitable ventilation, adequate lighting, and a comfortable working temperature.
• Sanitary conveniences: Clean and accessible toilets, washing facilities, and drinking water must be provided.
• Safe flooring and surfaces: Floors should be free from hazards such as slippery surfaces or obstructions.
• Adequate space and seating: Workspaces must have sufficient space, and seating should be suitable for the tasks performed.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

These regulations focus on proactive health and safety management. Employer duties include:

• Risk management: Employers must perform detailed risk assessments and implement measures to reduce risks to employees and others.
• Health surveillance: Where necessary, employers should monitor the health of employees to prevent work-related illnesses.
• Emergency procedures: Employers are required to prepare and communicate plans for emergencies, such as fires or chemical spills.
• Training and information: Employees must be informed of risks in their work environment and receive adequate training on safety procedures.
• Cooperation and coordination: Employers must ensure that contractors or external workers understand and comply with health and safety standards.

Accident at Work Solicitors UK: Common Causes Of Accidents At Work

There are so many different types of jobs in which you can get injured and sustain various injuries that weren’t your fault. Employees should be properly trained and should always be warned of any potential risks involved with carrying out their duties. There are many causes of accidents in the workplace, varying from minor to severe injuries.

Below are some accidents at work claims that our clients have come to us with:

Slips, Trips and Falls

These types of accidents either happen because the workplace has uneven floors and slippery surfaces or simply due to poor housekeeping. Slips, trips and falls commonly cause minor and severe injuries, depending on what part of your body you land on and how hard your fall was. Failure to warn employees of these hazards and failure to remove a hazard within a reasonable period can amount to employers’ negligence as they will have breached their duty to protect their employees and their safety.

Repetitive Activities:

If your job is a desk job, and it consists of you typing on a keyboard all day, or if you need to use specific machinery repeatedly, you may be at risk of sustaining a ”repetitive strain injury”. As part of your employer’s duty, they should minimise these injuries by offering more breaks or swapping employees who do the manual hand jobs every so often. If the risks of getting these injuries are not dealt with straight away, long-term conditions such as ”Vibration White Finger” can develop.

Falls From Heights

Falling from a height can lead to several severe injuries, including shoulder or arm injuries. Therefore, your employer must minimise your risks when you are required to work at height. Common causes of accidents when working at height include defective ladders or poorly constructed scaffolding.

Road Traffic Accidents

You may be provided with a company vehicle if your job involves making deliveries or driving. If you were involved in a car accident, you might suffer from an injury due to a vehicle defect. In these circumstances, you can claim compensation for your damage against your employer or the car manufacturer/leasing company. If another driver caused your accident, you would make your claim against the other driver’s insurance company.

·Improper Manual Handling

If your job role involves picking up and carrying heavy objects. An appropriate amount of detailed training should have been provided by your employer to ensure you know how to carry out your job safely. Your employer should also provide proper lifting equipment if required. Lifting objects incorrectly, repetitively, or items that are too heavy may cause you to damage your back and shoulders.

Building Site Accidents:

Building sites are prone to accidents and injuries due to construction sites’ dangerous nature. Lack of safety and precaution on sites can lead to employees sustaining severe injuries. Common types of accidents on building sites include trips and falls over tools or rubble left on walkways, falls from poorly constructed scaffolding etc.

Accidents Caused By Colleagues

 Fellow Colleagues can also be negligent, as they may make mistakes, such as leaving equipment or spillages on the floor, leading to slip and trip accidents. Your fellow employees may act dangerously in the workplace and not follow safety rules. They may operate machinery unsafely, drive workplace vehicles such as cranes, tractors, or forklift trucks without care for other colleagues, or drive company cars negligently. This negligence can cause multiple injuries and will make work an unsafe place.

If you have been injured at work as the result of someone else’s negligence, contact Beacon Law to find out if you could make a claim.

 Types Of Injuries You Can Sustain From an Accident At Work

 Accidents at work can affect any part of your body. Injuries can vary from minor to severe, depending on the accident. Accidents that involve falling or heavy objects can cause severe injuries that can cause you to have time off work and have a massive impact on your daily life,

There are many accidents that you can suffer from due to an injury at work. Here are a few of the most common injuries:

• Brain and Head Injuries
• Back Muscle, Spinal and Spinal Cord Injuries
• Loss of vision
• Amputations
• Burn and Scald Injuries
• Fatal Injuries
• Fractures
• Soft tissue injuries

Accident at Work Solicitors UK: Eligibility to Make a Claim

Employers and business owners are legally responsible for their employee’s welfare and safety and for anyone who visits their premises. By law, all businesses must hold ”Employers Liability Insurance” under health and safety regulations and employment law.

If you feel unsafe at work due to your employer’s failure to meet their responsibilities, and their negligence has led to you being injured in an accident at work, you can make an accident at work claim.

In certain circumstances, even if you were partly at fault for your injury at work, you may still be able to make a work compensation claim, but only if your employer was the main initiator of your damage.

There are often concerns associated with claiming against an employer, as many will be worried that the result will be negative and that they may be dismissed or treated negatively. We can assure you that your employer will not be legally allowed to terminate your employment or treat you negatively just because you are filing a claim against them.

Your employer should have appropriate insurance in place to cover instances of any of their employees being injured due to their negligence or breach of statutory duty. Your employer will not suffer any direct, personal financial loss if they have adequate insurance in place.

 How Much Compensation Could You Receive?

Accident at work compensation awards will be based on the level of pain and suffering and loss of amenity resulting from the injury (general damages). Your additional financial losses will also be taken into consideration (special damages).

It is challenging to value a claim without knowing all the details of the injury. As many injuries are complex, especially those that are ongoing, it may be necessary to obtain a medical evaluation of your injuries before estimating the value.

There are many online compensation calculators that may give you a general estimation of how much your claim could be worth; however, these calculations will not always be accurate.

Compensation will vary depending on which part of the body is injured because of the accident and how severe the injury was.

The additional financial losses you can claim include:

• Loss of earnings
• Travel costs
• Costs of care and assistance
• Costs of adaptions to your home or car
• Prescription and private treatment costs
• Damage to property costs

To find out more about making a claim for an accident at work, contact us today.

Accident at Work Solicitors UK: No Win, No Fee Claims

We will fund your case on on a no-win, no-fee basis (”Conditional Fee Agreement”). This means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be liable to this firm for our fees, providing you with peace of mind and financial security while pursuing your claim.

If your claim is successful, we will deduct our fees from your compensation when your claim has been settled. These fees will be calculated as a percentage of your compensation, which will be clearly outlined in the agreement and discussed with you before you proceed.

Additionally, we may recommend After the Event (ATE) insurance to cover any legal costs or expenses incurred during your case, such as court fees or expert reports.

The cost of this insurance will only be deducted from your compensation if your claim is successful. If your claim is unsuccessful, ATE insurance will ensure you are not left with any financial burden for these costs.

This approach ensures that pursuing your claim is risk-free and that your financial interests are protected throughout the process.

 Why Choose Beacon Law, Accident at Work Solicitors UK? 

Beacon Law is a leading personal injury law firm offering a range of personal injury claim services to our clients, including accident-at-work damage compensation. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment and the highest level of compensation for their injuries.

We work closely with all clients, following their instructions whilst providing specialist legal advice on each case. We aim to support all our clients throughout a time that is already difficult and provide the best case management possible throughout all legal proceedings.

If you require advice for an accident at work claim or a workplace injury claim, please get in touch with us on 0330 1332 857. Alternatively, please complete our online form, and a Personal Injury expert will contact you to help you start your claim.

Beacon Law are a Solicitor registered in England and Wales, with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

We offer a nationwide service and assist claimants in London, Manchester, Coventry and beyond.