Personal Injury
Accidents at Work Claims
If you’ve been injured in an accident at work, it can take a huge toll on your life. Depending on the severity of your injuries, accidents can lead to you not being able to work and leave you substantially out of pocket. Knowing what you are entitled to claim can also be a challenge.
If you have suffered an injury at work in the last three years and can prove it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to make a claim for accident at work compensation. At Hodge Jones & Allen, we’re here to help. Our expert accident at work solicitors have the knowledge and experience to help you take your claim forwards.
We understand that an injury which means you’re not able to work for a period of time can be physically and financially challenging and stressful for you and your family, so get in touch today for a confidential, no-obligation chat to find out how we can help you with your accident at work claim.
Call us today on 0808 252 5231 or request a call back.
Can I make an accident at work claim?
If you’ve suffered from an injury at work within the last three years and you believe it wasn’t your fault, then you may be able to make an accident at work claim.
Of course, genuine accidents at work do happen – indeed, it’s virtually impossible to keep any workplace 100% accident-free. But many accidents in the workplace occur because of unsafe working practices, whether it be failure of management to follow health and safety protocols, poorly maintained or faulty equipment or anything else. If your accident falls into the category of negligence on someone else’s part, then you deserve to be compensated for the injuries you’ve received and the debilitating impact on your life.
Our team of accident at work solicitors have decades of experience in not only helping people get the accident at work compensation they deserve, but also aiding with rehabilitation and returning to the workforce with confidence.
If you aren’t sure where to start with a potential accident at work claim, your first port of call should be to speak to us. We’ll get a detailed understanding of the accident and injury in question and will advise you on the next best steps and whether or not to pursue a claim.
What type of injuries can I claim for?
Injuries from accidents at work can take many forms. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common injuries you can claim for. If your injury is not listed, give us a call to discuss how we can help.
- Injuries from manual handling, lifting or carrying
- Unsafe working practices and procedures
- Failing to comply with health and safety regulations and guidance
- Injuries caused by the lack of provision of suitable protective equipment
- Exposure to toxic chemicals and substances
- Being hit by a moving object – including vehicles or cranes
- Accidents involving machinery – including dangerous machinery, defective and poorly maintained equipment
- A fall from a height
- Being hit by something falling from height
- Trips and slips
- Injuries caused by the careless actions of a colleague – including due to insufficient or improper training
- Violence in the workplace
Reporting accidents at work – can I be sacked for having an accident at work?
If you make a claim against your employer for an injury sustained in an accident at work, it’s important to remember that this does not affect your employment rights. If you’re treated unfairly or lose your job and you believe this to be as a result of your compensation claim, you should speak to an employment lawyer as soon as possible. Time limits on bringing such claims in employment law are short, so make sure you act as soon as you can.
Bringing an accident at work claim to your employer can understandably carry with it an awful lot of stress, particularly if you’re still employed by the business. Our role as specialist accident at work solicitors is to lift that weight of responsibility from you and give you absolute confidence in your position. While we take care of the complexities of your case, we can also offer assistance with your recovery and return to work in a comfortable and fair environment.
"WITHOUT YOUR EFFORTS ON MY BEHALF I WOULD HAVE SECURED NO SATISFACTION WHATSOEVER."
How much will it cost me to make an accident at work claim?
Our accident at work procedure works on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, otherwise known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. In simple terms, that means you won’t pay anything for our services unless your claim is successful.
If your claim is successful, our success fee, your insurance premium for the claim (which protects you financially in the instance that your case is unsuccessful), and some basic charges will be deducted from your compensation amount. We’ll always aim to keep any deductions outside of our pre-agreed success fee to the absolute minimum, so you can receive the largest compensation amount possible.
"Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors has been fantastic processing and settling my injury claim. My solicitor has been excellent throughout my claim process, being exceptionally helpful, prompt and professional. Everyone else I have dealt with on the team has been equally helpful and friendly."
How do you make a personal injury claim following an accident at work?
If you are looking to make a claim as a result of injury caused by an accident at work, it’s important to follow the proper steps. We advise the following accident at work procedure:
Seeking medical attention
Get immediate medical help from your GP or a hospital if you suffer an injury due to an accident at work. Make sure your injuries and the circumstances are properly documented so you have a record of how your injuries occurred.
Record the accident
Your company should have a log to track any accidents and injuries. It’s important to make sure this is filled out as soon as possible with all the details of your accident. If your employer doesn’t have such a log, report it to your line manager as soon as possible.
How long do I have to make a personal injury claim?
The time limit for making a claim following an accident at work is usually three years from the date of the injury or from the date you became aware that you have suffered an injury.
In the instance of occupational illnesses or diseases, for example, the time limit to bring a claim is slightly different in that it is three years from the “Date of Knowledge”. This is generally the date you first realised or suspected that your illness was related to your work or three years from the onset of symptoms.
Children who have sustained an injury before the age of 18 have until their 21st birthday to start court proceedings.
It is possible to delay making a claim for an accident at work until after you have left your employer. However, if you do this, it is very important you ensure the accident was reported as soon as possible after it happened and that the accident book was completed.
It is best to talk to your specialist accident at work solicitor who can give expert advice as to whether your claim is in time or not.
How long does it take to complete an accident at work claim?
How long your claim will take to complete will depend completely on the circumstances surrounding it. With personal injury claims in general, timeframes boil down to a few core factors:
- The extent of the injuries faced
- The length of time you have been in hospital and/or at home and off work
- The amount of care required
- Whether the other side denies responsibility
In cases where the employer has accepted responsibility for an accident at work and the injuries involved are relatively minor, cases can take as little as a few weeks to resolve. If, however, the employer refuses to accept responsibility and the injuries concerned are more significant with potentially debilitating implications for the future, cases can go on for much longer as sufficient evidence is acquired to build a case and court proceedings are potentially issued.
When you first speak to us, we’ll be able to offer some guidance on how simple or difficult your accident at work claim may be to complete, and we’ll always keep you up to date with proceedings as they develop through the course of your case.
Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors?
At Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, we have a dedicated team of specialist personal injury solicitors ready to help you or your family. Our expert lawyers are ready to advise on the best approach to take when making a claim for compensation as a result of an accident at work, which may have left you or a loved one with a life-changing injury.
Our specialist solicitors work on a client-first approach, making sure the victim’s needs and treatment are at the forefront of every claim.
Early rehabilitation and a collaborative approach with the insurers are key to getting the best outcome for someone who has been injured. Rehabilitation and care is our primary focus. We recognise every injury is different and no two sets of circumstances are the same, so any treatment and recommendations will be tailored to you and your own case.
When you choose Hodge Jones & Allen, you will have access to an award-winning team of specialist personal injury solicitors with vast experience in accident at work procedures.
Latest award – the Winner of The Legal 500 London Firm of the Year 2019 in the category: Insurance for Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence.
We are independently ranked as leaders in the field of personal injury, with a proven track record of high-value settlements.
Featured case
Our client was a glazier working at height on a ladder installing a window. The ladder was defective and he was not provided with proper equipment or assistance from his employer. Risk assessments carried out were also insufficient.
As a result, the client fell from height, sustaining serious injuries to his back, as well as having to undergo a right knee amputation. Liability was denied, so medical evidence was obtained and court proceedings issued. Liability was then agreed with the Defendant at 75%.
Damages awarded: In excess of £1 million.
Successful cases
What if my industry is ‘high risk’?
Of course, some industries such as construction, energy and transportation carry with them a higher risk profile than others, but most accidents that occur in these areas are still considered preventable.
Accidents at work in these sorts of industries can occur due to anything from faulty or poorly maintained equipment to exposure to toxic chemicals or poorly supported structures. With that in mind, accidents at work in ‘high-risk’ environments should be considered just as critically as any other – and the nature of your work shouldn’t sway your thinking when it comes to making a claim.
Can I claim for occupational illnesses or diseases?
You can claim for occupational illnesses or diseases that are a result of your work. Some of the more common illnesses and diseases resulting from UK workplaces include:
- Respiratory and lung diseases
- Occupational cancers – including mesothelioma from asbestos exposure
- Noise-induced hearing damage
- Musculoskeletal issues
- Industrial dermatitis
- Limb and joint injuries resulting from vibrations (power tool use)
Speak to our team if you feel you may have an occupational illness that you can claim for.
What do I need to make my accident at work claim successful?
For a claim to be successful, you must be able to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the accident at work that caused your injury was not your fault but rather that of your employer.
There are a number of evidence sources we’ll look to use to build a successful claim:
- The accident being officially recorded in the company log
- A detailed record of medical treatment following the accident
- An assessment from an independent medical expert
- Photographs and witness statements
- A record of your financial damages resulting from the incident
Our team of accident at work solicitors will be able to walk you through the process of gathering this evidence and, in most instances, take care of the leg work for you.
What is contributory negligence and can I still make a claim if I’m partially liable?
Contributory negligence is the legal term used to define an instance of personal injury where the injured party is also partially to blame as well as the employer.
Even if you are partly responsible for your accident at work, you can still make a claim under contributory negligence. Speak to our team to find out how this could work in relation to your case.
How much accident at work compensation will I receive?
The accident at work compensation amount you will receive will depend on a number of factors, including the type and seriousness of injury you have received, as well as the circumstances surrounding the incident. Other factors to bear in mind include medical expenses and future loss of earnings, all of which typically combine to make each accident at work claim unique in its nature and potential value.
You can take a look at our successful case studies below to read about some of our high value accident at work compensation examples and get an idea of how much your claim could be worth. Similarly, our team can offer some guidance around this matter once we’ve got a detailed understanding of your case.
Can I make an accident at work claim if I’m self-employed or on a zero-hour contract?
In both instances, the answer is yes. Self-employed workers hired out by third-party contractors have the same health and safety rights as any other worker. Similarly, zero-hour contract workers enjoy the same protections, so if an accident at work was your employer’s fault, you have the same employment law protections behind you to make a claim