This guide will explore the claims process for accidents at work and compensation examples that could be awarded.
If you have been injured in a workplace accident, you may be wondering whether you could seek compensation. This guide will look at when you could be eligible to do so and the process involved.
Additionally, we will look at the duty of care your employer owes you and how an accident at work could occur if this duty is breached.
Furthermore, we will discuss the steps you could take following an accident that caused you harm, such as gathering evidence and seeking legal advice.
The benefits of opting for a solicitor from our panel are also highlighted within the guide.
To learn more about making a work injury claim, please continue reading. Alternatively, you can get in touch with our team of advisors. To reach them, you can:
- Call on the number at the top of the page
- Fill out our online contact form
- Chat with us using the live chat feature below.
A guide to accidents at work compensation examples
What Is An Accident At Work?
Employers owe their employees a duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure that the work facilities, equipment and environment are safe. This is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The specific responsibilities each employer has will differ depending on the industry they work in. However, some general steps they can take as part of their duty of care include:
- Carrying out risk assessments and addressing any hazards they become aware of
- Providing adequate training to employees
- Providing necessary personal protective equipment to employees
A failure to uphold the duty of care they owe could result in an accident occurring in the workplace. Examples of accidents at work could include:
- Slips trips and falls: An employee may slip on a wet floor in a factory that wasn’t properly signposted. As a result, they may sustain an elbow injury in a factory accident.
- Defective equipment: An employee may fall off a faulty ladder whilst working on a construction site. As a result, they may sustain a severe head injury in a construction accident.
- Inadequate training: An employee may sustain multiple injuries in a forklift accident because they weren’t provided with adequate training to operate the machinery.
It’s important to note that not all workplace accidents will form the basis of a valid claim. In order to seek compensation, you must be able to demonstrate employer negligence. This involves your employer breaching the duty of care they owe you and causing you to experience harm due to the breach.
Call us to learn about claims for accidents at work. Compensation examples can be discussed with an advisor.
Accidents At Work Compensation Examples – What Could You Receive?
After a successful accident at work claim, you could receive a settlement that consists of two heads.
The first head of claim, general damages, compensate you for the pain and suffering you have experienced due to your injury. This includes both physical and psychological injuries. Also, consideration is given to the impact your injuries have had on your quality of life as well as the severity of your injuries.
When calculating compensation for a workplace accident claim solicitors can refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to assist them. They can use this document, which contains compensation brackets, to help them value your injuries.
We have included these figures in the table below. However, you should only use them as a guide because the settlement you receive can differ from what’s listed in the table. This is because all personal injury claims are unique.
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | (a) Very severe: The award given will be influenced by several factors, such as life expectancy, the extent of psychical limitations and impairment of senses. | £282,010 to £403,990 |
| Injuries Affecting Senses | (c) (i) Sight is lost in one eye and vision is reduced in the remaining eye with serious risk of further deterioration. | £95,990 to £179,770 |
| Deafness/ Tinnitus | (b) Complete deafness. | £90,750 to £109,650 |
| Chest Injuries | (e) Cases of toxic fumes or smoke being inhaled causing some residual damage. However, the damage isn't serious enough to permanently interfere with lung function. | £5,320 to £12,590 |
| Shoulder Injuries | (b) Serious: The shoulder is dislocated and there is damage to the lower brachial plexus. This causes pain in the shoulder and neck as well as other symptoms. | £12,770 to £19,200 |
| Arm Amputations | (a) Both arms are lost. | £240,790 to £300,000 |
| Elbow Injuries | (b) Injuries are less severe and don't involve major surgery or result in a significant disability but they do cause some function impairment. | £15,650 to £32,010 |
| Ankle Injuries | (c) Moderate: Less serious disabilities are caused by injuries such as fractures and tears to the ligaments. | £13,740 to £26,590 |
| Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders | (a) Upper limb disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome which cause an ongoing bilateral disability with the need for surgery and a loss of employment. | £21,910 to £23,130 |
| Dermatitis And Other Skin Conditions | (a) Both hands are affected by cracking and soreness. There is an impact on employment and domestic capability with a psychological impact. | £13,740 to £19,200 |
If You’ve Suffered A Work Injury, What Else Could You Claim For?
Your settlement could also consist of special damages. This head of claim compensates for financial losses you have incurred as a result of your injuries. Financial losses you could claim back can include:
- Loss of earnings – If your injury has left you unable to work, you could include loss of earnings in your claim. If your injury prevents you from earning in the future, those future loss of earnings could also be included in your claim.
- Medical costs – This could include the cost of prescriptions you have had to pay for.
- Transportation costs – If you incurred transportation costs because your injury prevented you from driving yourself, you could claim the costs back.
You will need to provide evidence to prove any losses. This can include payslips to demonstrate loss of earnings or receipts to demonstrate medical or travel expenses.
For more information on claims for accidents at work or compensation examples, please get in touch using the number above.
How Long After An Accident At Work Can You Claim?
Generally, the time limit for starting an accident at work claim is three years as per the Limitation Act 1980. This can begin from:
- The date the accident took place
- The date you associated the injuries you sustained with negligence.
However, there are some exceptions. For example:
- If the person is under the age of 18, an application can be made to the courts to become a litigation friend. This can be done until the person turns 18. After this point, if no claim has been made on their behalf, they can start their own claim within three years from the date of their 18th birthday.
- If the person lacks the mental capacity to claim, the time limit is suspended indefinitely. Whilst the time limit is frozen, a litigation friend can make the claim on their behalf. Alternatively, the three year time limit will begin from the date of recovery.
To learn more about the accident at work time limit, please get in touch with our team on the number above.
What Evidence Do I Need To Claim For An Accident At Work?
There are several steps you can take following an accident at work. For example, you could gather evidence to support your claim, such as:
- Photographs of your injuries
- Photographs of the accident scene, such as the hazard that caused the accident
- CCTV footage
- Contact details of any witnesses
- Medical records, such as hospital reports and doctor reports
- A copy of the report in the accident at work book
Additionally, you may find it beneficial to seek legal advice. The advisors from our team can offer free legal advice regarding your potential claim. Also, if they find it has a chance of success, they might connect you with a solicitor from our panel.
Our panel of solicitors could help you gather the evidence required to support your case. They can also provide further guidance on the process of claiming for accidents at work and compensation examples.
You can call us on the number at the top of the page for more information.
How Can No Win No Fee Solicitors Help You?
You may find it beneficial working with a No Win No Fee solicitor who offers their services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
This typically means there is no requirement to pay for their services upfront, while the claim is ongoing or if the claim doesn’t succeed. If the claim is a success, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation. This is deducted as a legally capped percentage.
The solicitors from our panel could represent your claim on this basis. To find out more, get in touch using the number above.
Contact Us For A Free Consultation To See If You Can Claim
If you require any further information after reading this guide, you can get in touch with our team. An advisor can discuss accidents at work and compensation examples with you in more detail. To get in touch, you can:
- Call on the number at the top of the page
- Fill out our online contact form
- Chat with us using the live chat feature below.
Learn More About Compensation Examples For Accidents At Work
Resources to help you learn more about workplace accidents:
- Health and Safety Executive – Worker Responsibilities
- NHS – First Aid
- GOV – Compensation After An Accident At Work
We hope this guide discussing claims for accidents at work and compensation examples has helped. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the number at the top of the page.
Writer Mary Minchin
Editor Meg Martin
