Can I Make A Compensation Claim After Suffering An Injury At Work?

If you suffer an injury at work, you may wonder if you’re eligible to claim compensation. While you’re at work, you’re owed a duty of care by your employer. If this duty is breached and you’re injured as a result, you could be entitled to make a claim.

In this guide, you can find out what the requirements are for pursuing compensation, how to make a claim, and how much you could be entitled to. We will also look at the evidence you could provide.

Get in touch with one of our advisors now for free advice by:

Clicking on the banner above
Email us through our online form
Use the live chat feature below

Choose A Section

How To Make A Claim For An Injury At Work
What Could Lead To Me Getting Hurt At Work?
What To Do If An Employer Breaches Their Duty Of Care
How Much Compensation For An Injury At Work?
Can I Appoint A No Win No Fee Lawyer For My Claim?
Where Can I Learn More About Compensation Claims For An Injury At Work?

How To Make A Claim For An Injury At Work

The time limit for injury at work claims is three years, starting on the date of knowledge of your injury. As such, it’s important to make sure your injury falls within this time frame if you want to claim compensation.

When you make a claim for compensation, it’s important that the claim is started within the appropriate timescale. This is generally within 3 years of the date of the accident or the date of knowledge. However, exceptions can sometimes apply; speak with an advisor for more information.

After you’ve established that you’re within the time limit for making a claim, you can move on to building your case. You are not obligated to appoint a legal representative to handle your claim, but a No Win No Fee Solicitor could help the process of claiming run more smoothly.

You will also need to determine that your employer was at fault for the accident that led to you being injured. Your employer has a duty of care to you as their employee, according to the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This means they must comply with current health and safety legislation to provide a reasonably safe working experience. They may be found responsible if they are in breach of this duty and you’re injured as a result.

In some cases, you might be able to claim if you were partly at fault for an accident in which you were injured. This is referred to as a “split liability” claim. Your compensation will be reduced according to the part you had to play in your accident.

For more free advice, get in touch with our team using the banner at the top of our page or our online form.

Statistics About Frequent Workplace Injuries

In 2020/2021, the Labour Force Survey reported 441,000 non-fatal injuries from workers. Of that number, 102,000 reported absences from work for 7 days or more.

Of all the injuries reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), 33% were slips, trips and falls in this same time period.

Not every injury in the workplace will justify a claim for compensation. Click the banner above and get in touch for free advice from one of the members of our team.

What Could Lead To Me Getting Hurt At Work?

There are a number of different ways you could be injured at work. They include:

Equipment or machinery accidents: You could be injured if you were given faulty machinery to work with. Alternatively, you might be injured by machinery if it’s being operated by someone without the correct training.

Faulty PPE: It’s your employer’s responsibility to provide you with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in adequate working condition. For instance, if your employer knowingly provides you with faulty boots that later result in a foot injury, they may be found at fault.

Slip, trip and falls: Trip hazards such as boxes, waste paper bins and other clutter must be kept out of walkways and populated areas. Similarly, spillages should be cleaned up as soon as practicable or marked with the correct signage.

If you’ve suffered an injury at work, get in touch with us now. Our advisors can offer free advice; just click the banner at the top of this page or speak with us via our contact form.

What To Do If An Employer Breaches Their Duty Of Care

If you’ve suffered an injury at work because of your employer’s negligence, you might then wonder what to do next. Here are some tips on what to do if you’ve suffered an injury due to negligence:

Seek medical attention immediately: This is important for your own safety following an accident, but it may also be important for your claim. If a medical professional makes notes or writes a report, this could be used as evidence.

Log the injury in the accident book: By law, all workplaces with 10+ employees must have an accident book. You can record the accident in the book, or you can have a colleague do this for you if you’re not able to do this.
Request CCTV footage: If your workplace is fitted with CCTV, you can request a copy of the footage related to your accident. Again, this can be used as evidence during your claim.

Contact our advisors now for more information on what to do if you’ve been injured in the workplace. You can do so using the banner or by filling out our online form.

How Much Compensation For An Injury At Work?

When you make a claim for compensation following an injury at work, you could receive two kinds of damages. The first of these is called general damages. This covers the pain and suffering caused by your injury.

Because all claims are different, the amount of compensation you could receive will differ depending on your circumstances. For example, a simple broken bone may attract less compensation than severe brain damage.

Your compensation is worked out by comparing your individual case with a document called the Judicial College Guidelines. This is based on compensation that is awarded in past claims. You may also be invited to an independent medical assessment, the results of which will be used to value your claim.

Injury Type	Compensation Bracket	Notes
Minor Brain or Head Injury	£2,070 to £11,980	If there is any brain damage at all, it will be minimal.
Minor Neck Injuries (i)	£4,080 to £7,410	For example, wrenching-type injuries and disc lesions. Recovery will take place within 1 to 2 years.
Moderate Back Injuries (i)	£26,050 to £36,390	Compression/crush injuries, prolapsed discs and soft tissue injuries, for example.
Moderate Shoulder Injuries	£7,410 to £11,980	Frozen shoulder, soft tissue injuries that have more than minimal symptoms persisting after two years but not permanent.
Wrist Injuries	£44,690 to £56,180	Complete loss of function in the wrist.
Serious Hand Injuries	£27,220 to £58,100	Loss of function in the hand to at around 50%
Fracture of Index Finger	£8,550 to £11,480	Healed fractures where grip is still impaired.
Minor Hand, Finger and Thumb Injuries	Up to £4,461	Fractures within this bracket generally will have recovered within six months.
Moderate Hip Injury (i)	£24,950 to £36,770	Significant injury without severe or permanent disability.
Moderate Knee Injury (i)	£13,920 to £24,580	Dislocation, torn cartliedge and instability.

You may also be entitled to special damages. Special damages can cover the costs for expenses like travel and childcare that are incurred as a direct result of your injuries. They can also cover any special equipment or support you may need following your accident that you have to pay for.

You could also claim back any loss of earnings you experience if you have to stay off work because of your injuries. You should provide evidence of any financial losses, such as receipts, invoices and payslips.

Get in touch with our advisors now for more information. You can do so using the banner or by filling out our form online.

Can I Appoint A No Win No Fee Lawyer For My Claim?

It’s not mandatory to appoint legal representation for an injury at work claim, but it can make the process feel much easier. You might be able to fund the work of a solicitor with a No Win No Fee agreement.

A No Win No Fee agreement is a great way to fund legal representation without having to pay any upfront fees. If your claim is successful, your solicitor will take a legally-capped success fee from your compensation. However, if your claim fails, you won’t have to pay your solicitor anything.

If you would like to get in touch with a No Win No Fee Solicitor, contact our advisors by following the information at the bottom of the page. You can also get in touch using our online form.

Call Us Now To Begin Your Injury At Work Claim

If any of the information in this article is relevant to your situation, you may want more information on claiming for an injury at work. Contact one of our advisors now by:

Clicking on the banner at the top of the page
Emailing us through our online form
Use the live chat feature at the bottom of the page

Where Can I Learn More About Compensation Claims For An Injury At Work?

If you’d like more information on claiming for an injury at work, get in touch with us today. For more information on the topics covered in this article, try these resources:

GOV.UK – More information on requesting CCTV footage

NHS – When to call 999

Eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

You can also check out other guides we have, such as the following:

Injury At Work Claims