What Should I Do If I’ve Had an Accident at Work?

This guide aims to explore the question ‘I had an accident at work, what should I do?’. There are several steps you could take after a workplace accident, including making a work injury claim. In order to do so, you must prove that your employer breached the duty of care they owed you and caused you physical or psychological harm as a result.

I had an accident at work, what should I do?

I had an accident at work, what should I do?

This guide will explore the duty of care your employer owes you in more detail. Additionally, we will explore examples of an accident at work that could cause you harm.

Furthermore, we will look at the compensation you could receive and how it may be calculated.

We understand you may have other questions such as ‘how long after an accident at work can I claim?’. This guide will look to answer these questions as well as provide information on the services the solicitors from our panel could provide.

For more information on your potential injury at work claim, you can get in touch with our team of helpful advisors by:

Choose A Section

  1.     Can I Claim For an Accident at Work?
  2.     I’ve Had an Accident at Work, What Should I Do?
  3.     What is the Accident at Work Claim Time Limit?
  4.     What Payout Could I Receive from Successful Injury at Work Claims?
  5.     Could No Win No Fee Solicitors Help You?
  6.     I’ve Had an Accident at Work, What Should I Do? – Further Resources

Can I Claim For an Accident at Work?

Employers must do everything reasonably possible to ensure the safety of their employees. This is known as a duty of care and is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As part of their duty of care, they must take all reasonable steps to remove or reduce the risk of harm that any known hazards pose in the workplace.

If this is not done, and you sustain an injury at work, this would be classed as negligence which involves your employer breaching the duty of care they owe you. Furthermore, you could be eligible to make an injury at work claim.

Injury at work claims can stem from various scenarios. We have compiled a list of examples below.

  • Your employer fails to provide you with adequate manual handling training. As a result, you lift heavy objects incorrectly and sustain a shoulder injury. 
  • You may slip on a spill that hasn’t been properly signposted with a wet floor or other sign. As a result, you slip, trip or fall and sustain a back injury. 
  • You’re working with hazardous materials but your employer fails to provide necessary personal protective equipment, such as gloves. As a result, you develop occupational dermatitis.

If you are wondering ‘I had an accident at work, what should I do?’, please get in touch with our team. They can assess whether you’re entitled to claim accident at work compensation.

I’ve Had an Accident at Work, What Should I Do?

The first step you should take after sustaining harm in an accident, is to seek medical advice. Not only would this provide you with the necessary medical care that you may need, but it also generates medical records that can be used to support your claim. 

Additionally, there are other steps you can take if you’re looking to make a successful work injury claim,. In order to put forward an accident at work claim, you have to prove your employer’s negligence caused you harm. To prove negligence, you could gather evidence such as: 

  • A copy of your accident report in the workplace accident book.
  • Witness contact details which your work accident solicitor can use to obtain witness statements at a later date.
  • CCTV footage.
  • Photographs of your injuries or the accident scene.

Another step you can take is seeking legal advice. One of our advisors can provide free legal advice and assess the validity of your claim. They can also provide information on the services our panel of solicitors could offer.

If you are still wondering, “I had an accident at work, what should I do?” get in touch with a member of our team. 

What is the Accident at Work Claim Time Limit?

It must be noted that there is an injury at work claim time limit set out in the Limitation Act 1980. Typically, you have 3 years from the date of the accident. The three years could also begin on the date you connected your injuries with negligence.

However, there are certain exceptions. For example, if the injured person is under the age of 18, the time limit is frozen. While it’s frozen, an application can be submitted to the courts to act as a litigation friend. If no claim has been made on their behalf by the time they turn 18, they will have three years from the date of their 18th birthday.

Additionally, the time limit is suspended for those who lack the mental capacity to claim. Similarly, an application can be made to act as a litigation friend on their behalf while the time limit is suspended. If the person’s mental capacity is regained, they will have three years to claim from the date of their recovery.

If you have any questions about the time limitation surrounding making a claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

What Payout Could I Receive from Successful Injury at Work Claims?

If you win your case and receive compensation for an injury at work, it might be made up of two heads of claim. These are called general damages and special damages, and both look to compensate you for the different ways in which your injury impacts your life.

General damages compensate you for any physical or mental suffering caused as a result of your injuries. The impact on your quality of life is taken into consideration as well.

When valuing general damages, a solicitor can use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to help them. The JCG contains compensation brackets relating to different injuries.

We have drafted a table including these figures below. However, with each personal injury claim being unique, these figures should only be used as guidance as they are not guaranteed. 

InjuryCompensation Bracket Details
Leg Injuries (a) (i)£240,790 to £282,010Amputation of both legs.
Severe Back Injuries (a) (i)£91,090 to £160,980Includes damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots resulting in severe consequences untypical in ordinary back injuries.
Severe Arm Injuries (a)£96,160 to £130,930An injury that falls short of amputation but is still extremely serious, such as a serious brachial plexus injury.
Foot Injuries (b)£83,960 to £109,650One foot is amputated.
Severe Neck Injuries (a) (ii)£65,740 to
£130,930		A serious fracture or disc damage that lead to disabilities.
Toe Injuries (a)£36,520 to £56,080Where all toes have been amputated.
Wrist Injuries (a)£47,620 to £59,860An injury that causes complete loss of functionality in the wrist.
Severe Shoulder Injuries (a)£19,200 to £48,030Involves damage to the brachial plexus leading to significant disabilities.
Moderate Knee Injuries (b) (i)£14,840 to £26,190Injuries such as a dislocated knee or torn cartilage causing several issues including a mild future disability.
Hand Injuries (i)£12,170 to £18,740Where the index finger has either been completely or partially lost.

After a Work Injury, What Other Losses Could I Claim For?

As previously stated, special damages may also be included in your settlement. This head covers any financial losses incurred as a result of your injuries. Costs could include:

  • Medical expenses 
  • Travel costs 
  • Home adaptations 
  • Loss or earnings 

It is important to keep a record of your losses to be compensated for them. This can include receipts, invoices and payslips, for example. 

Please feel free to speak to a member of our team regarding your compensation and to get an answer to the question ‘I had an accident at work, what should I do?’. 

Could No Win No Fee Solicitors Help You?

A No Win No Fee arrangement can be beneficial if you’re considering hiring legal representation to represent your claim. One of the various types of No Win No Fee arrangements is called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). 

Being represented on this basis means that you generally don’t have to pay your solicitor for the services they provide if your claim fails.

If your case is won, you will have to pay a success fee. This is legally capped and will be deducted from your compensation. 

Find out whether you are eligible to be represented by an accident at work solicitor from our panel on this basis by getting in touch with our advisors. 

Get a Free Consultation Today to See If You Can Claim

If you’re still wondering ‘I had an accident at work, what should I do?’, contact our team of advisors. To get in touch: 

I’ve Had an Accident at Work, What Should I Do? – Further Resources

Here we have provided some additional guides that you might find useful:

We have also included some of our own guides that could help: 

We hope this guide has provided an answer to the question ‘I had an accident at work, what should I do?’. However, if you need any other information, get in touch on the number above.

Writer Beck Pill

Editor Meg Matthews