Accidents at work compensation claims

What are the most common causes of accidents at work?

Accidents at work can occur for any number of reasons. Some of the most common we hear about include:

• Dangerous working practices
• Poor or non-existent personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Missing and weak risk assessments
• Preventable spillages
• Unsatisfactory or poorly enforced safety procedures
• Badly maintained equipment

Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show there were 60,645 non-fatal injuries reported by employers through RIDDOR in 2022/23. The most common non-fatal injuries and accidents at work involved:

• Slips, trips or falls on the same level (32%): The most common cause of injury, resulting in bruising, strains, sprains, fractures and breaks.
• Handling, lifting or carrying items (17%): Causing soft tissue, spinal strains and bone breaks.
• Being struck by a falling or moving object (11%): Often a problem in warehouse-style environments where stock or materials are stored at height.
• Falling from a height (8%): Usually from a ladder, roof, scaffolding or other exterior work.
• Workplace violence (8%): Threats and assaults causing cuts, scratches and bruising.

RIDDOR figures reported by HSE for 2023/24 show that 138 workers suffered fatal injuries following accidents at work. Half were caused by falls from a height and the construction industry suffered the most fatalities by far (51).

If you think you have grounds for an accident at work claim, we're here to help. Our work accident lawyers are experts in the field and experienced in handling claims for injury compensation.

What types of injury at work can I claim for?

We have over years_since years of experience helping people make things right after an accident at work. During that time, we've learnt that there's no such thing as an ordinary workplace injury.

We may be able to help you claim work injury compensation if you've suffered any of the following from an accident at work:

• Head & brain injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Upper and lower body injuries
• Foot and toe injuries
• Ligament and tendon injuries
• Fractures and broken bones
• Crush injuries
• Repetitive strain injuries
• Hearing loss
• Sight loss
• Amputation
• Burns and scalds
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Life-changing injuries

All employers have a ‘duty of care‘ towards their employees - they're required by law to protect you.

Your employer must take steps to make sure your working environment is safe for you and your colleagues to work in.

If an employer doesn't follow the general health and safety regulations, such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, then they've put you at risk and can be held responsible for your injury at work.

What if I work in a high-risk industry?

There's a school of thought that every accident in the workplace is preventable. In a perfect world, perhaps. But the risks are much greater in certain work environments. For instance, construction, agriculture, energy and steel production workplaces are fundamentally high-risk environments.

Most accidents at work can still be prevented. Usually through better, more thorough training and HSE-compliant safety measures implemented by employers. Extra care must be taken in high-risk workplaces.

Your employer may have failed you and contributed to your injury at work by:

• Inadequately maintaining equipment and machinery
• Assembling support structures incorrectly, such as scaffolding or warehouse racking
• Poorly maintaining forklift trucks or letting other employees use them dangerously
• Failing to clear liquid spillages that caused a slip, trip or fall
• Having below-standard ventilation or air conditioning (HVAC)
• Failing to store chemicals and hazardous materials properly
• Exposing you to toxic chemicals or biological materials

What should happen after an accident at work?

There are several things you should do after an accident at work. Firstly, and most importantly, make sure you seek immediate medical attention if necessary.

Next, you must report what happened:

• Ensure you or a colleague reports the accident to your manager.
• Make sure that your employer makes a record in the company accident book.
• Get witness statements from colleagues, if you can. Ask a close peer or your union rep to do so if you're incapacitated or off work.
• Your employer must report certain accidents and injuries to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).

If you've been seriously injured at work and are hospitalised, a manager should arrange these things for you.

• Should you need time off work to recover, you should be entitled to statutory sick pay.
• Serious injuries with long-term or permanent effects mean you may be eligible for industrial injuries disablement benefit.
• Make sure you're clear about your employment rights after your accident at work.

The HSE investigates all reported cases of serious injury at work and occupational disease.

Do I have grounds for a work injury compensation claim?

Many workplaces have the potential to cause serious and long-lasting injuries when they're not maintained or managed properly. This is particularly true if people are poorly trained or lack the right personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job.

For instance, an estimated 300,000 people every year in the UK suffer from back pain due to work-related manual handling accidents, according to Unison.

You may not think you've suffered a serious injury at work, but you'd be surprised by how many people get in touch with us without realising the severity of what's happened to them.

If you're unsure about your workplace injury, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I still receiving medical treatment for an illness or injury or picked up at work?
• Have I been making repeat hospital visits to treat the same condition?
• Have I taken time off work to recover from an injury or illness from work?
• Have my injuries or condition stopped me from returning to work in the same role or doing the same hours?

If you answer yes to any, get in touch. You may have a workplace injury worth investigating and potentially claiming for.

Work injury compensation can help pay for your recovery and any changes you have to make to your life - either historically, now or in the future. In some cases, an accident at work solicitor may be able to arrange an interim payment. This is a portion of your compensation that takes care of your immediate needs before the final settlement comes through.

If you're in any doubt, it's always worth speaking to one of our friendly helpline advisors. They're available seven days a week. When you're ready, call us on .

How long does it take to make an injury at work claim?

Finding out if you have a potential accident at work claim is simple. Our advisors will typically be able to tell whether you have a claim in the space of one telephone call. How long a claim takes to process depends on various factors, including:

• The nature and severity of your injuries
• If the other party admits liability or not
• If any delays occur (such as waiting for police reports, medical records or court dates)

No two cases are the same. The work accident lawyer we connect you with will be able to give you a more accurate estimate when they've reviewed all the details.

Can I claim for occupational illness or disease?

Yes, you can. Thousands of people every year are affected by work-related illnesses or contract diseases during employment. Sometimes the working environment can aggravate the symptoms of a pre-existing condition.

The law requires employers to provide satisfactory protection and safe work processes for their people. Their employees can be entitled to work injury compensation if this isn't provided. Good health and safety practices must be in place to minimise the risk of occupational illness.

These are some of the common medical conditions contracted in UK workplaces.

• Noise-induced hearing loss: Partial or full deafness caused by sudden or persistent exposure to loud or highly penetrative sounds.
• Vibration injuries: Limbs and joints damaged by heavy use of vibrating power tools or equipment.
• Respiratory and lung disease: Exposure to harmful substances like fumes, dust, silica or asbestos.
• Industrial dermatitis: Inflammation, irritation and hypersensitivity of the skin from over-exposure to dust, chemicals and adhesives - or even water.
• Occupational cancer: Usually lung cancer - mesothelioma - caused by exposure to asbestos.
• Musculoskeletal disorders: Muscle, tendon and nerve conditions caused by things like repetition, constrained body position or cumulative trauma.

If you believe you've fallen ill because of a duty of care failure, you may be able to make an accident at work claim against your employer. The three-year time limit for making a claim begins when you first notice the symptoms or the condition is diagnosed.

What happens during an accident at work claim?

If you think you may have grounds for a work injury compensation claim, first seek expert advice. Talk to us for free and in confidence. Tell us your story, your way and at your pace. We'll let you know if we think you may be eligible to make an injury at work claim.

If we think you are and you decide you'd like to go ahead, we'll pair you with an expert accident at work solicitor from our nationwide panel. We can usually do this on the same call to get things moving for you.

We also understand that you may have natural reservations about claiming against your employer. That's why we'll never pressure you or leave you feeling rushed into a decision.

Should you proceed, there are several things you can do to support your claim.

• Gather photographic evidence: It may not always be possible but clear pictures of the accident area are helpful.
• Gather any witness statements: These will also help your solicitor build your claim.
• Record your injury details and symptoms: A regular injury diary will support the medical evidence and show the pace of your recovery.
• Record any financial losses: This comprises all the financial expenditures you've made personally as a direct result of your injury.
• Ask a colleague to help: A trusted co-worker or your trade union rep can help you sort things out.

Once your legal team has all the evidence to hand, they'll submit the claims notification form to your employer's insurance company. They'll also arrange a medical assessment where an independent specialist will examine your injuries. The report they submit will form a key part of your evidence.

If your employer accepts liability for your workplace injury, your accident at work solicitor or legal team can start to negotiate a settlement figure with their insurers. This process usually begins once they have the completed proof of your injury and out-of-pocket expenses.

• If a figure cannot be agreed or your employer denies liability, they may begin court proceedings.
• The negotiations will continue and an agreement may still be reached before it goes to court.
• Injury at work claimsrarely get to the stage where a court hearing before a judge is needed.

Workplace accidents are sometimes serious enough to warrant automatic investigation by HSE. Investigations can take time, but you don't need to wait for the outcome before starting a work injury compensation claim.

What do I need to prove I was injured at work?

You need to prove that your employer was negligent and/or in breach of a legal duty and that this caused the accident in which you were injured. Your legal team may base your accident at work claim on the following evidence:

• The official accident report recorded in the company accident book
• A record of medical treatment received afterwards
• An independent medical assessment of your injuries
• Photographs of the location and accident hazard
• Witness statements
• A record of any/all financial losses

What is contributory negligence in an accident at work claim?

Even if you were partially responsible for being injured at work, you can still claim contributory negligence. This is also referred to as split liability.

Split liability is where both sides agree on a share of the blame. This could be any ratio such as 50:50, 40:60 or 25:75.

For example, in a claim worth £10,000, where the claimant is judged 25% responsible and the employer 75% responsible (25:75), the gross compensation payment for the claimant would be £7,500. This would be before deduction of the relevant legal success fees.

Can I claim for an accident at work if it was my fault?

In short, no. To make a no win no fee accident at work claim, there has to be another person or organisation at fault. If the accident happened because it was solely your fault, you won't have a case.

For example, if you were hurt after losing control of a forklift truck because you ignored the operating instructions, you wouldn't have any grounds for a claim. 

I had an accident at work. What are my rights?

All employers have a clear legal responsibility to make sure you and your colleagues are safe in the workplace. This includes providing a well-maintained working environment, sound training and satisfactory safety gear for the job.

Any employers who don't observe general health and safety regulations, like the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, are putting you directly at risk.

Their responsibilities also include following the regulations that may be specific to what you do. These include The Work at Height Regulations 2005 or the ‘Six-Pack' Regulations 1992 for factory-based jobs.

This responsibility is called a 'duty of care'. If your employer has failed in theirs and you've been injured or become ill as a result, you're entitled to seek full work injury compensation.

Can I be dismissed after an accident at work?

By law, an injury at work claim cannot compromise the employer-employee relationship.

• If your employer attempts to sack you for making or considering a compensation claim, you may have a case for unfair dismissal.
• Equally, if they make your life at work so unbearable you end up quitting, you may have a case for constructive dismissal.

We understand that you may worry about making a workplace injury claim against your employer and seeking work injury compensation. It's a valid concern, but we're here to help you make it right.

We're a trusted national helpline with over years_since years' experience helping people win the compensation they deserve. We'll give you the free, impartial and confidential advice you need to explore an injury at work claim.

If you do decide to pursue a claim, we'll guide you through those initial first steps. We'll then introduce you to one of our partner accident at work solicitors. Call us on to find out more.

Can I switch work injury compensation lawyers if I'm not happy with the service I'm receiving?

You deserve the very best service possible from your legal team. So, if you feel like you're not getting top-tier service and have reasonable grounds to make a switch, you can.

If you're thinking of changing solicitor, our advice would always be to talk to your current work injury lawyer first to see if you can come to a resolution. If you can't find a resolution, then think about speaking to another law firm for a second opinion.

How much work injury compensation could I claim?

It's only natural to want to know how much your accident at work claim could be worth. Unfortunately, your work injury lawyer won't be able to tell you exactly how much you might be entitled to until they've started negotiating on your behalf.

In the meantime, you can find estimated payouts for all types of personal injury from the Judicial College Guidelines.

The amount of work injury compensation you could be awarded depends on your injuries or illness, the severity, and the effect on your life. When you make an injury at work claim with us, your solicitor will consider the full impact of what you've suffered. It's important to us that you're properly compensated.

It's not just about your pain and physical suffering. There are several other compensation areas your solicitor will consider, including:

• Any time off work and lost earnings
• Any future loss of income
• Any changes to your ability to work
• Psychological trauma
• Care or support you have needed, even if given free by family and friends
• Any changes you might need to your home or car
• Paid medical treatments, travel costs for treatment and accommodation costs

You won't have an estimate of your potential compensation payout until your claim solicitor or legal team has started negotiating with your employer's insurers. However, you can get an idea of how much you could be entitled to with our accident at work compensation calculator.

How do I pay for an accident at work or illness claim?

We offer no win no fee (conditional fee) agreements between you and the work injury lawyer we select for you. If they win your claim, you pay them from your compensation for any costs and expenses not covered by the other side. This may include a success fee and any other costs such as any  .

• This figure can vary slightly either way depending on the claim circumstances.
• It will only be deducted when your compensation is paid.
• There are no upfront costs and no hidden charges.

Your work accident lawyer may need to arrange insurance for you to minimise the financial risk of claiming. You may already have existing legal protection cover with home or motor insurance or as a credit card benefit. If you do, your legal team will check to see if it offers appropriate cover for a no win no fee claim.

• If no-upfront-cost insurance is taken out for you, it will pay for itself if the claim fails. If your claim is successful, it's payable from the compensation.

With our no win no fee arrangements, you pay nothing if your claim fails. It's as simple as that.

You'll find detailed information about funding your claim on our no win no fee page.

Can I make an accident at work claim through my union?

Yes, you may be able to. If you're a member of a trade union, membership benefits usually include legal protection insurance. Your legal team will check this for you before starting work on your injury at work claim.

Who pays compensation for an accident at work?

It's simple. Employers' liability insurance covers the damages in a successful work injury compensation claim. This means one of our partner solicitors negotiates on your behalf with the employer's insurance company, not personally with the employer.

Be wary about accepting an early offer from the other side's insurance company. Early offers are usually lower than what the claim might be worth, so make sure you take good advice from your accident at work solicitor or legal team.

Will my work injury compensation be taxed?

You'll never pay tax on the compensation you receive for an accident at work, no matter the circumstances.

You also won't be taxed on any interest earned on your accident at work compensation between the opening and settling of the claim.

If you'd like to know more, have a look at our detailed advice on compensation and tax.

Can I claim for an accident at work if I'm on a zero-hour contract?

If your employer was entirely or partially at fault for the accident at work then yes, you can. The employment law protections are the same. If the accident was solely your fault, you won't be able to make a claim.

Can I claim for an accident at work if I'm a self-employed contractor?

Yes, you can. Self-employed contractors hired by a third-party business are subject to the same health and safety protections as employees. Many sectors employ contractors. It's a common practice in areas like construction, financial services, retail, healthcare and information technology.

When does the HSE investigate accidents at work or occupational illnesses?

The HSE aims to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and ill-health. It does this by providing advice, licensing business activities, carrying out inspections, investigating incidents and enforcing legislation.

Employers are bound by law to report all workplace injuries and illnesses to the HSE under RIDDOR. Organisations can face heavy fines for not doing so. The HSE doesn't investigate all reports, just the ones it defines as serious. These include:

• Fatalities: Including accidents and all other deaths resulting from a preventable work-related cause.
• Serious injury: Including multiple fractures, blinding, crush injuries, head trauma, burns and amputation.
• Occupational diseases: Including carpal tunnel syndrome, hand-arm vibration, tendonitis, dermatitis, asthma, cancer and toxic agent exposure.
• Any incident that indicates a potentially serious breach of health and safety law.

Remember, if the HSE is investigating your accident, you don't have to wait for it to conclude before making a workplace injury claim.

What are the time limits for making an accident at work claim?

You typically have three years from the date of the accident or diagnosis of a resulting medical condition to make an injury at work claim.

There are certain things a work accident lawyer must do to get a compensation claim moving before this deadline. If you're approaching three years since the injury or illness diagnosis, call us on as soon as you can.

There are a few exceptions to the three-year limit:

• Mental capacity: There are no time limits for claims made on behalf of someone who can't manage their own case due to a lack of mental capacity. This has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and requires medical evidence. If they regain mental capacity, the three-year limit starts from that point and won't stop again.
• Fatal claims: If you're claiming on behalf of a loved one, you have three years from the date of their passing, or from the date it was discovered an accident or illness was the cause.
• Overseas work accidents: The time limit may be different depending on the country and circumstances.

When can I return to work after an accident?

When you go back to work depends on your recovery. If you're well enough and feel able to return, discuss the return to work process with your employer.

This can be awkward and even daunting if an injury at work claim against your employer is ongoing, but it's important to know that the law is on your side. Your employer can't treat you differently when you return to work and they can't dismiss you because of your claim against them. If they did, you would have a further case against them for unfair dismissal.

Why could my accident at work compensation claim be denied?

Your injury at work claim may be unsuccessful for several reasons. The most common include: 

• Lack of sufficient evidence: If there is not enough evidence to prove what happened to you or the statements aren't quite right, you could miss out on work injury compensation.
• Missing the deadline: The cut-off for making most accident at work claims is three years after the injury or diagnosis of work-related conditions. There are exceptions, but, if these don't apply, you'll need to begin the claims process within this period.

What happens if my employer denies liability?

If your employer denies liability for your injury, they don't believe they're responsible. They may submit a 'without prejudice offer', meaning they want to settle without accepting fault. If you don't accept this, the case may need to go to court to determine liability.

Why choose National Accident Helpline for your accident at work claim?

The damage may have already been done if you were injured at work, but we're here to help make things right. Work injury compensation could cover your losses while you were off or help you make a full recovery if there's still some way to go.

Here's why you can trust us:

• We're regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which monitors the standards of solicitors in England and Wales.
• Any solicitor we connect you with is registered with The Law Society in England and Wales or the Law Society of Scotland.
• We're proud of our 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot and every one of the thousands of positive reviews left by our customers.