What are hydraulic and high-pressure injection injuries?
A hydraulic and high-pressure injection injury is where a jet of pressured fluid breaks your outer layer of skin. Due to the term ‘injection', it is understandable that you may anticipate a needle is involved. However, it is not. When fluid is highly pressured it can break the skin with no assistance needed.
Hydraulic and high-pressure injection injuries can also be referred to as:
- hydraulic oil injections injuries
- hydraulic fluid injuries
Hydraulic injection injuries are rare but very dangerous workplace injuries.
What are the symptoms of hydraulic injection injuries?
If you suffer a hydraulic injection injury, you may not always realise what has occurred. It can begin only as a sharp sting or pricking feeling. However, it then increases in pain, swells and becomes intensely painful. Typical symptoms of a hydraulic injection injury can include:
- swelling
- redness
- numbness
- throbbing
- an electric shock-like feeling
Why can high-pressure hydraulic injuries be so dangerous?
High-pressure hydraulic injuries can be incredibly dangerous. This is due to two main factors:
- The high pressure can severely injure you and even kill you in worst
- The fluid which is highly pressured can be a toxic fluid which then causes further problems
You may be surprised to hear that a high-pressure hydraulic injury can cause death but this is often due to not seeking treatment early on for the injury. When treatment is not sought soon enough or the injury is not recognised as a high-pressure hydraulic injury, your blood supply could be cut off by the highly pressured fluid. This can mean you could suffer permanent muscle and nerve damage.
Who is at risk of suffering hydraulic pressure injuries?
If you work with or near high-pressure fluid systems at work, you run the risk of suffering a hydraulic pressure injury. This means you could be at risk if you are a worker who uses:
- loaders
- forklifts
- telehandlers
- combine, beef or potato harvesters
- box fillers,
- trailers
You may be a:
- firewood processor
- bail handler
- post driver
- log splitter.
This risk increases if the hydraulic system goes wrong or completely breaks down. This is because the pressure in the system is no longer compromised. Those at risk are often at risk because either they are:
- investigating leaks
- opening the system to carry out a repair
The risk of a hydraulic injection injury is so high that 99% of those who work in some form with hydraulic systems have been in a situation which leads to high-pressure injuries. Thankfully there are many near misses meaning the high-pressure fluid simply missed their skin.
Frequently asked questions...
Your solicitor does the majority of the work throughout your claim, including contacting the responsible party and negotiating on your behalf. This leaves you with the time to focus on your recovery.
However, there are a couple of things you can do to help with your case. Your solicitor may need evidence of your accident, such as photographs or witness names. We realise that it can be difficult to gather this information, but having it before you start your claim could help to make the process simpler.
They will also invite you to take part in a free medical assessment. This is nothing to worry about and usually only takes around 20 minutes. The findings from your assessment will be used to support your compensation claim and can also help you to understand how your recovery is going.
Read more about our free medical assessments.
There are no upfront costs or unexpected fees when you start your claim with us. Our advice is free and your solicitor will work on a no win no fee basis, meaning that you won't pay a penny for your claim unless it is successful.
If your claim is successfully settled, you'll pay some legal costs to your solicitor from your compensation. These will be agreed between you and your solicitor before you start your claim, so there will be no surprises.
Read more about no win no fee.
What are the most common causes of high-pressure hydraulic oil injuries?
The most common causes of high-pressure hydraulic oil injuries are:
- grease guns
- paint sprayers
- pressure washers
- fuel injection systems
- pinhole lease is pressurised hydraulic lines.
- split air pipes
- leaking hydraulic hoses
A hydraulic oil injury can also occur because technicians dangerously try to open or tighten lines. It can also occur because those investigating leaks make the mistake of running their hand along these highly dangerous leaks.
What should I do if I think I've suffered a high-pressure injection injury?
If you think you have sustained a high-pressure injection injury you must seek immediate help from your nearest accident and emergency department. Even if you are not sure this is the type of injury you have suffered, you must seek help as, if it is and if you do not seek immediate help, you could suffer severely. You must get help within four to six hours after the injury or serious damage can occur.
When you seek help, do mention that you work with hydraulic equipment, as it is easy for a medical professional to fail to spot the type of injury. Also, explain the urgency of immediate attention.
Who is responsible for ensuring hydraulic equipment in the workplace is safe?
Your employer is responsible for ensuring that hydraulic equipment in the workplace is safe. They have a legal duty to ensure that you are safe when you work, which includes identifying and eliminating risks to your health and safety in the workplace.
To ensure hydraulic equipment in your workplace is safe your employer should:
- inspect grease nipples
- Inspect pipe work adapters in each track tensioning system
- ensure replacement fittings are those the manufacturer specifies
Can I make a hydraulic injection injury compensation claim?
If you have suffered a hydraulic injection injury, you may be eligible for compensation if the accident and injury was not your fault. You may be able to make a compensation claim where your employer was negligent.
- Claim Checker
In just a few minutes you can find out if we think you have a no win no fee claim
What evidence do I need to assist my claim?
When you make any type of personal injury claim, you need evidence to assist your claim. For example, you may need:
- any accident report from your workplace
- details of witnesses
- workplace equipment inspection records
- details of your training for the equipment used
- medical records
How much compensation might I receive for a hydraulic injection injury?
It is natural to wonder how much you can claim for a hydraulic injection injury. However, every personal injury is different so it is difficult to estimate the amount of compensation you may receive. Personal injury compensation is based on, for example:
- seriousness of injury;
- recovery time
- the effect on your everyday life
- care received
- changes needed in your daily life
- medical expenses incurred
Can I be fired if I claim against my employer?
If you make a high-pressure air fluid or hydraulic oil injection compensation claim against your employer, they are not allowed to fire you because of this. Your employer is legally required to keep you safe at work so if they fail to do so, you have a legal right to make a claim.
If you believe your employer treats you unfairly due to making a claim, you should seek help from an employment lawyer.
Can I still claim compensation if I use the hydraulic equipment outside of work?
If you used hydraulic equipment outside of work and sustained an injury as a result, you may still be able to claim compensation providing you were:
- supposed to be using it in the course of your work
- were injured as a result of it
- and the injury was your not your fault
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Can I make a compensation claim for a friend or family member who has been injured?
It may be possible to make a compensation claim on behalf of someone else. You can do this when the person who suffered the personal injury has passed away and you are their dependent, or when the person who suffered the personal injury is mentally incapacitated.
Can I make a no-win no fee hydraulic pressure injury claim?
If you have a hydraulic pressure injury and want to make a compensation claim, at National Accident Helpline, you can make a personal injury claim on a no-win no fee basis. No-win no-fee means that when you make an injury and accident claim there is no financial risk if the accident turns out to be your fault. This is because you do not part with a penny upfront.
How long do I have to begin my claim?
If you want to make a hydraulic pressure injury claim, like any personal injury claim you have three years from the date of the injury or from the date you found out you suffered the injury. The latter is the date of knowledge.
How long might my hydraulic injection injury claim take?
When you make a hydraulic injection injury claim, the personal injury claim process time frame can vary between claims. This can depend on, for example:
- gathering evidence
- whether the other party denies responsibility
- how complicated the claim is.
Will I need to go to court?
When you make any type of personal injury claim, it is natural to get anxious as to whether or not you need to go to court. However, it is unlikely you will need to go to court and this applies to a hydraulic oil injection injury claim.
Even if a court date is set in your claim, the other party may admit liability beforehand, meaning they believe your injury is their fault. This means there is no need to go to court and the date is cancelled. At National Accident Helpline, for example, only 5% of our personal injury claims need to go to court.
How can National Accident Helpline help me with my claim?
If you have unfortunately suffered a hydraulic oil injection injury, we at National Accident Helpline can help you make a claim. If you are owed compensation you should naturally claim for your injury to help get your life back on track. Let National Accident Helpline help you with your claim. We ensure our customers get the personal injury compensation claims they deserve. If your life has changed due to your hydraulic oil injection injury, you must do what you can to enable yourself to adjust to that. This is where a compensation claim can assist.
Let National Accident Helpline help you today - Call today, request a call back here or begin your claim online.
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What do I need to do to start the claims process?
Starting the compensation claims process is straightforward with National Accident Helpline. Just give us a call or start the process online here. If you prefer to check how much compensation you may be able to get before you begin your claim, then calculate your potential compensation online by using our compensation calculator.
Your compensation claim with us begins with a relaxed chat with one of our friendly professional advisors. They will take a look at how your hydraulic oil injection injury occurred. Once they have got the details they need, they move your claim onto one of our specialist solicitors. Our personal injury solicitors will then complete your claim. It really is as simple as that! All you need to do is to wait for the compensation you deserve. At National Accident Helpline, we take pride in ensuring that your claim process is made as easy as possible.
If you have had a hydraulic oil injection injury, you may be due personal injury compensation, so call us now on . We can start making your compensation claim. If you prefer, request a call back here or even begin your claim online.