Accidents at Work Claims
Every employer in England and Wales has a legal duty to keep their workers safe. When that duty is breached and an employee is injured as a result, they may have a valid accidents at work claim for personal injury compensation.
At Curtis Legal, we specialise in accidents at work claims on behalf of clients and their families across England and Wales. We act on a no win, no fee basis, so there is no financial risk to you in pursuing an accidents at work claim.
Call us free on 0800 214 216 for a confidential, no-obligation conversation about your accidents at work claim.
What Is an Accidents at Work Claim?
An accidents at work claim arises where an employee has been injured in the workplace, and the employer failed to take reasonable steps to prevent that injury. Accidents at work claims can arise from a wide range of circumstances, including:
- Slips, trips and falls due to unsafe flooring or uneven surfaces
- Falls from height due to inadequate scaffolding or safety equipment
- Manual handling injuries caused by lifting heavy loads without proper training
- Machinery and equipment accidents due to inadequate maintenance or guards
- Injuries from falling objects in warehouses or on construction sites
- Exposure to dangerous substances or chemicals
- Repetitive strain injuries caused by inadequate workstation assessment
- Injuries caused by inadequate training or supervision
Your Employer’s Legal Duties
Employers in England and Wales are bound by a comprehensive framework of health and safety legislation. Key duties include:
- Carrying out regular risk assessments and acting on the findings
- Providing appropriate personal protective equipment free of charge
- Ensuring all machinery and equipment is properly maintained
- Providing adequate training for all tasks, particularly manual handling
- Maintaining safe and clean premises
- Reporting certain workplace accidents under RIDDOR — the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations
Where an employer has failed in any of these duties and you have been injured as a result, there may be strong grounds for an accidents at work claim. Crucially, bringing an accidents at work claim does not put your job at risk — it is unlawful for an employer to dismiss or penalise you for making a legitimate claim.
Find Out If You Have a Claim — Free, No Obligation
Simon Jenkins will assess your case honestly. No win no fee for qualifying personal injury claims.
What You Should Do After an Accident at Work
If you have been injured at work, these steps will help protect your accidents at work claim:
Report the Accident
Report it to your employer or manager immediately and ensure it is recorded in the accident book. This creates an official record which is essential for your accidents at work claim.
Seek Medical Attention
Get checked by a GP or at A&E as soon as possible. Your medical records will form the basis of your accidents at work claim.
Gather Evidence
Take photographs of the hazard that caused your accident, your injuries, and any relevant equipment or machinery. Note the names of any witnesses.
Keep Records
Keep records of any correspondence with your employer, any sick pay received, and any expenses or losses you incur as a result of your injury.
Contact a Specialist Solicitor
Our team will review the circumstances of your accidents at work claim and give you a clear, honest view of whether a claim is likely to succeed — at no cost and with no obligation.
What We Need to Prove in an Accidents at Work Claim
To bring a successful personal injury claim for a workplace accident, we will need to establish three things:
Duty of care. Your employer owed you a duty to provide a safe working environment. This is established by your employment relationship and the relevant health and safety legislation.
Breach of duty. Your employer failed to take reasonable steps to prevent the accident. This is established through the accident records, risk assessments, training records, and where necessary, expert evidence from a health and safety specialist.
Causation. The breach of duty directly caused or materially contributed to your injuries. Medical evidence is essential to establish the nature, extent and cause of your injuries.
The time limit for bringing an accidents at work claim is generally three years from the date of the accident. Where a child was injured, the three-year period runs from their 18th birthday.
Accidents at Work Claims — Compensation Outcomes
Every accidents at work claim is different, and the amount of compensation awarded will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries, the impact on your ability to work, and any financial losses you have suffered. Compensation in accidents at work claims typically covers:
- General damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity
- Loss of earnings — past and future
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
- Care and assistance costs
- Travel expenses to medical appointments
- Any adaptations required to your home or vehicle
We will always give you a realistic assessment of what your accidents at work claim may be worth once we have reviewed the facts of your case.
Our No Win, No Fee Promise
We act exclusively on a conditional fee agreement — commonly known as no win, no fee. This means:
- There are no upfront costs to pay
- If your accidents at work claim is unsuccessful, you pay nothing — we absorb all the costs incurred
- If your claim succeeds, we recover our base costs from the other side, and under the terms of the agreement we are entitled to a success fee. This is capped at 25% of the damages awarded, and certain elements of your compensation are ring-fenced so you receive 100% of those amounts
- We guarantee that in the event of a successful outcome, you will receive at least 75% of the total compensation awarded
There is no financial risk to you at any stage of your accidents at work claim.
Find Out If You Have a Claim — Free, No Obligation
Simon Jenkins will assess your case honestly. No win no fee for qualifying personal injury claims.
What Our Clients Say
“The service I received was excellent. The person who dealt with the case was very helpful and I would have no hesitation in recommending your services.”
“Excellent service throughout. The person who dealt with my matter was excellent and very helpful. I was very happy with the time it took and the outcome. There was no fuss and no trouble and not much work to be done by me as Curtis Legal did all the work on my behalf.”
“The service that I received was excellent with good solid advice. The person dealing with the matter was great support and very helpful. I would definitely use your service again but I hope I don’t have to.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Accidents at Work Claims
Will making an accidents at work claim affect my job?
No. It is unlawful for an employer to dismiss or penalise you for bringing a legitimate accidents at work claim. Your employer is legally required to have employers’ liability insurance specifically to cover these situations.
Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes. England and Wales operate a system of contributory negligence. If you were partly at fault, your compensation may be reduced, but you may still recover a proportion of your losses through an accidents at work claim.
How long does an accidents at work claim take?
Many straightforward accidents at work claims are resolved within 12 to 18 months. Where liability is disputed or injuries are serious, cases can take longer.
Can I claim if I am self-employed?
Potentially yes — it depends on the circumstances. If you were working on premises controlled by another party who failed in their duty of care, there may be grounds for an accidents at work claim. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.
What if my employer has no insurance?
The Employers’ Liability Tracing Office can help trace your employer’s insurance. In rare cases where no insurance exists, the claim may be pursued directly against the employer.
Speak to Simon Jenkins and the Team Today
If you have been injured at work, do not wait. Time limits apply to accidents at work claims and early action preserves the best evidence.
Call us free on 0800 214 216 for a confidential conversation with no obligation. Alternatively, email [email protected] or complete our online enquiry form and we will call you back the same day.
Simon Jenkins has over 30 years of experience in probate, estate administration, medical negligence and personal injury. All articles on this site are written or reviewed by Simon before publication.
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