If you have suffered from an accident at work, it’s essential that it is reported to a manger or higher authority as quickly as possible. Throughout the pandemic, it has been crucial for people to work from home in order to keep safe from Covid-19. However, now that you may be working in the office, it’s important that you understand the responsibilities of your manager and how it is their “duty of care” that requires them to keep you safe. Should you, or someone else in your office, get hurt, it’s essential that you ask for help as quickly as possible. It may be due to the negligence of management that you were hurt in the first place. Therefore, you may be eligible for compensation if you decide to make a work accident claim.
Find out more about accident at work claims by contacting Gowing Law Solicitors on 0800 041 8350 or by clicking on the button below to start on your own work accident claim:
How could you experience an accident at work?
No matter what type of business you work for, there is a chance that you could be hurt due to the negligence of your manager. Whether you work for a construction company or are an employee in an office, your employer has a responsibility to ensure that you understand how to work safely in the office. Their responsibilities include:
- The basic training of the job
- How to handle on-site machinery
- Allowing you regular breaks and rest periods
- Making sure you know the fire safety procedure of the building
- Providing you PPE and safety equipment
- Ensuring that the building has effective security in place
- Helping and supervising difficult customers or clients
- Providing a clean and tidy work environment
Now, even in the best work environments, accidents can happen and you could end up getting hurt. In these cases, you may decide to accept accident at work happened and move on. However, if your manager acts negligently and puts you, as their employee, at risk, you could be owed compensation due to your damages. Take a look at the infographic below to see some of the most common ways you could get hurt in the workplace:
What sort of injuries could I experience due to an accident at work?
When you suffer from a work accident, it is likely that you could claim compensation if you were not responsible for your accident. Like any other type of personal injury claim, there are two types of damages that you could experience. In the legal world, these are known as “general” damages and “special” damages. General damages account for all of your physical damages. In order to claim for special damages, you will need to have suffered from a physical injury. Special damages account for emotional harm, financial harm, loss of opportunity and damage to property. The more damages that you have suffered from, the more likely it is that you are going to receive a higher amount of compensation. That’s why it is crucial that you tell your solicitor about all of your damages.
Some of the most common physical injuries you could receive due to an accident at work include:
Of course, these are only a few of the types of injuries you could experience. If you have been hurt due to a work accident, speak to your solicitor as quickly as possible. They can help you have the damages assessed by a medical specialist and will let you know a rough estimate about how much you could be owed in compensation. Therefore, the worse your damages, the higher your compensation pay-out is more likely to be.
How do I report my accident at work before I get started on my claim?
By reporting your accident, or alerting a higher authority about it, you could be entitled to statutory sick pay (SSP) and additional benefits. This depends on the extent of your injuries and damages. If you have been hurt in the workplace, you need to let your manager know as quickly as possible. If you are not working in your current workplace, i.e. you have been sent abroad or to a different office to work, make sure to alert the higher members of staff in that workplace as well. Each office will have their own accident workbook and policy to follow when it comes to work accidents.
With that said, after speaking to management about your injuries, it’s crucial that you have the accident noted in the work accident handbook. This can serve as evidence that you were hurt on the premises. From there, you should also look for evidence that can be used to back up the extent of your damages. Evidence can include:
- Photographs
- Videos
- Witness Statements
- Diary Entries
- Receipts
- Medical Reports
- Police Reports
Make sure to check your contract to see if you are eligible for statutory sick pay. If you are not eligible then you may need to consider looking into universal credit. You can then get in contact with your solicitor at Gowing Law to start your accident at work case. They will speak to the responsible party on your behalf and help sort out your settlement agreement.
How much compensation could I be owed for an accident at work?
The amount of compensation you could receive depends entirely on the extent of your damages. If you have suffered a life-changing injury that resulted in a disability, you could be owed much more than someone who has suffered from only a few scrapes and bruises. The amount of special damages will also effect how much you could be offered. For instance, if you were forced to pay for your medical treatments, and were forced to stay home from work, you could be owed compensation for your financial damages as well as your physical damages. To figure out an estimate for how much you could be owed, speak to your solicitor. They will help you with your settlement agreement. That way you can decide whether or not you think it is worth pursuing the claim further.
Start on your Accident at Work Claim today with Gowing Law Solicitors
Here at Gowing Law Solicitors, we are ready to help you with your work accident claims. You should report your accident at work as quickly as possible. That way you can get help for any damages that you have suffered from. Gowing Law can get you started on your Work Accident Claim by providing free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your case, our law firm’s solicitors can work with you on a “no win-no fee” basis. That means you will never have to pay any hidden fees. Therefore, you will only need to pay your solicitor if they win your case for you. Therefore, you will always come out on top.
Contact our law firm today by calling 0800 041 8350, emailing info@gowinglaw.co.uk or by using Gowing Law’s claims checker. One of our specialists will then be in touch to answer any additional questions you may have about your case.
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