I Had An Accident At Work, What Are My Rights?
100% No Win No Fee
Explains your rights following an accident at work and when compensation claims may be possible.
Excellent Reviews On
I Had An Accident At Work, What Are My Rights?
100% No Win No Fee
Explains your rights following an accident at work and when compensation claims may be possible.
Excellent Reviews On
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If you’ve found yourself thinking, “I had an accident at work, what are my rights?“, you’re certainly not alone, and it’s a question that deserves clear, accurate answers. Therefore, this article explores your legal rights after a workplace accident. Importantly, we review the protections UK law offers to the practical steps you can take to seek compensation. We’ll also walk you through the types of situations that may result in a claim, what counts as a breach of health and safety duties, and how the whole process works.
At No Win No Fee Solicitors Co, we have years of experience guiding people like you through the complex landscape of accident at work claims. We recognise how daunting it can be to challenge your employer or pursue a claim, especially when you’re injured or worried about your job. Our expertise means we can handle each case with the care and attention it deserves, so you don’t have to handle it alone.
If you’re unsure whether you could make a claim, keep reading to find out when you may have grounds for compensation and how we might help. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to speak directly with a specialist, you can contact our team online or call 0333 091 8598 for confidential advice.
Can I Claim Compensation For An Accident At Work?
If your accident was due to your employer’s negligence or a breach of health and safety, you can usually claim compensation. People often hesitate, believing claims are only for severe injuries. This isn’t true, the law covers a broad range of injuries, including:
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Back injuries (e.g., herniated discs, sprains).
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Broken or fractured bones.
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Head injuries (e.g., concussion, traumatic brain injury).
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Burns (chemical, electrical, or thermal).
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Repetitive strain injuries (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome).
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Cuts, lacerations, or puncture wounds.
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Soft tissue injuries (sprains, strains, bruises).
Starting a claim is as simple as contacting us for a confidential chat. If we believe you have a good case, we’ll help compile the necessary evidence, notify your employer (or their insurer) of your intent to claim, and manage the entire process on your behalf.
Are Contractors Able To Claim Following A Breach Of Health and Safety at Work
The right to a safe workplace isn’t limited to full-time, permanent staff. If you work as a contractor, agency worker, temp, or even on a zero-hours contract, you still enjoy substantial legal protection. The law requires all employers to ensure the safety of anyone they engage, not just direct employees.
If you’re injured due to poor or unsafe working practices while under their control, you can bring a claim like any other employee. The key factor is whether your employer (or the business controlling the work environment) owed you a duty of care and breached it. Therefore, don’t be put off by your contract type, our solicitors have successfully handled claims for all categories of workers.
Why use us?
Free Consultation
We offer a free consultation to anyone looking to make a claim
No win, no fee
Claim experts
We use solicitors who have handled thousands of claims
What Do I Need To Prove?
To be eligible to claim for an accident at work, you generally need to show:
Your employer (or someone they are responsible for) owed you a duty of care.
They breached that duty, causing or contributing to your accident.
You suffered physical and/or psychological injuries as a result.
Our team offers free case reviews for accident at work claims. If you contact us, we’ll consider how your accident happened and explain if you might have grounds to claim compensation. If you do, one of our specialist accident at work solicitors might be assigned to your case. Should your case proceed, it will be managed on a No Win No Fee basis.
What Compensation Am I Entitled To
Compensation for an accident at work is often broader than most expect. You can claim for both tangible and intangible losses, including:
Pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (general damages)
Loss of earnings (if you’ve needed time off or can’t return to work)
Future loss of income (if your capacity to work is affected)
Medical costs (including treatments, prescriptions, and rehabilitation)
Travel expenses (for hospital appointments, etc.)
Costs for care or assistance needed as a result of your injuries
If you’d like us to check how much compensation you might be entitled to after an accident at work, please call today.
What Types Of Accidents Can Be Claimed For?
The range of workplace accidents that could result in a compensation claim is broader than many people realise. You might have grounds to claim if your accident resulted from your employer’s negligence or a clear breach of health and safety standards. Some common examples include:
Slips, trips, and falls (on wet floors, uneven surfaces, or cluttered walkways).
Falls from height (e.g., ladders, scaffolding, mezzanines).
Machinery accidents (including faulty or unguarded equipment).
Manual handling injuries (due to poor technique guidance or lack of support).
Being struck by falling or moving objects.
Burns, electric shocks, or chemical exposure.
Repetitive strain injuries caused by a lack of ergonomic setup.
Accidents aren’t limited to physical injuries: work-related stress or psychological trauma caused by unsafe working environments may also be covered in some cases.
Can I Be Disciplined For Claiming Compensation?
It’s not unusual to worry about the repercussions of making a claim against your employer. But, UK law prohibits your employer from disciplining or dismissing you simply for asserting your rights and making a legitimate claim. If disciplinary action is taken against you as a result, this could amount to victimisation, for which you could bring a separate legal claim.
As such, you are protected from:
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Unfair dismissal.
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Detrimental or unfair treatment because you’ve raised safety concerns or started a claim.
If you believe you are being treated unfairly after making (or considering) a claim, legal advice is essential. Our team can support you in enforcing your rights and, if necessary, pursuing further action. So, why not contact us today?
Are There Any Exceptions To The 3-Year Limitation Period?
While the three-year rule is the starting point, there are some important exceptions, especially for vulnerable individuals. It’s crucial not to assume your time is up; exceptions do exist under certain circumstances.
Claims For Injured Children
If the person injured was under 18 at the time of the accident, their three-year time limit does not start until their 18th birthday. This effectively means they can make a claim at any time until they turn 21. Until the child is 18, a parent or guardian (known as a ‘litigation friend‘) can bring a claim on their behalf at any time.
Claimants With Lack Of Mental Capacity
If the person making the claim lacks mental capacity (for instance, due to brain injury or illness), there is potentially no time limit, unless they regain capacity at a later stage. At that point, the usual three-year limit would then apply. Obviously, the claimant’s injuries will need to be proven to verify lack of capacity. This is something a solicitor will try to establish with the help of independent specialists.
Why Use A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
One of the biggest worries about personal injury claims is the possibility of legal costs, especially if, after everything, you don’t win your case. This is where working with a No Win No Fee Solicitor can be invaluable. With this arrangement, you pay nothing upfront, and if your claim isn’t successful, you won’t owe us a penny.
Using a specialist solicitor brings further advantages:
Expert support in gathering evidence and negotiating with insurers
No financial risk to you
A higher chance of securing the full compensation you’re entitled to
Guidance through what can otherwise be a confusing process
Our experience means we can pre-empt the tactics employers or insurers might use to deny liability, and we’ll keep the process transparent and straightforward.
Try Our Compensation Calculator
Take a look at our compensation calculator to get a broad idea of what an accident at work payout could look like. The figures used in this calculator are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is a document that provides guideline compensation brackets for different injuries and illnesses.
Compensation Bracket: 0.00
Please note that these are not guaranteed amounts, and that this calculator doesn’t take special damages into account. Contact our team today to learn more about compensation in manual handling injury claims.
Contact Our Team Today
If you’ve suffered an accident at work and want clear advice on your rights and options, we’re ready to help. Our dedicated team at No Win No Fee Solicitors Co have the experience and tenacity necessary to fight your corner, and the empathy to support you every step of the way.
There’s no obligation when you reach out: you’re free to ask questions, discuss your situation, or request a no-obligation assessment. You can contact us online now or call 0333 091 8598 for a confidential chat about your next steps.
Hopefully, this article has answered the question, “I had an accident at work, what are my rights?“. If you need to know anything else, please call today.
FAQs About Your Rights After An Accident At Work
Do I have to use my own holiday entitlement while off work due to an accident?
If your absence from work is due to injuries caused by an accident at work, you should not have to use your holiday entitlement. You may be entitled to statutory sick pay or contractual sick pay instead.
Am I entitled to see my accident report?
Yes, you can request to see the accident report or entry made in your workplace’s accident book. It’s advisable to make sure the incident has been accurately recorded.
Do I need to attend a medical assessment for my claim?
In most cases, you will need to attend a medical assessment to support your claim. A medical report is usually required to establish the extent of your injuries.
Are accidents caused by faulty equipment covered by my rights?
Yes, if your injury was caused by faulty or poorly maintained equipment, you still have the right to claim compensation, provided your employer failed in their duty to provide safe working conditions.
