Accident at Work Solicitors

Can I be sacked for making an accident at work claim?

It shouldn’t happen, but we can’t guarantee it won’t. There are, however, laws in place to protect you. So if your employer tries to fire you for making a claim, they could be opening themselves up to further legal action.

Your employer is responsible for your health and safety at work. If they do not keep you safe and you suffer a workplace injury, you have the right to pursue compensation. It could help make a difficult time a bit easier.

Can I make a claim if the accident was partly my fault?

Sometimes it is possible to make a work injury claim even if you were partly responsible.

Contributory negligence means that you and your employer will both accept a share of the blame. Any compensation you are then awarded is split according to the division of responsibility.

For example, if you and your employer were equally at fault, you would receive 50% of the compensation you would otherwise have received.

If the accident was entirely your fault, you won’t be able to make a claim. For example, you ignored safety guidance and fell from a height. To make a workplace accident claim, your injury must have been at least partly caused by someone else.

How can I pay for an accident at work claim?

Everyone is entitled to justice when they are hurt– but not everyone can afford to pursue it. This is why No Win No Fee claims were introduced. They allow everyone the chance to take legal action when they’re injured due to someone else’s negligence.

Making a claim on a No Win No Fee basis means there is nothing to pay upfront. So you can focus on your recovery rather than worrying about the cost of a claim.

It also means that if your claim is not successful, you won’t pay your solicitor’s fee. There is no financial risk involved in a No Win No Fee workplace injury claim.

If your claim is successful, your solicitor will take a success fee. This could be up to 25% of your final compensation amount for an accident at work – but it won’t be more. Your work accident lawyer will explain all the fees before you go ahead with the claim. There won’t be any surprise costs down the line.

How much compensation for a work injury will I receive?

Two main factors contribute to your compensation for a work injury: the suffering caused by your injuries (general damages) and any financial losses you experience as a result of the accident (special damages).

To work out what you might be entitled to in general damages, your solicitor will likely arrange for you to have a medical assessment. The doctor will set out:

• How you might be affected by the injury
• How long it will likely take for you to recover
• What sort of treatment you’ll need.

Special damages put a value on what you have lost because of the accident. This can include:

• Lost wages from time taken off work
• Money spent on medical care and medication
• Reimbursement for any possessions that were damaged in the accident
• Compensation for any additional care

This means that without knowing the severity of your injury, it is difficult to say exactly how much you might receive in compensation. Our simple compensation calculator can help to give you a better idea of the amount you might be awarded.

You can also give our team of advisors a call to discuss your claim. It’s free to chat to us and we’re happy to talk you through your options.

Some common injuries and their compensation amounts include:

How long do I have to make a work accident claim?

The length of time it takes to conclude injury at work claims can vary. How long it takes can be affected by:

• The circumstances of your accident
• How severe your injury is
• How much it has affected your daily life

Your employer’s actions will also affect the timeline. For example, if they accept responsibility for your accident, your claim will be settled quicker.

How long it takes your solicitor to negotiate the appropriate compensation will also depend on your employer’s insurer and their offer.

Your solicitor will let you know how long they think your claim might take after speaking to you.

To find how we could match you with one of our specialist work accident solicitors, give us a call or start your claim online today.

Common workplace accidents

Workers in certain professions are more likely than others to be injured. Your risk of being hurt in an accident will depend on your work environment and your role. When there are more risk factors, there is a higher chance of an accident.

For example, workers in the construction sector were more likely than other workers to suffer a fatal injury in 2023/24.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing saw the second highest number of fatal injuries. Manufacturing is another dangerous industry.

The Health and Safety Executive found that the most serious workplace injuries are:

• Falls from a height – this killed 50 people in 2023/24
• Being struck by a moving vehicle – this killed 25 people
• Being struck by a moving object – this killed 25 people
• Being trapped by a collapsing or overturning object – this killed 15 people
• Coming into contact with moving machinery – this killed 8 people

First4Lawyers found that cuts, dislocations and scarring were the most common injuries among our clients. We looked at 10 years of injuries we’ve helped people claim compensation for. Cuts to the hands and fingers were the most commonly suffered injuries, with dislocations in hands next.

We were most likely to help injured workers from Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield. In Birmingham and Sheffield, back injuries were most common. Injuries to the chest were most common in Manchester.

How can I claim for an accident at work?

If you were injured at work and it wasn’t your fault, you should do the following:

• Seek medical attention

Try to see a doctor as soon as possible. This will get you the medical treatment you need and ensure that there is a record of your injuries.

• Report and record your accident

Report the accident to your supervisor or manager. Make sure they record it in your workplace’s accident book. This could become useful evidence if you decide to make a claim.

• Keep track of the details

If you can, be sure to take a note of the exact circumstances surrounding your accident. If there were any witnesses, record their contact details. You may need to call on them if you go ahead with a work injury claim.

• Record your expenses

Make a note of any extra expenses that arise because of your accident. This could range from lost earnings if you’ve had to take time off work, to the cost of travel to and from hospital appointments. Be sure to hold onto receipts and documents as evidence.

• Get in touch

Contact us and we’ll let you know if you’re eligible to claim accident at work compensation. If we think you have a case, we’ll put you in touch with one of our expert accident at work solicitors. They will guide you through the claims process.

How can First4Lawyers help?

We've helped thousands of people stand up for themselves after being hurt on the job – and we could do the same for you. We work with expert solicitors who share our dedication to making things right.

Just some of the people we've helped include:

• A claimant who sustained a crushing injury to his foot when a colleague reversed a forklift over it. The claimant sustained multiple fractures and had to have surgery for his injuries.
• A claimant whose manager instructed him to lift and move steel gears, which weighed more than 25kg each. This was a two-person job but his manager asked him to carry the gears on his own. When carrying out the task, the claimant suffered a prolapsed and torn disc.
• A claimant employed to build stages for venues and events. It's common practice to place barriers around the edge of the stages to stop falls, but the barriers had been moved. The claimant didn’t know the barriers had moved, so he stepped back and fell 6ft onto his back, sustaining an injury.

You can find out more about some of the people we've helped by reading our Customer Stories.