Your employer has a responsibility to ensure you are safe while you work. Where they fail to do so, and you are injured as a result, you could be entitled to make a claim. Our accident at work solicitors are industry leaders, with many years’ experience in handling compensation claims.
Accidents can happen in any walk of life, no matter how careful we may be. When it comes to your working environment, your employer has a legal duty to take all reasonable steps to ensure your health and safety under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; this could include ensuring all equipment used is safe and well-maintained, or providing adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Where this duty is breached, and you suffer an injury or illness as a result, you are entitled to make a claim and set things right.
At Slater and Gordon, our accident at work solicitors have supported hundreds of clients to access the compensation they deserve after an injury at work.
What types of accidents can lead to an injury at work claim?
You may expect that work accidents only occur in more high-risk environments, such as building or construction sites. However, accidents can happen anywhere, which means the type of accident or injury that can occur varies massively.
Some of the most common work accidents we see claims for include:
Construction accidents, including falls from heights, electrocution, and defective equipment
Office accident claims, such as repetitive strain injuries (RSI) and slips or falls
Military injuries, such as non-freeze cold injuries (NFCI)
Warehouse and factory accidents, including forklift accidents and back injuries
These are just a few examples of the types of accidents that can lead to work injury claims, but it is important to remember that no matter where you work or how you’ve been injured, if someone else’s negligence is to blame, you could be entitled to make a claim for workplace accident compensation.
What should I do if I’ve been injured at work?
If you’ve suffered an injury, the first thing to do is seek medical attention. For minor injuries, your workplace should have a designated first aid officer who will be able to help you. If your injury is more serious, you should visit your local Accident and Emergency (A&E) department.
It is almost important that you report your accident and subsequent injuries to your manager. Any accident that occurs on work property, or using work equipment, needs to be recorded in the company accident book so that there is an official record of what has happened. Where injuries are more serious, the incident should also be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under RIDDOR.
Taking time out of work to recover from your injuries can be stressful and can leave you financially out of pocket. You should be entitled to financial support via:
Statutory sick pay
Industrial injuries disablement benefit (where serious injury has led to long-term or permanent complications)
Workplace accident compensation (where the accident has been caused by your employer’s negligence)
Who pays workplace accident compensation after a successful claim?
Many people can be worried about making a claim for compensation as they believe that their employer will suffer financially. However, it is a legal requirement in the UK that every employer takes out employer’s liability insurance.
When an employee makes an injury at work claim, your employer’s insurer will be informed, and they and their legal team will handle the claim on your employer’s behalf. Any compensation awarded in the claim will be paid for by the insurance policy, so it will not affect your employer or their business directly.
It is also worth noting that there are laws in place to protect employees from mistreatment in the workplace after a claim has been submitted. It is against the law for an employer to fire an employee because of a workplace accident claim.
I am entirely grateful for all the hard work the team at Slater and Gordon have put in to fight and win my case. They had a fight on their hands, and they kept me updated at all times and kept pushing. They looked at all photographic evidence and had to prove negligence and time scales, I could not have done this on my own. Great team and would highly recommend - if you need help, do contact them!
5* Trustpilot Review (Slater and Gordon Scotland)
A long and slightly complicated process made very painless and easier by Slater and Gordon. My solicitor explained everything to me in depth, working tirelessly to retain my documents and always keeping me up to date with how my claim was progressing. I couldn’t recommend this firm enough.
5* Google Review
Slater and Gordon have been an absolute asset for me, I would use them again in an instant. The litigator I corresponded with throughout the process of my injury claim worked tirelessly to chase the insurance company, kept me up to date with correspondence and fought to maximise the claim. I would thoroughly recommend Slater and Gordon.
5* Trustpilot Review
At Slater and Gordon, we know that pursuing legal action can be difficult and stressful, particularly if you are still recovering from your injuries. Our team work hard to make sure the process is as straightforward and painless as possible and will be on hand to provide legal assistance and advice at every step of the way.
To start your claim, simply get in touch with the team on 0330 041 5869 or arrange a callback online.
We’ll put you in touch with one of our industry-leading accident at work solicitors, who will take an account of what has happened and the injuries you have suffered.
We’ll then support you in collecting the evidence needed to support your claim. This could include witness statements, official records from your company’s accident book, photographic or video evidence, and financial statements.
We will also need to obtain medical evidence, which may include arranging a private medical examination with an independent medical expert who specialises in providing medical evidence to court.
Once we have the evidence, we will get the ball rolling by informing your employer’s insurer of your intent to make a claim.
Throughout your claim and your recovery, we can also support you in accessing the best quality treatment and rehabilitation to maximise your chances of making a full recovery.
Why should I choose Slater and Gordon Scotland’s accident at work solicitors?
Suffering from an accident at work can leave you feeling stressed and vulnerable, particularly if you’ve had to take time out of work to recover. Accessing the right support, from a trusted and experienced accident at work solicitor, is essential.
Our specialised team of accident at work solicitors are some of the most trusted and experienced lawyers in the country, with many receiving high rankings and acclaim in independent legal guides such as Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500. Many also hold positions with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL).
At Slater and Gordon Scotland, we take a holistic and empathetic approach to every case we pursue, prioritising the early access of rehabilitation and privately funded treatment from a full range of experts to give you the best possible chance at a full recovery. Where injuries have affected your mobility, we can also provide support and advise on the suitability of your accommodation, adaptions that can help improve your quality of life, and how to deal with the impact of severe injuries on your employment.
We know that the consequences of injuries can go far beyond the initial accident. We’ll be by your side every step of the way, working tirelessly to get the best outcome possible so you can move forward with your life.
We offer 'No Win No Fee' funding on workplace incident cases, meaning there's no financial risk to you.
Leading legal specialists
We have teams of legal experts who specialise in representing those who’ve suffered harm in their workplace due to negligence.
Speed of delivery
As experts in these specialist cases, we'll ensure your case is dealt with swiftly, providing consistent updates, whilst ensuring you receive the maximum compensation.
Excellent reputation
We’re a reputable national law firm with expert lawyers in several specialist areas across Scotland.
Frequently asked questions about work accident claims
Can I make an accident at work claim if I’m self-employed or on a zero-hour contract?
Yes. It does not matter if you are a full-time, part-time, zero-hour or self-employed staff member. Every worker is protected by the UK’s health and safety laws, which means that if you’ve been hired through a third-party contractor, or you work a zero-hour contract, you are still eligible to make a claim for workplace accident compensation.
What if I’m partly at fault for the accident?
If you were partly at fault for the accident that caused your injuries, you may still be able to make a claim for compensation. However, the amount you receive will be reduced to reflect the level of responsibility you are deemed to have for the accident. This is known as contributory negligence.
Is there a time limit to making an injury at work claim?
The standard time limit for making an accident at work claim is three years from the date of your accident.
There are exceptions to this rule. For instance, there are no time constraints on making a claim on behalf of someone who lacks the mental capacity to do so for themselves.
To learn more about any deadlines that may pertain to your case, contact a member of our team on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online.
How long will it take to process my work injury claim?
How long your claim takes to process can vary substantially, depending on a number of different factors. For example, one of the first stages of a claim is establishing that your employer’s negligence caused your injury or caused it to worsen. In more straightforward cases, this can happen quite quickly, though where liability is contested, it can take time.
Regardless of the circumstances behind your claim, our solicitors always endeavour to handle your case swiftly and efficiently and will keep you updated throughout the process.
How much will my accident at work claim be worth?
It can be difficult to establish how much compensation you could be owed without reviewing the details of your case. This is because the amount you could receive will be largely dependent upon the severity of your injuries and the level of impact they have had on your day-to-day life.
We know that many people are often concerned about the cost of pursuing legal action, and don’t believe anyone should feel they are not able to access the compensation they deserve due to financial risk. That is why the majority of the personal injury claims we pursue are done so by way of a No Win No Fee agreement.
Under this agreement, there are no upfront legal fees to pay, and if your claim doesn’t succeed, you won’t have to pay a penny in costs, meaning there is never any financial risk to you. To learn more, you can visit our No Win No Fee page, or speak to a member of our team on 0330 041 5869.
I am entirely grateful for all the hard work the team at Slater and Gordon have put in to fight and win my case. They had a fight on their hands, and they kept me updated at all times and kept pushing. They looked at all photographic evidence and had to prove negligence and time scales, I could not have done this on my own. Great team and would highly recommend - if you need help, do contact them! 5* Trustpilot Review (Slater and Gordon Scotland)
A long and slightly complicated process made very painless and easier by Slater and Gordon. My solicitor explained everything to me in depth, working tirelessly to retain my documents and always keeping me up to date with how my claim was progressing. I couldn’t recommend this firm enough. 5* Google Review
Slater and Gordon have been an absolute asset for me, I would use them again in an instant. The litigator I corresponded with throughout the process of my injury claim worked tirelessly to chase the insurance company, kept me up to date with correspondence and fought to maximise the claim. I would thoroughly recommend Slater and Gordon. 5* Trustpilot Review