Published: 14th March 2022

If you’ve suffered an injury in an accident at work that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to make an accident at work claim.

Despite the fact employers have a legal responsibility to ensure a safe work environment, workplace injuries are still fairly common. Thankfully, serious and fatal accidents in the workplace are a lot less common.

In this article, we address some of the important things to consider after suffering an injury at work and provide guidance on how to make an accident at work claim.

An overview of accident at work statistics

According to the Labour Force Survey, 441,000 workers in the UK sustained a non-fatal injury at work in 2020/21, whilst 142 fatal accidents were reported.

Thankfully, over the last 20 years the amount of non-fatal injuries in the workplace has declined almost year on year.

What are the most common workplace accidents and injuries?

According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the 5 most common non-fatal injuries sustained in the workplace are: slips trips and falls (33%), handling, lifting or carrying (18%), struck by a moving object (10%), acts of violence (8%) and falls from a height (8%).

How do accidents happen in the workplace?

Lifting – Lifting or moving items can result in a back injury if safe lifting procedures are not followed. It is always best to seek assistance when moving large or heavy objects to prevent this.

Slips, trips and falls – As mentioned above, one the most common causes of workplace injuries in the UK is due to slips, trips and falls. Such injuries may occur from slippery floors, a messy work environment or from other unexpected hazards in a workspace.

Unfortunately, accidents at work do still occur. However, maintaining a tidy work environment and being aware of your surroundings can reduce the risk of being hurt.

Whilst some prevention measures can be taken, we recognise that some work environments naturally present more risk. However, your employer should conduct the relevant risk assessments and provide the appropriate equipment and training to ensure that risks are minimised and employees are aware of any dangers in the workplace.

What to do after an accident at work

Seek medical attention

The most important thing you should do after suffering an injury at work is to immediately seek medical attention. It is a legal obligation for every workplace to have both a first aid kit and first aider(s).

Even if your injury appears to be minor, it is advisable to seek further medical attention from a professional to examine the extent of your injuries. This is especially important if you have sustained a head injury. At this stage, the most important matter to focus on should be on your injury and health.

Report the accident

At the earliest opportunity, the accident should be reported to your supervisor or manager. They should then log this in the company accident book. If you have sustained a serious accident at work, then your employer is required to report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive.

Gathering evidence

Ensure you note all the key information in relation to the accident circumstances, any witnesses and your injury as soon as possible so that no important details are forgotten.

Your solicitor can assist you in the process by letting you know the evidence they require, but some examples of evidence that will help support your claim may include:

Photographic evidence of the accident: If possible, photographs of where the accident occurred and the hazards that caused the accident will be helpful.

Witness Statements: If another person witnessed the incident, getting a witness statement from them will help to build and strengthen your claim.

Any financial losses incurred: As a result of your injury, you may not be able to work for a period of time. Therefore, any loss of earnings from this will be as a direct result of your injury.

You will typically have three years from the date of the accident to start Court proceedings to pursue your claim. In rare circumstances there may be exceptions to this three-year time limit.

If you choose to make a claim with us, to ensure you achieve the maximum compensation, our expert accident at work solicitors will take into account all aspects of your injury, along with the impact the accident and its consequences have had on your life. Find out more in by reading our Frequently Asked Questions about accident at work claims.

How to make an accident at work claim

Firstly, when you decide you are ready to make a claim, contact one of our expert accident at work solicitors for a free consultation and expert legal advice. You can speak to our serious injury experts about your situation and they will advise you on how to move forward with your claim.

At Serious Law, we recognise that no two injuries are the same, therefore we provide a completely tailored service for each of our clients based on their individual needs. Unlike other firms, we offer a service beyond compensation and put in place all the support you need to rebuild your life.

After you begin your claim, our solicitors will work hard on reviewing all aspects of your case and take control of the claims process so that you can focus on your recovery. We keep in touch with you on a regular basis and ensure you are kept up to date at every stage of the process.

Find out about the support we provide throughout your case.

Why you need an expert accident at work solicitor

Accident at work claims can be complex. Having an expert on your side can make all the difference to your case. We are regularly instructed to act in difficult liability cases where accidents have been caused or contributed to by the fault of the employer.

Our specialist team have over 32 years’ experience dealing with a wide range of serious and catastrophic injury cases and have an excellent track record in handling accident at work cases. Suffering an accident at work can be a difficult experience. Our specialist solicitors understand this, as well as the challenges you may be facing. Read more about accident at work claims and discover our client stories here.

If you or any of your family legal assistance from a Top Tier Legal 500 rated law firm, please do not hesitate to contact us. We can be contacted on 0330 058 0377 for a free, confidential conversation with a qualified, serious injury solicitor.

Alternatively, please send us your contact details to enquiry@seriouslaw.co.uk, and we’ll call you back. All enquiries are free and confidential.