More than 750,000 workplace accidents are recorded each year, reflecting just how dangerous workplaces can be. Employers have a legal duty to take the health and safety of their workforce very seriously, so if you have been injured at work, you may well be entitled to substantial compensation.
The following statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show just how widespread the problem of workplace injuries is:
If you have been injured at work, the effects can be lifechanging. A workplace injury might leave you unable to work or live independently, making a big difference to your quality of life. It will also often result in a significant financial impact on your life, both from the cost of treatment, care and specialist equipment, as well as lost income.
The scale of the effects an accident at work can have on your life mean that you can often claim substantial compensation from your employer where they are found to be responsible for your injuries. Establishing that responsibility and successfully securing a fair settlement can be complicated, however, which is why it is essential to have the support of a legal team specialising in workplace injury claims.
Our accidents at work lawyers have decades of experience representing clients in all types of workplace injury claims. We offer friendly, compassionate and pragmatic legal support to help you to secure fair compensation as simply and with as little stress as possible. With strong expertise in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), we can resolve almost all claims via out-of-court settlements, allowing you to get compensation faster and at a lower cost, while saving you the hassle and stress of going to court.
We represent all of our clients on a No Win, No Fee basis, meaning there is no upfront cost or financial risk to you when starting a workplace accident claim.
Unsure what to expect when making an accident at work claim? Take a look at our guide to the personal injury claims process.
To arrange a free initial consultation on starting an accident at work claim, you can fill out our simple contact form with the basic details of your claim or use the contact details below to get in touch.
Call: 0800 051 1884 Request a callback
Always ensure that the accident report book is completed. DO NOT sign the book if you are unhappy with anything written in the accident book.
Our personal injury solicitors have extensive experience with a wide range of workplace injury compensation claims. With an exceptional track record of success for our clients, we are able to secure substantial settlements in relation to workplace accident claims including:
Wondering about our specific expertise for your workplace injury claim? Please get in touch.
Our accident at work solicitors use their experience and skills to make claiming compensation as simple and hassle-free for you as we can, while keeping the time and costs involved to a minimum.
We know that many people find it difficult to make the first step and get in touch with a lawyer about making a claim, so we aim to make it as stress-free and convenient to get in touch with our friendly, expert team.
We offer various options for getting in touch with our team, including:
Our team will also be happy to visit you in hospital or in your home if required and you can always visit us at our central Liverpool office at:
Smooth Law Limited
The Vault,
6 Deacon Park,
Moorgate Road S,
Liverpool,
L33 7RX
Understandably, one of the first things people want to know when looking into making a claim is how much compensation they may be able to receive. With the benefit of our experience and specialist knowledge, we can quickly assess your claim and offer a realistic valuation, so you have a clear picture of how much you may be entitled to.
When building your claim, there are two key things we need to establish:
We will gather the evidence to support these two points, including from witnesses, doctors and other professional experts. By ensuring all of the right evidence is collected and effectively presented, with no details missed, we can significantly increase the chances of your claim succeeding and minimise the likelihood of any delays or other complications.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, we can secure an out-of-court settlement though direct negotiation with your employer and/or their insurer, or using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation. Virtually all of the personal injury claims we handle are resolved with an out-of-court settlement.
This approach generally allows even the most complicated and acrimonious claims to be resolved faster and at lower cost than relying on court proceedings, while letting you avoid the stress and uncertainty of court proceedings.
In the tiny number of the cases that cannot be settled out of court, we may need to initiate court proceedings. We can offer the benefit of our highly experienced litigation specialists, as well as specialist barristers who we have worked with for a number of years. This means that, where court proceedings are required, we can make sure you have the right advice and support to achieve the best available outcome.
We represent all of our accident at work claims clients on the basis of a Conditional Fee Agreement, more commonly referred to as a ‘No Win, No Fee’ arrangement.
With a no win, no fee workplace injury claim, you do not need to pay anything towards our fees to start a claim and will only need to cover these costs if we win compensation for you. If your claim does not result in compensation, you will not owe us anything.
You usually have 3 years to make a compensation claim for an accident at work, counted from the date the accident occurred.
However, there are various circumstances that can see this time limit extended, giving more time to make a claim.
If you only became aware of the injury later – The 3-year time limit will be counted from this date instead, referred to as the ‘date of knowledge’.
If the injured party was under 18 – Their parents or guardian have until the child turns 18 to bring a claim. Once the child turns 18, they can bring their own claim up until they turn 21.
If the injured party does not have the mental capacity to make a claim – There is no time limit for someone else to claim on their behalf.
If you need to claim for someone who has died – You will usually have 3 years from the date of death to make a claim.
This will be determined by the nature of your injuries are and how they have impacted your life. Factors that may influence the level of compensation you may be entitled to include:
If a loved one has suffered a workplace accident that has left them without the capacity to make a compensation claim (e.g. because they have sustained serious brain damage) you may be able to pursue a claim on their behalf.
To pursue a claim for an incapacitated loved one, you will need to be appointed as their ‘litigation friend’. A litigation friend has the authority to make decisions about the claim for the injured party, including whether to accept a settlement and during court proceedings.
We can advise you on whether acting as a litigation friend for a loved one is appropriate for their circumstances. We can then guide you through the process of becoming a litigation friend and advise you on discharging your duties.
If a loved one has died in a workplace accident, you may be able to pursue compensation. This is usually only an option for close relatives of the deceased, such as their spouse, civil partner, child or parent.
Compensation for a fatal workplace accident can include:
Any compensation you receive as the result of a successful accident at work claim can potentially be considered in relation to means-tested state benefits, so it is important to plan for this if you rely on these types of benefits.
To avoid losing out on benefits you would otherwise be entitled to, it may be worth looking into creating a personal injury trust. This can allow you to remove your compensation from consideration as part of your assets for means testing, while still allowing you to benefit from the settlement you received.
Where your employer has admitted liability for your injuries, but the final value of the settlement has not yet been agreed, you may be able to receive some money while negotiations over the damages are ongoing.
Known as interim payments, these are usually awarded where there is a need to provide immediate financial assistance to the claimant e.g. to pay for treatment or other types of care. The intention is to ensure that claimants do not miss out on vital support simply because they are waiting for the total value of compensation to be agreed.
Just because an accident happens at work does not mean your employer will necessarily be liable for any injuries you suffer. To be able to claim compensation, you need to be able to show that your employer breached their duty of care towards you by failing to provide a safe working environment.
Examples of ways your employer might have breached this duty of care include:
If you have been injured at work and are unsure whether you are eligible to claim compensation, please get in touch and we will be happy to advise you.
To arrange a free initial consultation on starting an accident at work claim, you can fill out our simple contact form with the basic details of your claim or use the contact details below to get in touch.
Always ensure that the accident report book is completed. DO NOT sign the book if you are unhappy with anything written in the accident book.
Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists. If you have been involved in an accident involving a vehicle then we can help with your claim for personal injury and other losses.
We have access to a national network of credit car hire firms from the family vehicle to the prestige car market. We also have access to a nationwide car repair network and if the requirement is there then we can provide the repair and the car hire pending repair.
