Employers' liability

Accidents at Work

Your employer must insure against exactly this. Bringing a claim is not a personal attack on them, and it is not something you can lawfully be dismissed for.

The single biggest reason people do not claim after an accident at work is that they are worried about their job. Every employer is required by law to hold employers’ liability insurance, so the claim is met by insurers, not out of the business’s own money. Dismissing or victimising someone for bringing a claim is itself unlawful.

These claims usually turn on documents rather than argument: the accident book entry, the risk assessment, the training records, the maintenance log, and whether the incident was reported under RIDDOR. Getting those requested early, while they still exist, is most of the work.

Report the accident in writing and make sure it goes in the accident book, even if you feel able to carry on working. Injuries that seem minor in week one are frequently the ones still causing problems a year later.

What you can claim for

The injury, and any lasting restriction on what you can do
Loss of earnings, including sick pay you did not receive
Loss of future earning capacity if you cannot return to the same role
Physiotherapy, treatment and rehabilitation
Travel and prescription costs
Care and help at home during recovery

Cases we handle

Manual handling and lifting injuries
Falls from height, ladders and scaffolding
Unguarded, defective or badly maintained machinery
Being struck by vehicles or falling objects on site
Inadequate training, supervision or protective equipment
Warehouse, construction, care and hospitality settings

Time limits Generally three years from the date of the accident. For conditions that develop over time, such as noise-induced hearing loss, vibration injury or work-related back conditions, the three years usually run from the date you first knew the condition was connected to your work. That may be much later.

Free initial consultation

Speak to a solicitor today

Tell us what happened and we will tell you honestly whether you have a claim. The first conversation is free, there is no obligation, and if we take your case on it is on a No Win No Fee basis.

Start your claim 0161 637 8010