Accidents at Work and Workplace Injury Claims.

Although accidents in the workplace are often the result of the way in which the work was carried out, they can also arise due to faulty equipment, below standard premises or an unsafe working environment.

Regardless of where you work, your employer has a legal responsibility to keep you safe and sound while you are at work. This means they must:

• Ensure a safe system of work
• Provide adequate plant equipment
• Provide competent staff
• Carry out regular health and safety checks and risk assessments
• Take reasonable steps to limit the risks to employees and on-site visitors

There is also a great deal of legislation in place to protect employees during the course of their day-to-day employment. However, accidents at work still happen due to the other people’s negligence. The law is there to ensure you are fully compensated following a preventable workplace accident, and we are there to act on your behalf to make sure you receive what is owed to you.

Work accidents are, unfortunately, quite a common occurrence in the UK, ranging from minor incidents to the more serious. The specialist solicitors here at Lanyon Bowdler have helped clients claim compensation for a wide variety of accidents, such as:

• Back and neck injuries
• Slips, trips and falls
• Burns
• Repetitive strain injury
• Head injuries

If you have been involved in an accident at work and suffered a similar injury, we can help you claim compensation which can be used to pay for medical fees and rehabilitation costs, as well as bills incurred during a period spent out of work.

As part of your special damages, you may include any costs, losses, and expenses in your work injury compensation claim. Some of the common losses included in these claims are:

• Cost of specialist medical treatments and assessments
• Loss of earnings, both for time off work and future projected losses
• Care costs, including care given by professionals and friends and family
• Transportations costs to treatments and appointments
• Adaptations to homes and vehicles
• Costs to replace items damages in the accident

Your circumstances will be unique, and may include other losses and expenses. For a free, no-obligation assessment of your case, contact our Work Accident Solicitor team today.

Making a compensation claim for an accident at work can seem daunting, especially as your job is an important part of your life. You may be concerned that your career is at risk if you start a claim against your employer, however this should never be the case.

The law in England and Wales regarding workplace accident claims is designed to protect claimants against retaliation from employers. If you are making a valid claim for an accident caused by the negligence of your employer, they cannot terminate your employment, or even treat you differently within the workplace because of it. Doing so would make your employer liable for unfair dismissal or constructive dismissal claims.

A common concern with claimants in work accident cases is that they do not want to claim against their employer and hurt the business they work for. However, this is generally not the case.

Employers are legally required to have an Employers’ Liability Insurance policy, which is designed to handle compensation for possible future accidents. When you make a claim after an injury at work, your compensation will be paid out by the insurer, not by the business itself.

Our Work Accident Solicitors will liaise with the insurance company and negotiate a payout that fairly compensates you for your injuries.

If you have been injured in an accident at work, your employer or supervisor will have some duties they are legally required to comply with.

• Soon after the accident, this should be reported and carefully documented in the company’s accident book.
• For some types of accidents, the employer must make a report to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The requirements for this report are outlined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
• If you require time off after the accident, you may be entitled to statutory sick pay.

Ensuring these processes are followed correctly can make your work compensation claim much simpler, and help create a safe work environment for the future of the business too.

As one of the NFU’s recommended agricultural law firms, providing specialist legal advice across the industry, we have a wealth of experience dealing with workplace accidents in this environment.

According to a report by the HSE, around 14,000 workers within the agricultural, forestry and fishing sector sustain an injury at work each year in the UK, so it is important that you have a team of highly trained solicitors like Lanyon Bowdler, on your side, fighting your corner.

Machinery and hand tools are the most commonly reported cause of accidental work injuries and with that being said, the following safety checks are essential:

• All machinery is kept in good working order
• All machinery is suitable for the job it is required for
• All machinery is fully risk assessed on a regular basis
• All employees receive the appropriate training on how to safely use any equipment
• The correct safety equipment is used e.g. protective clothing, glasses, etc.
• Suitable protective guarding is in place on all machinery

Other common agricultural injuries include:

• Illnesses and reactions due to chemicals such as asbestos
• Hearing problems resulting from continuous and sustained exposure to loud noises such as tractors and grain dryers
• Respiratory disease due to dust exposure
• Nerve, muscle or joint damage due to the frequent use of vibrating machinery such as chain-saws
• Diseases contracted from farm animals
• An injury caused by livestock