August 2019 - The Compensation Experts

With common types of injury claims, the actual accidents themselves come in many shapes and sizes. But they’re all relevant if the cause of the accident is another individual and the accidents bring injury or illness to you.*

There are many common accidents to claim compensation for. You’re eligible for compensation on any accident within the last three years which:

wasn’t your fault, or;
as a direct result of another’s negligence.

That remains the case if you’re injured in an accident by a business or an individual.

Here are some of the most common accidents which can occur and what you need to do in order to claim for maximum compensation. For all the below occurrences, it’s important to speak to a trained advisor at The Compensation Experts to best guide you through the claim process.

Slips, Trips and Falls

This can occur anywhere, at any time, whether within the workplace, in a public street, or even abroad. Wherever it occurs, you’ve got the right to make a claim if the slip, trip or fall wasn’t your fault. An individual or business needs to maintain the upkeep of a particular environment. Therefore, even a simple trip can have devastating repercussions for the wounded party if it causes severe injuries.

Some things need to be in order to claim compensation for this type of accident. For one thing, you need to prove that your fall was a direct result of neglect on another’s part. For example, here are some incidents worthy of negligence claims:

A slippery, wet floor in a working kitchen.
Any obstacles left in public spaces which you have tripped over.
Even some carpeting that has come loose in a public place and become a hazard.

Once you have the necessary proof, claim proceedings can begin and you will be eligible to receive compensation.

Road Traffic Accident

With such a heavy flow of traffic, these accidents are inevitable, and often through no fault of your own. If you’re in a road traffic accident, you’re eligible for a claim.**

In certain circumstances, you may also be able to claim even if you were partly at fault. This may be so, for example, if a situation occurs where you made a mistake, but another driver made a bigger one and is the majority perpetrator.

If a road traffic accident leaves you with permanent damage, we can help. Such accidents, in short, can deliver a permanent loss of income if you are unable to work. Therefore, a compensation claim can incorporate any losses you will have in the foreseeable future.

Factory Accidents

A working factory environment is often a risk, especially when Health & Safety officials don’t offer a duty of care to their workers. Yet even with the implementation of the proper health and safety procedures, injuries including broken bones, concussions, bruises and other damage can still occur.

With factory accidents, injury claims often occur due to the chance of human error and the failure of machinery. Whether you’re a factory worker or just a visitor to the site, you will be eligible for compensation.

Some factory accident scenarios

Here are just a few different scenarios to consider to determine if you can make a claim.

If you have not been given the proper training during your work in a factory.
The workplace has poor lighting or visuals, making obstacles harder to see in conducting your work.
If you’re part of a working atmosphere that proves to be inexplicably strenuous. For example:
- Unnatural lifting expectations.
- Susceptible conditions for fatigue.
- Poor access to clean drinking water and/or hydration.
The proper equipment to use during the course of your work, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

These are just some of the situation you may encounter that can make it easier to make a claim.

For any advice on common accidents for compensation claims, contact the team at The Compensation Experts today.

When an accident visits injury on you, it’s often tough to regain your life as you knew it. But these common accidents to claim compensation against all deserve the attention of our personal injury solicitors. In short, we can improve your experience.

Plus, you’ve no automatic obligation to legal fees in order to tap into our legal advice. Because your personal injury claim is always handled by law firms with years of experience as No Win, No Fee.

What’s more, check with any of your current insurance company providers. They – or the insurance provider we connect you with – may cover any legal fees you might eventually incur. But regardless, with The Compensation Experts, you only incur those fees when you win.

*Through no fault of your own.

**Through no fault of your own, as a driver, pedestrian, cyclist or public transport passenger.

With any fall at work claim, clients ask “What are my rights after I have a fall at work?”

Any accident which occurs during the course of your everyday life can be traumatic. However, one which occurs at your place of work can have a profound effect on your attitude to your job. It can leave you feeling vulnerable and unprotected in your working life. In reality, you should instead feel comfortable and confident.

Not having apprehensions about returning to work.

Some fall at work negligence examples

If your employer is guilty of any of the following, we recommend that you seek professional advice regarding your rights to a claim. Specifically regarding the failure of an employer to:

Maintain the necessary health and safety standards in the workplace.
Provide adequate training.
Supply the correct equipment in order to conduct your job safely and without injury.

With a fall at work, your rights remain the same as any other accident or incident within the workplace. That is if the fall is a direct result of your employer’s negligence.

Does Your Employer Use an Accident Book?

Even if you’re in a relatively small workplace, the employer needs to have an accident book on site. According to Citizens Advice, it’s imperative:

If the company or organisation you report your accident to has more than 10 employees, they must record it in an accident book. It’s a good idea to make sure it’s been done. You can ask your manager to check.

But even if you aren’t seeking maximum compensation for an injury at this moment, talk with management about this. Those environments we’d never deem to hazardous might still lead to a slip, trip or fall. If so, it’s best to be ready to follow proper procedures for an accident.

Trust in a fall at work claim solicitor

Seeking the guidance and advice of a professional solicitor, such as the accident-at-work specialists at The Compensation Experts, is crucial. We find it’s integral that every client understands their rights regarding a workplace fall. Taking legal advice as soon as you’re able means your solicitor can:

best advise you on what evidence and information to collect in order to build a case;
put your claim in a better position to succeed.

What Does a Fall at Work Claim Involve?

During a claim, you will need to be able to prove lawfully that the fall at work:

was not your fault, and;
that it was a direct result of your employer’s failure in meeting regulatory standards.

This is why it is crucial to take action as soon as you can after your fall, due to the lengthy process of legal proceedings.

If your employer denies culpability, then you have the right to begin litigation proceedings. This means the claim process is longer, but it might be necessary. Investigating as soon as possible is paramount in order to gain a court date for a claim within the time limit of three years.

Sectors that susceptible to slips and falls

Those who fell at work and make an accident claim can come from any line of work. Nevertheless, some industries are more fertile ground for a personal injury claim that others.

A 2017 UNISON paper offers some insights into some of the more dangerous sectors for someone who slipped and fell. If you work in these sectors, a personal injury solicitor may come in handy regarding a claim for compensation.

Catering

From UNISON:

Catering is a high-risk area for STFs. Leaks and spills, poorly placed items, floors in poor condition, or ineffective or inadequate cleaning lead to STFs being the major cause of workplace incidents in catering. With sharp tools in use, hard surfaces, and plenty of hot liquids and surfaces; the consequence of an STF can be far greater than usual.

Office Environments and Education

Indeed, the office workplace is also a veritable tripping zone. For accident at work claims in education and offices, compact spaces with dense populations can get hazardous. Regarding such environments, suffering an injury (including head injuries) make anything possible. UNISON says this:

A slip or trip within an office environment can lead to a far more serious injury or death if, for example, you fall against a corner of a desk or down some steps or stairs. Within the education sector, structured timetables see large volumes of staff and pupils or students move around at the same time. (Thus) increasing the potential for slip and trip incidents.

Healthcare

These days, healthcare industries are particularly vulnerable for many reasons. Bear in mind that was the case even before COVID-19 became part of the everyday lexicon. But with urgent workers moving about briskly, yet at the same time co-existing with infirm & vulnerable patients moving at their own pace, slips, trips and falls are rampant.

Long term injuries could add insult to (another) injury, too. Says UNISON:

STFs are the main cause of accidents to workers and patients in the healthcare sector. (They) account for around 50% of serious injuries to employees.

We talk at length about what kinds of incidents constitute slips, trips or falls here. Now, from that same blog post,

Slips

For a workplace environment, a ‘slip’ constitutes whenever your feet lose grip on the surface you’re standing or walking on. This may be due to:

wet floors;
a recent polishing of the floor or;
because a rug isn’t secure to the ground.

Trips

Trips come down to either uneven surfaces or ineffective lighting, causing an unintended spill on your part.

For example, your workplace has clutter all over the floor. For whatever reason, you stumble over and (making matters worse) injure yourself, too. In this hypothetical scenario, you’ve suffered a trip in the workplace that your employer would be liable for.

Falls

Finally, we come to the falls scenario. Here, we list a hypothetical fall example.

You’re using a small stepladder to help a colleague hang something on the office wall. However, the stepladder is wobbly and dangerous to use. As a result, either you or your colleague sustains an injury as a result. While this may seem inconsequential, it is worth remembering that even a fall from a few inches can cause nasty injuries.

What Can I Claim For With Slip and Fall Incidents?

You have the right to claim for loss of earnings because of time off work to recover from a slip, trip or fall. In a more serious case, this could involve a concussion, or possibly wounds that need additional time to heal. Perhaps you’ve lost a significant amount of income which statutory sick pay won’t adequately cover. Accordingly, you have every right to claim that money back.

You also have the right to claim money back for any expenses you accrue during your recovery time. This includes prescription costs, the transport costs when travelling to medical appointments or the hospital, and any general medical expenses needed after the fall. With this in mind, it’s important that you keep any and all receipts to prove these expenses and discuss them with your solicitor.

To further discuss your rights, speak to The Compensation Experts’ professional advice team. Reach out and see how we can help you start a claim.

There are many categories when it comes to work injury claims, and injuries sustained during work in an office environment is one of them. It’s easy to think of workplace injuries to be more in physical lines of work, such as manual labour, where accidents are more likely, but no matter where your work is based, an employer has a legal obligation to manage your safety, and this includes the office environment.

The following are important details regarding any claim made relating to an office injury.

What Counts as an Office Injury?

The types of injuries which are relevant towards a claim are as follows:

Repetitive strain injury. This is an injury most suffered by office workers, due to the long hours spent sitting at a desk, usually typing and using their hands in the same way for hours on end. This injury involves pain felt in the muscles, nerves, and tendons.
Any injury sustained from a wet floor. If the floor is not properly signposted to signal a hazard and you have fallen or slipped, any subsequent injury is relevant.
Any strain caused as a result of an incorrect procedure. This includes back strain from lifting objects which you have not been properly trained to lift.
Eye strain from overuse of laptops or VDUs.
Being injured as the result of a fallen object.
An injury sustained from faulty equipment. An example would be an electric shock; even if it is an injury from a faulty kettle in the break room, that equipment is still the responsibility of your employer.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. This is caused by excess pressure on the nerve in your wrist and can be exacerbated by typing at a desk for long periods with your wrists in the same position.

Check Your Responsibilities as an Employee

It’s important before making any claim that you are sure you have done everything expected of you as an employee in regards to health and safety. For example, if your employer has provided you with the best equipment to limit eye strain or repetitive strain injury, and you have chosen to not use it regularly or else have been misusing it, then this means your employer is not fully liable for the subsequent injury. If you know that you have fulfilled everything required of you as an employee and your injury is a direct result of your employer alone, then you are eligible to speak to an advisor about a claim.

What’s Involved?

Once the claim has been confirmed, the procedure will be as follows:

Gathering proof of the nature and extent of the injury. This could be obtaining medical records, checking the employer’s accident book, or potentially an independent medical assessment.
Proving that the injury was not unavoidable or a matter of chance. This is important, as it means being able to prove that the injury would not have occurred naturally, and is a direct result of the neglected work environment.

Speak with the team at The Compensation Experts for further advice.

Month: August 2019

3 Common Accidents To Claim Compensation For