Work Accident Claim

If you have an accident at work, who will be there to pick up the pieces and help you back onto your feet?

Suffering an accident at work can be one of the most difficult times in your life. Not only have you been injured though no fault of your own, but you are also faced with the prospect of losing money by not being able to continue working through your recovery.

There are other implications of an accident at work. During 2003-04, there were 2.2 million people in the UK suffering from an illness which they believed was caused or made worse by their current or previous employment. Across the same period, an estimated 39 million working days were lost in the UK.

Health and Safety Law

There are various health and safety laws which aim to protect you and give you the right to claim compensation if you suffer an accident at work. Of these laws, the most important are the European Law “Six Pack” of regulations which came into effect in January 1993. Provided these are complied with by your employer, they are effective in preventing accidents happening and also make it easier for you to claim compensation for your injuries.

Failure by your employer to comply with these laws is known as a ‘breach of statutory duty’ and is one of the bases upon which you can successfully pursue a claim as a result of an accident at work. In addition to these written laws, there is also Common Law. This is made by Judges’ decisions and says that employers owe a duty of care to their employees to take reasonable steps to keep the workplace safe. If employers fail in this duty, they will be held by the Courts to be ‘negligent’.

Making a claim for compensation

Mellor Small have a long record of helping injured workers claim and win compensation for injuries caused as a result of an accident at work, which was caused by someone else. This may have been your employer, a fellow employee or another person at your workplace.

Our specialist Solicitors have been helping our clients win compensation even when it wasn’t at first apparent that blame could be attached to their employer. It is important to take qualified legal advice from a Solicitor which will help to establish who is to blame.

If you have suffered an accident at work and are unsure who is to blame or think that your employer or another person is at fault, then fill in our CLAIM NOW form or call us for free on our
Freephone: 0800 811844.

Guide to claiming Disability Benefit

If you have suffered an accident at work, you may find yourself unable to work or out of work. You may be entitled to claim disability benefits as well as the compensation for the injuries. The Department for Work and Pensions supports people disabled as a result of an accident at work and their carers. It provides a range of benefits and services for people who are sick or have a disability.

These benefits are designed to help you if you cannot earn as much as you did prior to the accident and covers the injured person and their carers. To find out more, please click on the links below.

Reduced Earnings Allowance – if you cannot earn as much as you did prior to the accident.
Incapacity Benefit – is paid if statutory sick pay (SSP) has ended.
Industrial Disablement Benefit – is available if you were disabled as a result of an accident at work.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit – paid as a result of a disease or deafness caused by work.

Steps to take when an accident at work happens

Taking the following steps will help us to successfully pursue a claim for compensation for you if you are injured in an accident at work.

1. Notify your health and safety representative if you have one.
2. Notify your employers immediately and complete a short report. This is best done by making an entry in your employer’s accident book. Keep the report factual and avoid any suggestions as to who you think is to blame.
3. As soon as you can, write out a clear description of the accident. This is best done whilst events are still fresh in your memory and will be invaluable later on when you discuss the accident with us. Ensure you sign and date the document.
4. Try to get the names and addresses of any witnesses to the accident, as we may want to write to them.
5. Try to take photographs of the accident scene or if this is not possible, make a sketch of the area. Your employers may not be willing to let your solicitor inspect the scene of the accident if they are to blame, so fast initial action on your part is very important.

Mellor Small – personal injury solicitors who take your injury personally