Accident at work compensation claims

Accidents at work do happen, more often than people think. Employers are under a duty to ensure that their employees are not exposed to a foreseeable (obvious) risk of injury. Very few people really want to claim compensation against their employers as this can cause awkward situations, especially if the injured person returns to work soon after the accident.

However, it is the right of a person who has suffered an injury that was not their fault which could have been avoided, to make a claim for compensation. More often than not, employers do understand this and will address the cause of the accident to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.

Employers are required by law to have insurance known as “Employers’ Liability Insurance”. Any claim is usually handled by the employer’s insurance company and the employer has little involvement in the claim, other than to provide information required by the insurer. Employees should not be concerned that they might put their employer out of business if they make a claim as they are likely to have adequate insurance to deal with any compensation claim.

If you have had an accident at work and are not sure whether to make a claim or not, or even if you would like to just have an informal chat to discuss your options, please contact us or complete the enquiry form and we will help you to make a decision.

Example

You work as a general caretaker in an office building. You have been provided with a ladder which you have used since your employment; however it has never been checked during your employment. One day, you are using the ladder to change a light bulb and the ladder partially collapses. You lose your balance and you fall to the floor with the light bulb in your hand. The light bulb smashes when you hit the floor cutting your hand. You also hurt your lower back when hitting the floor. You are rushed to hospital where you have minor surgery to your hand as one of the nerves has been severed. Subsequently, you lose partial mobility of your hand, which is your dominant hand. You are also off work for several months recovering.

You have an arguable case against your employer on the basis that they failed to provide you with adequate work equipment. There are complexities in whether the ladder should have been regularly checked for defects or even if it was suitable enough for the simple task of changing a light bulb. We at Aequitas Legal can guide and advise you through these complexities to ensure that you understand your options. Your injuries may be quite severe and have a significant impact on your ability to carry out certain tasks and even your employment. We can also advise and ensure that you are suitably compensated for the life-long injury you have suffered.

The above example is manufactured and is not based on any true events that may have happened.