Accident At Work Claims Perth

What Is An Accident At Work?

Generally, an accident at work is an accidental but anticipatable incident that happens in the workplace, because of certain conditions of the site or premises, because of the way in which a job is being done, or because of how certain equipment is being used. As a result of this, an accident ensues and someone (usually an employee) is harmed. An accident at work claim is then the process where the employee, who was the victim of the accident at work, files a legal claim for financial compensation against the person that is legally responsible for their injuries.

Types Of Accidents At Work

There are many ways that an employee can suffer injuries as a result of an accident at work. Free Legal Justice encounters hundreds of accident at work claims in Perth each year, including:

Construction Accidents At Work

The statistics show that the construction industry is one of the most hazardous sectors to work in. The majority of accident at work claims made in the United Kingdom are based on personal injuries suffered by employees in the construction industry. Accidents at work on building sites can range from sprained ankles as a result of slip and trips, cuts and sprains due to heavy loads, broken and bruised extremities because of defective or dangerous machinery, bone fractures and spinal cord injury due to falls from a height, and loss of limb because of hazardous apparatus.

Sadly, the construction industry is also one of the most common sectors for fatal accidents at work. The main cause of fatal injuries in Great Britain each year is a result of workers falling from a height on construction sites. Other fatal accidents include workers being trapped by something that has collapsed or overturned, and workers being struck by some form of moving vehicle or equipment.

If you work in the construction industry and have been involved or harmed in any accident at work in Perth, then get in touch with Free Legal Justice today to find out if you are eligible for a compensation claim. Free Legal Justice has a dedicated team dealing with accident at work claims in Perth, and we are available to discuss your claim 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free and at no obligation to you. Whether your injuries are relatively trivial or extremely serious, our friendly accident at work claims team in Perth will give you an obligation-free assessment of the merits of your case, and if you decide to continue with an accident at work claim, we will support you through every step of the process.

Slip, Trip Or Fall Accidents At Work

In general, slip accidents at work are caused by the presence of something smooth on the floor surface, for example slippery cleaning products, water or ice, some type of greasy food or sticky drinks. Trip accidents at work can be caused by any item being left lying around on the floor, by uneven floor surfaces, by obstructions in the path (such as potholes), cables lying on the ground, or by hidden or uneven steps. Causes and contributing factors to fall injuries could be anything from loose floor coverings, to losing footing on the stairs, to poor health and safety measures, to faulty equipment; or simply a worker rushing to get somewhere.  The chance of someone slipping, tripping or falling at work is also increased when the lighting in the place of work is insufficient or where the obstructions have not been brought to the attention of employees through any warning signs or demarcation.

Manual Handling And Carrying Accidents At Work

A manual handling job is any workplace task that requires someone to transfer, lift or support a load. The health and safety regulations define manual handing jobs more accurately as the “Transporting or supporting of a load (including the lifting, putting down, pushing, pulling, carrying or moving thereof) by hand or by bodily force.” Manual handling injuries in the workplace can be caused by both light and extremely heavy loads. The employees that are most likely to be at risk include care workers, manufacturing staff, agricultural workers and construction workers. It should be noted however, that any employee in any sort of workplace is at risk of a manual handling or carrying injury.

A large portion of reportable accidents at work that the Free Legal Justice team consider every day relate to injuries caused by manual handling accidents at work. The majority of these cases are a direct result of employers failing to pay sufficient consideration to manual handling safety rules and processes. In many cases, lifting and carrying injuries could easily have been prevented had an employer complied with its duty of care, as well as its legal responsibility to adhere to the health and safety regulations. Lifting and carrying accidents that our claims team in Perth deal with on a daily basis are caused by:

• individuals being required to manually handle excessive weight;
• employers failing to provide adequate training or refresher training to employees;
• Insufficient or infrequent risk assessments being carried out by employers;
• Failure of employers to provide suitable safety equipment to employees
• Failure of employers to provide a safe system of work or sufficient assistance and sufficient oversight for all individuals in the workplace

Our expert accident at work claims solicitors in Perth have successfully proven the negligence of hundreds of employers in claims of this nature, resulting in fair financial compensation and justice for many satisfied Free Legal Justice clients.

Falls From A Great Height

Falling from a great height at your place of work can extremely treacherous. Significant or even life-changing injuries can result from an individual falling from any height, and the entire experience can have a huge impact on the person’s physical and mental wellbeing. If you are an employee that has been involved in this type of accident at work in Perth, Free Legal Justice is here for you. We have been helping clients with accident at work claims for many years, and we know how hard it can be to recover and adjust from this traumatic experience. The physical injuries that you suffer from a falling accident at work don’t just affect your health and personal life- your injuries could also have a financial impact on you and your family.

The Free Legal Justice team is highly experienced in accident at work claims in Perth, and our dedicated accident at work claims handlers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you to get your life back. Although finances might not be the most important thing on your mind after you’ve been harmed in an accident at work, the compensation you could get through a successful claim may make the journey towards recovery a bit easier- in all aspects of your life.

Being Struck By A Moving Object

Any individual can be injured by harmful contact from a moving object, for example where something falls or flies through the air and strikes them. This is a common way for employees to be injured in an accident at work, and one of the largest categories of reported injuries after manual handling accidents and slipping accidents. Workers could also be harmed if boxes were to fall from a storage rack and land on them, or if a sharp object were to fall from a table. Another common example is where an object becomes dislodged from a stack because of a moving vehicle, and falls on the worker standing nearby. In most accident at work claims of this nature, an employer will be held vicariously or directly liable for the employee’s injuries, and the amount of compensation that the employer will need to pay will depend on the severity of the injuries and harm suffered by the claimant because of a moving object.

Defective Equipment

All employers have a responsibility to check equipment regularly and make sure that the equipment is in good and proper working order, and thus does not pose a danger to any person who might need to use it. Equipment in this instance would include any machinery, appliance, apparatus, tool or installation that is used in a workplace. In some cases it can even extend to equipment and items that employees provide for their own personal use within the workplace, or even equipment that is used away from the work premises. When we say ‘use’, this refers to any activity that involves includes starting, stopping, maintaining, servicing, setting, moving, programming, repairing, modifying,  and even cleaning the equipment.

If you are an employee that has been exposed to defective equipment that has caused you physical harm, you are most likely entitled to make an accident at work claim against your employer. Speak to Free Legal Justice in Perth today to find out how to make your accident at work claim.

Military injuries

Anyone who starts a job in the armed forces anticipates that it will be a physically, emotionally and mentally challenging career. It is the Ministry Of Defence’s duty to make sure that their employees remain safe and are appropriately trained for the job at hand. When the Ministry Of Defence falls short of this responsibility and a military employee suffers any form of injury as a result, that employee will be able to make an accident at work claim.

The law surrounding military claims can get complicated. It is advisable that you seek the assistance of a legal expert if you think you have a claim of this type. To speak to one of Free Legal Justice’s experts in accident at work claims team in Perth, simply fill in the online form and wait for a team member to call you back for free,  or call the Free Legal Justice team on 0800 567 7074 today for a free evaluation of your claim.

What Should I Do If I Have Been In An Accident At Work?

In the immediate aftermath of an accident at work, you may face shock and trauma and it can be difficult to remember what procedures to follow to make sure the situation is dealt with properly. If your injuries are serious, the most important thing to do initially is to seek emergency medical attention. In the rush and hysteria of an accident at work, it is often difficult for victims to collect all the evidence and details about the accident for use in a compensation claim at a later stage.

We are mindful of these difficulties, and the Free Legal Justice team is here to help you as far as possible to collect all the information and details necessary to institute your accident at work claim. As a guide, if you are involved in an accident at work, you should try, to whatever extent possible, to take the following steps to deal with the situation:

Fill in the accident at work report book

When an accident at work occurs, it is important to formally record the details of the incident in your own words (including for example the time, place, your contact details and a description of the accident) in the official accident at work book. If possible, we recommend that you get a copy of the page with your accident report on it, as this will be used in support of your accident at work claim.

Obtain CCTV footage of the accident at work

Depending on where the accident at work happened, your employer may have CCTV camera footage available that was recording at the time that the accident happened. It is a good idea to request a copy of any footage of the accident at work, as this will be helpful in proving how and why the incident happened, as well as the cause of the accident.

Collect witness accounts

Unless you work remotely, it’s likely that one of your co-workers will have seen your accident at work when it happened. It could be beneficial to your accident at work claim if you can obtain witness statements from these individuals as proof of what happened.

Take photos

If you are able to, it is a good idea to take photographs of the scene and cause of your accident, as well of the injuries you have suffered as a result of the accident. You can also make notes about your accident as soon as possible – you can even include drawings if they’ll help show what happened.

Should I Make An Accident At Work Claim Against My Employer?

If you have been in an accident at work that was not your fault, you should definitely look into making an accident at work claim as compensation for the harm, pain and suffering you have endured. We understand that instituting a claim for compensation against your employer can be rather nerve-wrecking. We are also aware that you are potentially concerned about the effect that a compensation claim can have on your employment status, or possibly the financial and reputational impact that a successful claim will have on your employer.

We want to help you get the justice you deserve. You need not feel awkward or shy about making an accident at work claim against your employer. If you have suffered any form of injury because of someone’s negligence or actions at work, we advise that you contact a legal professional immediately to discuss your potential accident at work claim. Not only do physical injuries affect your health; they can also affect your personal relationships and have a major financial impact on your life. Your whole life could be changed, and your entire family could be affected as the result of one terrible event. The Free Legal Justice team in Perth is here to help you through this difficult period of your life.

If you are concerned about the financial consequences that an accident at work claim may have on your employer, or about the position of your employment relationship if you make a claim against your company, you need not be concerned any longer. All employers in the UK are required to take our employer’s liability insurance. When you make a work accident claim, your employer’s insurance company will take over the case on your employer’s behalf, and will pay any associated costs, including your compensation pay-out. Every employer is legally required to take out this employers’ liability insurance, to make sure that they are financially able pay compensation for any accidents at work that result in illness or injury to an employee, without it affecting the economic position of the business.

In summary, you are legally entitled to claim financial compensation for wrongful injuries that you have suffered in the workplace, and you have a fundamental right to get justice for the harm that has been caused. Do not feel guilty about using your basic human rights! Our experienced accident at work claims team in Perth has dealt with these often sensitive situations countless times before- they are extremely common. The Free Legal Justice team will deal with your case sensitively and discreetly, placing your privacy and security at the top of our priorities list. If you have any concerns or questions about making an accident at work claim, Free Legal Justice will be happy to provide the necessary support and discuss your options with you in a completely free consultation.

To start your accident at work claim in Perth today, contact a member of the Free Legal Justice team at any time of day, on any day of the week, by filling out the short online form and waiting for us to call you back for free, or by calling one of our friendly injury claims handlers on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 now.

What Is The Value Of My Accident At Work Claim?

Your legal right to compensation is centred on getting you back to the position you were in before the accident. In accident at work claims, compensation sums are calculated with reference to the severity of the victim’s personal injuries, and the type of care that the victim may need going forward, to be able to cope with their injuries. The claim will also include an amount for out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the incident.

Personal injury claims consist of general and special damages. In summary, general damages are compensation for the personal injuries that you have suffered, whereas special damages are compensation for any supplementary expenses incurred as a result of the accident. Your dedicated solicitor in Perth will be sure to take you through the calculation of your general and special damages in detail once you’ve agreed to proceed with an accident at work claim.

There are specific rules as to the value of general damages for different levels of injuries in accident at work claims. Your general damages calculation will be done by matching the injuries described on your independent medical report with the sums provided for in the official Judicial Board Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases. The amount of compensation that you receive will be influenced by details such as how serious your injury was and how long you will take to recover.

You will need to keep record of all of these additional expenses or costs you have incurred from the date of the accident, and further be able to show the expenses that you will incur in the future as a result of the accident. These costs will be included in the broad category of special damages. Special damage claims can include anything from travel costs, costs of medical appointments, additional childcare costs, and loss of future and past income. Special damages can also include a broader claim for medical expenses such as prescriptions, physiotherapy costs, counselling costs, physical home adjustments, and even the costs associated with any special equipment that you might need to live with your injuries.

Examples of General Damages In Accident At Work Claims

Head Injuries

A head injury is a very serious issue and must be dealt with carefully. If you have sustained a head injury, there is a risk that you have also suffered some form of brain injury and you should make sure that you seek medical help immediately. In accident at work claims, the amount of compensation that you will be entitled to for head and brain injuries will depend on how serious and permanent the damage is. An employee suffering from a minor head injury, with no injury to the brain, may be entitled to claim compensation of between £3,000 and £6,000. If serious harm has been caused to the head and the brain, the employee may be entitled to over £20,000 in compensation. In the most serious cases where the employee is left completely unresponsive and has suffered permanent severe brain damage, accident at work claims can total over £200,000.

Mental or Psychological Injuries

As with other forms of injury, the total compensation allowed for mental and psychological harm is dependent on how serious the injuries are. If you have suffered psychological harm that is temporary, and your life is expected to return to normal relatively soon, your compensation claim can total anything between £4,000 and £10,000. Where mental and psychological injuries are severe and permanent, the compensation pay-out can be up to £50,000 in valid accident at work claims.

Upper Body Injuries

If you’ve suffered minor upper body injuries, which includes damage to your neck and shoulders, you may have a compensation claim of up to £6 000, depending on the nature of your injuries. If you have suffered severe upper body injuries, such as a dislocation or fracture, then you could claim up to £29,000. The largest compensation amounts will be for extremely severe or permanent injuries such as paraplegia, with compensation claims fetching anything between £35,000 and £200,000.

Back Injuries

Back injuries should be treated carefully and taken seriously- these injuries pose severe health risks, and can be extremely painful and physically draining. If you have suffered a back injury in an accident at work, you have a high risk of spinal damage, and it is important that you get a medical assessment immediately to prevent any further harm being caused. Back injuries can result in decreased mobility, and in serious cases can even result in paralysis. Compensation claims for minor back injuries can reach up to £9000 in value, while the most serious and permanent back injuries (such as damage to the nerve root or spinal cord) can result in compensation pay-outs of up to £200,000.

Hands, Arms, and Wrist Injuries

It can be tricky to quantify the loss that an employee has suffered as a result of an accident that has caused some sort of wrist or hand injury. Less severe hand and wrist injuries could result in compensation claims of between £3 000 and £5 000, while permanent injury or disability can lead to successful compensation claims in the amount of £30,000.

Lower Body Injuries

Injuries to your lower body include injury to your ankles, knees, hips and legs. The amount claimable for lower body will again vary based on factors such as the nature and significance of the injuries suffered by the employee. On the lower end of the scale, compensation for minor lower body injuries can reach up to £10 000. If you have suffered major lower body injuries leading to permanent disability, loss of limb, or consistent pain and suffering however, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £25 000.

Your experienced accident at work claims solicitor in Perth will be able to give you an estimate of your claim’s worth once you have provided them with all the details of the incident, and any medical reports about the injuries that resulted from the accident at work. It is important to note that we won’t be able to give you a 100% accurate predication of your claim’s value. The amounts mentioned above are merely to be used as a broad guideline to possible compensation in claims of this nature, and must not be seen in any way to be fixed compensation amounts available to personal injury victims. Free Legal Justice will assess the value of your individual claim in a completely free, confidential consultation, once you have provided our claims handlers in Perth with the details of your accident.

Examples of Special Damages In Accident At Work Claims

To make a claim for special damages, the Court will require proof of whatever additional expenses or costs you have experienced as a result of your injuries. This includes expenses that you have already incurred, as well as those that you will incur in the future. Expense items that our accident at work claims experts in Perth typically include in special damages are:

• Costs of repair or replacement due to damaged possessions;
• Prescription medication costs;
• Medical care, including physiotherapy & rehabilitation costs;
• Travel expenses, including travel to medical appointments and parking costs;
• Loss of past and future earning capacity,
• Any loss of job opportunities, promotions, bonuses or pensions directly related to the injury; and
• Costs relating to the adaptation of your home, necessary to be able to live with your injuries.

For a completely free assessment of your accident at work claim, contact Free Legal Justice in Perth at any time of day, on any day of the week, by filling out the short online form and waiting for us to call you back for free, or by calling one of our friendly accident claims handlers on 0800 567 7074 or  on 0121 565 4317. If you would like to discuss your case from the comfort of your own home, please request a complimentary home visit from one of our friendly accident claim handlers in Perth.

How Much Will It Cost Me To Make An Accident At Work Claim?

You will receive completely free initial legal advice from Free Legal Justice as to how you should make your accident at work claim. Once you have given our highly skilled accident claims solicitors in Perth the go-ahead to continue with your claim, we will offer you a No Win No Fee agreement to run your matter. A No Win No Fee agreement allows you to continue with a compensation claim on the condition that if the claim is unsuccessful, you won’t owe us any money. Put simply, it is a way for you to take legal steps necessary to claim compensation for your injuries, without any financial risk weighing over your head.

Free Legal Justice will carry all the upfront costs of instituting your case, meaning that you will only be charged a success fee if we help you to win your compensation case. The success fee is usually calculated as 25% of the total compensation received for claim, and will be discussed with you before we institute your claim. Free Legal Justice is happy to offer no win no fee agreements to all our clients with valid accident at work claims, because we are extremely confident in our legal team’s legal abilities and we have a track record of successful claims behind us.

For victims of accidents at work, No Win No Fee agreements are a great funding option for litigation, as it ensures that clients will not pay a thing unless their compensation claim is successful. A No Win No Fee agreement is also a stress-free, financially-savvy way to claim compensation for personal injuries.

Once you have provided us with all the details of your case, and given our team the go-ahead to continue with your compensation claim on a No Win No Fee basis, your work in the matter is basically complete. You can now sit back, relax, and let your dedicated solicitor in Perth do all the hard work for you!

How Long Will My Accident At Work Claim Take?

This is not a straightforward question to answer. Every workplace accident is unique, as is the compensation claim process that follows. Some cases can be settled in a matter of months, while others are more complicated and will take considerably longer to resolve. The length of time needed to resolve your matter will depend on the facts specific to your case. Accident at work claims can become more complicated if your injuries are extremely serious, or if there is a dispute over the facts, as this may make it more difficult to prove legal responsibility.

No matter how the accident at work happened or who you think is to blame for the accident, it is important that you speak to a legal professional from Free Legal Justice as soon as possible to determine whether you have a valid claim. Our experienced team members in Perth handle every compensation claim through a fast-track evaluation and distribution process; so that we can help our clients get the compensation they deserve as soon as possible.

Contact Our Accident At Work Claims Solicitors In Perth Today

Our practised personal injury solicitors in Perth have handled countless accident at work claims before, and will be able to give you good idea of how long your case is likely to take once they have assessed the merits. The sooner you get started on your accident at work claim, the sooner you will get the justice that you deserve. Contact Free Legal Justice for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our accident claims solicitors in Perth today!

We cover the following areas:

Abbots Deuglie, Aberfeldy, Aberfeldy Distillery, Abernethy, Acharn, Almondbank, Alyth, Amulree, Atholl, Atholl Highlanders, Auchterarder, Balado, Ballinluig, Bankfoot, Ben Lawers, Blackford, Blackhall Roman Camps, Blair Atholl, Blair Atholl Mill, Blair Castle, Blairgowrie, Bridge of Balgie, Bridge of Earn, Burrelton
Cairngorms National Park, Castle Menzies, Clunie, Cluny House, Comrie, Coupar Angus, Creag Odhar, Crieff, Drummond Castle, Dull, Dunkeld, Dunning, Errol, Fearnan, Finegand, Forgandenny, Forest of Atholl, Forteviot, Fortingall, Fortingall Yew, Glen Lyon, Glenfarg, Glenshee, Glenshee Ski Centre, Gowrie, Grampian Mountains, Grandtully, Greenloaning, Inchture, Innerpeffray, Invergowrie, Keltybridge, Kenmore, Killiecrankie, Kindrogan, Kingoodie, Kinloch Rannoch, Kinross, Kinrossie, Kirkmichael, Lawers, Leetown, Loch Earn, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Loch Rannoch, Loch Tay, Logierait, Luncarty, Madderty, McDiarmid Park, Meigle, Meikleour, Melville Monument, Methven, Milnathort, Muthill, Ochil Hills, Perth
Pitkeathly Wells, Pitlochry, Pitmiddle, Rannoch Moor, Rattray, River Ericht, River Isla, River Tay, Scone, Spittal of Glenshee, St Fillans, Strathearn, Strathtay, Trinafour, Waterloo
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