Lifting Injury Claims

What Are Lifting Injury Claims?

Lifting injuries are a very common source of compensation claims for injuries sustained at work. They can be caused by being asked to lift items that are too heavy for you to do so safely, or through insufficient training being provided to ensure that you are lifting correctly and safely. There are firm guidelines as to how much you can be expected to lift, which depend on the weight of the item, the availability of suitable handholds, the height of the lift and how far away from the body you need to be lifting it. There is also consideration given to how often you are expected to repeat the lift in a short space of time, as long periods of repetitive movement are more likely to result in injury than if there are longer periods between lifts.

Lifting injuries are most often associated with back pain, particularly the lower back, although the damage can also be to the legs, hips, arms or shoulders, depending on the exact nature of your injuries. Lifting injuries also often start out as relatively minor but become worse gradually over time. It is important that you have the time and space to allow your lifting injuries to heal to ensure that you don’t suffer further damage, and a lifting injury claim can give you the financial support to do just that.

We Take The Stress Away From Making Lifting Accident Claims

We know that a lifting injury can be an incredibly stressful experience. They can be very painful and take a considerable amount of time to heal. If you are unable to work during that time, you might find that you are under a significant financial strain as well as the pain and discomfort of your injuries. Our lifting injury claims specialists are here to help you get the compensation you deserve following your lifting injury.

A lifting injury compensation claim can seem like adding additional pressure to a stressful situation, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Our dedicated team of personal injury claims solicitors have years of experience dealing with lifting injury claims just like yours, and we can take all of the stress out of your lifting injury claim.

If you have suffered a lifting injury and would like more information about whether you are able to make a compensation claim, or if you are ready to begin the process of making your claim, call us on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 or claim online today. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and our dedicated team are here to help.

Steps You Can Take Following Your Lifting Injury Accidents To Support Your Compensation Claim

Many of our clients ask us for advice as to what they should in the period immediately following a lifting injury. It should go without saying that your first priority must always be to make sure that you are safe from any further harm and also that you have all the medical help you need. Once this has been done, there are several things you can try to do that might help support any eventual lifting injury compensation claim.

It is vital that you have a clear and consistent memory of what happened before, during and after your lifting injury. This means that we need to have as many details as possible. Because you never know what the person who was responsible for your lifting injury is likely to say in their defence, you will want to have all the details to hand, even ones that may seem irrelevant. In order to help you with this. We advise that you write down everything you can remember, as soon as possible after your lifting injury. This should include all details that you think are relevant, especially focussing on anything that made your lifting injury more likely.

Witness Details For Lifting Injury and Accident Claims

It can also be helpful to make sure that you have the names and contact details of any witnesses to your lifting injury. You are welcome to ask them to write down everything they remember, but we are also able to do this for you, as long as we know who they are and are able to contact them. Witnesses can provide strong support when you are demonstrating the causes of your lifting injury.

You may also want to try to obtain photographs or videos which might be relevant to your case, especially of the location in which your lifting injury occurred, provided it is safe to do so.

Although these are some things that you can do following your lifting injury, to help support your lifting injury compensation claim, we are still fully able to help you even if you are not able to do any of these things. Our expert team of personal injury claims solicitors are specialists in making these kinds of claims, and we can arrange for the collection of any evidence needed to support your lifting injury claim. Call us on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 or claim online now to discuss your lifting injury claim and see how we can help.

Typical Compensation Amounts For Lifting Injury Claims

It is impossible to know in advance how much compensation will be awarded for a particular claim. Each lifting injury compensation claim is unique and the compensation obtained will be based on your personal circumstances. There are several different factors that are taken into consideration in all compensation claims, however.

Compensation claim amounts for all personal injuries (including lifting injuries) are divided into two main parts. The first part of the claim is based on the amount of pain and suffering you have experienced. Because this is such a subjective assessment, there are guidelines put forward by the national governing body (the Judicial College). These give a range of amounts that are usually paid out following each specific injury. The ranges can be very wide, however. This is because they are designed to ensure that the exact nature of your injury can be taken into account. Unfortunately, this can make it very difficult for anyone without experience to know where in that range their injury is likely to fall. Our highly trained personal injury claims solicitors have years of experience in making lifting injury claims and are able to give you an accurate assessment of where in the range your injury is likely to fall.

Special Damages For Lifting Injury Claims

The second part of your lifting injury compensation claim is the more variable part. This is designed to make sure that you are not left financially worse off as a result of your lifting injury. Ideally, this should mean that you are left in the same position as you would have been if your lifting injury had not happened. This includes compensating you for the loss of earnings if you are unable to work for a period while you recover, and even for the loss of potential future earnings if your injuries mean that you are unable to return to your former line of work. Additionally, you can claim for any expenses you might have incurred as a result of what happened to you, including any additional transportation costs, care you may have had to pay for and rehabilitation help that you have needed to access privately, such as physiotherapy. In the case of very serious injuries, you may also be able to claim for modifications to your home and vehicle to allow you get your life back as close as possible to where it was before.

Our Team Specialize In Lifting Accident Claims

With our team of dedicated lifting injury claims specialists, you will have the expert advice you need to ensure that you are claiming for all of the expenses that you are entitled to. This will ensure that you have the money you need to support you and your recovery.

How Can Free Legal Justice Help With Your Lifting Injury Claims?

We want your claim to be as simple and straightforward as possible. We know that the period after your lifting injury is likely to be a deeply stressful period, so we are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to ensure that you are able to get expert legal advice when you need it. You can call us on 0800 567 7074 (for landlines) or 0121 565 4317 (from mobiles) or apply online to arrange a free call back at a time that suits you.

When we first discuss your claim with you, our dedicated team are trained to take the time to listen carefully to your story. This allows us to fully understand the causes of your lifting injury, the extent of your injuries and the ways in which this has impacted your life. By making sure that we have a complete picture of what happened, we can give you the personalised advice as to the amount of compensation you can expect and the likelihood of your claim being successful.

Our Lifting Injury Claims Team Do All The Paperwork

Our team are also here to complete almost all of the paperwork and forms associated with your lifting injury claim. Acting as your solicitors, we are able to fill out and submit almost everything without you having to worry about time-consuming admin. For those tasks that we do need your signature, we are even able to arrange a home visit, if you feel that this would make things easier.

Our team of personal injury solicitors are ready to help you. Call now, to begin your claim.

Is No Win No Fee Available For A Lifting Injury Compensation Claims?

We believe that everyone is entitled to the legal help they need to make a lifting injury compensation claim. The time immediately following your lifting injury can be difficult, both emotionally and financially, so we don’t believe that you should have to make large, up-front payments or have to put yourself at financial risk to get the compensation you deserve.

A no win no fee agreement allows us to act on your behalf to pursue your lifting injury compensation claim without you having to pay anything up front. If we are unable to get you the compensation you deserve, you won’t have to pay anything for our services. This allows you to seek legal help with your claim without putting yourself at any financial risk. Our system also ensures that will always receive the vast majority of the compensation you are awarded. All our fees are explained clearly in advance and we will make sure that you understand exactly how much you will receive in your pocket before you accept any offer of compensation.

Not All Lifting Injury Claims Are Offered On A No Win No Fee Basis

In a minority of cases, we are not able to offer our services on a no win no fee basis. We will always let you know in the unlikely event that your lifting injury compensation case falls into this category and we will discuss the different funding options available to you to ensure that you are still able to access the help you need.

There is no reason to delay making your lifting injury compensation claim. If you have suffered a lifting injury that wasn’t your fault, call us on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 or claim online today.

What If My Boss Doesn’t Want Me To Make A Lifting Injury Compensation Claim?

Employers are not permitted to punish an employee in any way for making a lifting injury compensation claim. This includes you losing your job, being passed over for promotion or having your job changed in a way that is less favourable for you. If your employer were to take any of these actions, they would be liable for further compensation and damages.

Most companies and organisations would not want to make life difficult for an employee who had suffered a lifting injury. Most businesses understand that you need the financial support from your compensation to assist with your recovery, and to get back to work as quickly as possible.

Health And Safety That Avoids Lifting Injury Accidents Claims

If your employer has not been taking health and safety seriously enough, making a lifting injury compensation claim can help to keep your colleagues safe as well. Once they realise that your lifting injury is a serious incident, and that you are making a compensation claim, they will usually begin to pay much more attention to the safety of you and your colleagues.

You may also be concerned that your company are not able to afford to make a compensation payment for your lifting injury. All employers are required to have Employers Liability Insurance, however. This means that you can be certain that your lifting injury compensation claim will not force your company into bankruptcy or cause your job to be at risk because the business folds.

If you are thinking of making a lifting injury compensation claim, call us on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 or claim online now. Our experienced team of lifting injury claims solicitors are here to help.

How Do I Make Lifting Injury Claims?

Making any personal injury claim for compensation, including a lifting injury claim, follows the same, simple process.

The first step in making a lifting injury compensation claim should be to make sure that you have the best possible legal advice. We are here 24/7 to help you. Call our dedicated team of personal injury claims solicitors on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 or claim online to secure the assistance you need to get the compensation you deserve.

We, acting on your behalf, will write to the person you are taking action against, explaining that you believe that they were responsible for your lifting injury and that you are making a lifting injury compensation claim against them. We will ask them to accept that they were legally responsible (liable) and give them a deadline by which they have to respond.

If My Claim Is Rejected – Then What Happens?

If the other party refuses to accept that they were to blame in your lifting injury, we will find and send evidence to support your claim. This might include photographs of the location in which your lifting injury took place, a copy of the company’s accident book, witness statements and anything else that might be relevant. For workplace accidents in particular, it is very unusual for liability to be disputed for long.

When Liability Is Accepted For My Lifting Injury Claim – Then What Happens?

Once the other person has agreed liability for your lifting injury, we are able to negotiate with them to agree an amount of compensation that is acceptable to both sides. It is very common for the other party to make a ‘lowball offer’ initially. This is when they offer an amount of compensation that is very much lower than you are entitled to, in the hope that you will accept it, or to adjust your expectations I the hope that you will accept a slightly higher offer than that. We will offer you our expert advice as to whether the offer being made is fair or not, but the final decision as to whether to accept or reject an offer will always be down to you.

Will I Need To Go Court For My Lifting Injury And Accident Claims?

In the unusual situation that it is not possible to reach agreement, either because the other party refuses to accept that they are liable, or because it is not possible to find a compensation amount that both parties will accept, it may be necessary to go to court to resolve your lifting injury compensation claim. This is very rare, and we will support you throughout the process if it does turn out to be necessary.

It is only once the compensation has been agreed and paid that we take any fees. Our fees are set as a minor percentage of your compensation amount, meaning that you will always receive the lion’s share of your payment. This allows you to relax, knowing that you have the financial support you need while you recover from your lifting injury.

How To Start Your Lifting Injury Compensation Claims?

We understand that they idea of making a compensation claim can seem daunting. Many people are unsure as to whether to go ahead with a lifting injury compensation claim, worried that it could be time-consuming and difficult. Our experienced team of personal injury claims solicitors are here to help. We have helped hundreds of people to get the compensation they deserve, just like you do.

If you are considering making a lifting injury compensation claim, the first step is to call us to see how we can help. We are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, to make sure that you can access the help you need at a time that suits you. If you are calling from a landline, you can call free on 0800 567 7074. If you prefer to use your mobile, you can contact us on 0121 565 4317, which is included in many people’s free minutes. Alternatively, you can claim online and we will call you back at a time that suits you.

We Listen To Our Clients

During our conversation, we will ensure that we fully understand the details of your lifting injury. This includes the circumstances surrounding your lifting injury, who you believe was to blame, the full extent of your injuries and the impact that these injuries have had on your life. Once we have the full picture, we are able to give you the best possible advice and guide you through the next steps of the claims process.

How Quickly Can I Expect My Lifting Injury Compensation Claim To Be Resolved?

Lifting injury compensation claims can take different amounts of time to complete, with some taking much longer than others. We understand that you want to resolve your lifting injury as quickly as possible to give you the financial support that you need to put your lifting injury behind you.

Some cases can be settled very quickly indeed, with many taking just a couple of months and the very fastest needing only a few weeks. For cases to be resolved this quickly, they will usually be for more minor injuries and, therefore, smaller compensation amounts. If you are claiming a smaller amount of money, there is less incentive for the other side to reduce your claim through lengthy negotiations. Lifting injury compensation claims that are resolved this quickly as also the ones where the other side accept liability almost immediately, removing the need for evidence gathering and offering proof, both of which take time.

Some Lifting Injury Claims Take Longer To Finish!

If your case is more complicated, for example if the other person refuses to accept that they were to blame or if there are multiple people who were all partially to blame for what happened, it might take much longer for you to get the compensation you deserve. Cases that have to go to court can last significantly longer than those that do not.

Does My Lifting Injury Need To Be Recorded In The Accident Book?

All companies are required to have an accident book, in which to record the details of any accidents or near misses that occur on the premises or as a result of business activities. All incidents, such as your lifting injury, should be recorded as soon as possible after they occur, although there is some allowance for the fact that looking after the welfare of staff should always take priority. Using the accident book correctly ensures that a company has an accurate history of their health and safety record.

Sometimes, an accident is not recorded in the accident book. There can be different reasons for this. In cases of a very serious accident, looking after the person who has been injured must be the first priority, and the accident book can be forgotten until much later. Alternatively, some employers might fail to include an accident, such as your lifting injury, in an attempt to deny that they were at fault.

My Lifting Accident Was Not Recorded In The Accident Book – Can I Still Claim?

Although the accident book can be useful in supporting your lifting injury compensation claim, it is not essential. If your lifting injury was not recorded in the accident book, we may need to offer additional evidence to support your claim, such as witness statements or photos and videos. However we prove what happened, we can still get you the compensation you deserve.

If you realise that your lifting injury is not included in the accident book, you will want to make sure that you have evidence that you have informed your employer of what happened. The best way to do this is via email, as this allows you to write down exactly what happened and to ask that they record this in the accident book. If they fail to act on this, you can present your emails as evidence in court, and they will have to explain why they did not do so. It is usually best to send the emails to your manager or to HR, or both.

What Are The Requirements For Making Lifting Injury Compensation Claims?

Many of our clients can find it difficult to be sure that they are able to make a lifting injury compensation claim. There are a few simple requirements that must be fulfilled in order for you to make a lifting injury compensation claim.

The first and most basic requirement for you to make a lifting injury compensation claim is that you must have suffered a lifting injury. You are not able to make a claim for a near miss, where you narrowly avoided a lifting injury. You are also only able to claim if were in some way damaged or harmed as a result of what happened. If you were very lucky and avoided all injury, you are not able to make a compensation claim. Your injuries can be mental as well as physical, but you can only claim for what you actually experienced.

Someone Must Be To Blame For You To Make Lifting Injury Claims

The next thing to consider when trying to work out whether you are able to make a lifting injury compensation claim is who was to blame for what happened to you. In order to make a claim, there must have been someone at fault. They do not need to have been the immediate cause of what happened, but they do need to have been responsible for your welfare in some way. If your accident occurred at work, this can be very easy to establish, as your employer has a statutory duty of care, meaning that they have a legal obligation to ensure that you are safe.

The person or organisation that you are claiming against must also have been able to predict something along the lines of what happened to you. This does not mean that you have to prove that they did anticipate it, but a reasonable person who was taking their role seriously in terms of health and safety should be able to foresee the danger.

Were You Safe At Work?

The final thing to think about is whether the person responsible for your welfare put sufficient measures in place to protect you. Even if some steps were taken, you are still able to claim if these were not adequate for the circumstances you found yourself in.

Contact Our Lifting Injury Claims Solicitors Today

If you are considering a lifting injury compensation claim, our dedicated team of personal injury claims solicitors want to help you get the payment you deserve. There’s no need to wait. Call us on 0800 567 7074 or 0121 565 4317 or claim online today. We’re available 24/7 to give you the help and advice you need.

Useful links

Manual Lifting Guidelines
This link gives you advice on the right way of lifting

Safe Way Of Lifting Objects At Work In The UK
This link gives the safe way of lifting objects at work