Sefton Kwasnik, Partner, Serious Injury/Medical Profession, Defence and Inquests, delivers a guide on FAQs regarding workplace accidents.
Have you had an accident whilst at work? If you have, it’s important to know what your legal rights are regarding compensation and retaining your employment.
Here’s a helpful guide about what you need to know if you’ve been in a work-related accident.
What to do if you’ve been in an accident at work
You should immediately:
- Make sure you seek medical advice from your GP or hospital at the earliest opportunity, explain to them exactly how you were injured and ensure that the required amount of medical care needed is provided e.g. a trip to the hospital.
- Try to make sure that the accident has been properly recorded, both by the employer and by you. Make sure the ‘accident book’ or your work’s equivalent recording source is filled in – this should be held by all employers, and will be proof of your accident.
- For your own purposes, make a note of any witnesses in the area and any equipment or machinery being used at the time.
- If you are absent from the workplace, ring in and confirm the position by letter or email at the earliest opportunity.
Can you claim for loss of earnings?
All businesses are required to have employee liability insurance in case of an accident, meaning any claim will go through the company’s insurance policy. If a mistake by your employer has happened and you have been injured as a result, you are entitled to receive compensation.
How long do I have to make a claim?
There is a standard limit within the UK of three years when making a work-place accident claim. If after three years you decide you want to take action, your case may be considered time-barred and you won’t be able to carry through with your claim.
If the accident has happened to a young person (18 or under), you have until the day before their 21st birthday to make a claim.
We would advise making the claim as soon as you are aware that your workplace is the reason behind your accident, as it’s easier to prove the link between the accident and the injury.
At BPS Family Law, we work closely with people who have been in workplace accidents. We offer practical advice along with a compassionate approach. Our aim is to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
If you’re looking for a lawyer to help you with any of the issues mentioned above, then you can get in touch with Sefton at [email protected] or by telephone on 0161 834 2623 or 078 3663 0889.
