Injured At Work?
If you have been injured in a work accident, how do you know if you can make a claim? This article explores the legal requirements for your employer, and the action you can take to rectify the situation.
The Law
Your employer has a duty to ensure that you are protected in your workplace. As an employee, you are owed a duty of care. If they breach this duty of care by failing to protect you and you subsequently suffer an injury caused by this breach of duty, your employer will be liable to pay compensation to you for your injuries, losses and expenses.
Risk Assessments
Part of your employer's duty is that they must carry out a risk assessment, looking at the dangers in the workplace and how they might cause you to be injured at work.
All places of work carry some danger, even offices with potential hazards including lifting heavy items, tripping over wires, or badly positioned workstations.
Factories usually are more risky with dangerous equipment and machinery and often relentless tasks leading to fatigue and more chances of injury. An employer must assess all potential dangers and take action to reduce the chance of their staff being injured at work. Failure to do so could lead to an employee being injured and taking a claim for compensation against the employer.
Another large source of work injury claims involves fork lift trucks. Lack of training can lead to the fork lift tipping over causing injury to the driver and anyone in the vicinity. Careless driving can also lead to injuries to colleagues and visitors to premises.
If the employer fails to assess the risk involved in these circumstances, and all other potential causes of injury, they have failed in their duty of care to you. If this is the case, you can move onto the next stage, compensation.
Compensation
If you are unfortunate enough to be injured at work due to your employer's negligence, you will be entitled to compensation. The compensation will be awarded for the pain and suffering experienced (called General Damages) but also for your losses and expenses (Special Damages). This can include items such as:
- Earnings lost as a result of the accident
- Treatment expenses
- Medication costs
- Additional travel expenses
- Damaged clothing etc
What To Do If You Are Injured At Work
There are many solicitors with expertise of dealing with people injured at work. Ensure you choose one that specialises in work accidents, explains the process to you in detail and ensures that all initial enquiries are completely free of charge and without obligation.
Would You Like Assistance from Specialist Work Accident Claims Solicitors?
If you would like to benefit from a service of excellence with total commitment to client care from a friendly team, Glynns are ready and waiting to help you.
To make a free, no obligation enquiry please call us on 0800 234 3300 (or from a mobile 01275 334030) or complete our Online Enquiry Form, thank you.
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