Falling Object Injury Claims Guide – How Much Compensation Can I Claim?
How To Claim Compensation for Injuries From Falling Objects
By Cat Way. Last Updated 28th April 2023. Welcome to our guide on falling object injury claims. Injuries from falling objects, whether in the workplace or in a public place, can cause serious damage, leaving you incapacitated for a long period of time. Should you have been struck by a falling object, our legal experts would help you make a falling object compensation claim and ensure you are awarded the right amount for your pain and suffering.
Anyone who has been struck by a falling object and sustained an injury could be entitled to file a falling object compensation claim. This type of accident is more commonplace in a work environment, but an object can be dropped from a height, off a ladder or scaffolding in a public place too. Falling object injuries can occur in a park, nursery or because a shop sign fell, causing you pain and suffering. If you have been struck by a falling object, no matter where the incident occurred, we would walk you through the process of filing a falling object compensation claim while at the same time offering advice on the amount you may be awarded for your injuries using our personal injury claims calculator.
To find out more about falling object injury claims and to speak to a Legal Expert personal injury lawyer today, click on the Select a Section below or call 0800 073 8804.
Select A Section
- A Guide To Falling Object Compensation Claims
- What Are Falling Object Accidents?
- What Are Common Injuries From Falling Objects?
- Falling Object Injury statistics
- Risk Management To Ensure Protection From Falling Objects
- Duty Of Care To Prevent People Being Struck By A Falling Object
- Claims For Injuries From Falling Object Hazards In The Workplace
- Claims For Being Struck By A Falling Object In A Public Place
- I was hit by a falling sign can I claim compensation?
- Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For An Injury From A Falling Object?
- Injuries Caused By Objects Falling From A Height And Other Levels – Compensation Examples
- No Win No Fee Falling Object Compensation Claims
- Why Make Your Falling Object Compensation Claim With Us?
- Contact Legal Expert Today
- Helpful Links
- Falling object injury claims FAQs
A Guide To Falling Object Compensation Claims
Head injury caused by a falling object
Injuries sustained when struck by a falling object are quite common in the workplace or in areas where goods are stacked or moved around in warehouses and storerooms. Whether you are injured by a moving object in the workplace or in a public area, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim for compensation providing negligence can be established on the part of a third party.
Objects can fall in public places, too, and this includes shop and other types of signs. Establishing who is responsible involves gathering as much information about the circumstances surrounding the incident and finding out who is responsible for the public area, whether it’s a shop, park or another area the public regularly uses. The sort of items that could fall and cause injury to a passer-by include where safety netting has not been set up on construction sites or an item being dropped from a ladder onto a pavement.
This type of injury can leave you incapacitated for a long time, more especially if you were struck on the head by a falling object from a great height. However, even when an item falls from a low height, the injuries you may sustain could be more severe than you first thought more especially if you suffered a mild concussion.
Personal injury claims are complex at the best of times, and with so much legal jargon associated with them, choosing to discuss your case with a professional takes the stress out of having to cope with all it entails. To find out more on how much you may be awarded in falling object injury claims, please review our personal injury claims calculator below.
What Are Falling Object Accidents?
Injuries from falling objects are more commonplace than you may think. This type of accident typically happens in the workplace, but you can get injured by a falling object in a public place or even in a private residence.
Other instances where people suffered an injury from a falling object included when a falling object hit a pedestrian as they walked along a pavement or when they were struck by something while walking in a public place. It is worth noting the definition of being “struck by moving objects” also refers to any objects/items that fall from above, which includes the following:
- Ladders
- Buildings
- Mine shafts
- Lifting machinery
- Vehicles
- Other equipment
- Other specified or unspecified ways
If you have been struck by a falling object, whether in the workplace or elsewhere, and the accident occurred due to the negligence of a third party, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the pain and suffering your sustained. Whether it was a slight injury or something more serious, we can help you through the process of filing a falling object compensation claim.
For more information on falling object injury claims, please read on or call us to get the claim started today.
What Are Common Injuries From Falling Objects?
Injuries caused by falling objects can be slight to extremely serious, leaving you with severe life-changing spinal damage. Compensation for serious injuries caused by falling objects is calculated on how much your life is negatively impacted. With this said, the most common reported injuries are detailed below:
- Injuries to the head
- Facial injuries
- Brain damage
- Back injuries
- Injuries to the spine which result in paraplegia or tetraplegia
If you were injured by a falling object, whether in the workplace or elsewhere and are wondering if you could be entitled to make a claim, a personal injury solicitor would assess your case to establish if a third party could be held responsible for the pain and suffering you endured. We provide an initial, free, no-obligation consultation which allows us the time to assess your case, and it also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions relating to falling object injury claims.
Falling Object Injury statistics
The number of incidents where employees suffered major/specified injuries after being struck by a moving object from 2019 to 2020 stood at around 11%, according to statistics published by RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).
Incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive indicate that over 10% of serious injuries caused by “moving objects” occurred in workplaces in Great Britain in 2019/20. 6,935 of these accidents were reported in 2019/20. Of these, 5,266 resulted in an absence of over 7 days from work.
Falling object injury claims statistics graph
Around a third of all injuries caused by people being struck by a falling object involve items falling from storage racks and similar incidents.
Risk Management To Ensure Protection From Falling Objects
Employers, by law, have a duty of care to ensure that all employees and people visiting a workplace are kept safe from being hit by falling objects. They must carry out risk assessments, and this includes the risk of anyone being struck by a moving object. Employers and business owners must ensure the following:
- That shelving is stable, well-secured and that it will not easily fall if knocked
- Heavier objects/items must be stored on shelves nearer to the ground
- Lighter objects/items can be stored on higher shelving
- Careful attention must be paid to how goods/items are stacked, handled and moved
- Hand tools which include knives, must be safely stored and well sheathed when not being used
- Knife resistant protective wear must be provided and worn by anyone working with knives – this includes aprons, forearm guard/gloves to be worn on the non-cutting hand
- All hand tools must be kept in good condition
- Pallet truck, racks and trolleys operated by pedestrians should only be used on designated, well-signposted routes and operators must wear high visibility clothing
Management/business owners must carry out risk assessments on any hazardous situations involving items such as rolling kegs/barrels, objects ejected from equipment, hoist hooks etc.
Being hit by falling objects can leave you seriously injured; however, even a slight head injury should be taken seriously, and medical attention must be sought sooner rather than later. If you have been injured by a falling object at work and need help establishing if you have a claim for compensation, a personal injury lawyer can advise you of your rights and who may be responsible for your pain and suffering. At Legal Expert, our team of solicitors have years of experience in successfully handling falling object injury claims for clients in the past.
Duty Of Care To Prevent People Being Struck By A Falling Object
Employers and site managers, as well as any other person who is in control of a workplace, have a duty of care to ensure that work environments are kept safe. Under the law, employees and anyone visiting a workplace must be protected and kept safe from suffering a falling object injury. The regulations that govern workplaces are detailed below:
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Working at Height Regulations 2005
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Under UK legislation, business owners/employers must carry out the following:
- Carry out risk assessments
- Provide adequate safety measures
- Provide adequate staff training
- To prevent or stop items/objects from falling by attaching ties or suitable guards/safety mesh
- To set up exclusion zones
- To store goods/items/objects safely and to only place machinery/equipment at heights when absolutely necessary
- To provide the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which includes hard hats and safety helmets
A business owner/employer’s responsibility includes visitors to a workplace or site where a member of the public may be struck by a falling object from scaffolding or a ladder.
When it comes to falling objects in other public areas or private settings where protection from falling objects is that much harder to set in place, land or property owners could be held responsible if you are struck by a falling object, examples being if a sign fell on your head, the shop owner would be liable whereas if an object fell off a windowsill or balcony of a private house, the property’s owner would be deemed responsible for an injury from a falling object.
For more information on falling object injury claims, please read on or call our team today for help on starting your claim.
Claims For Injuries From Falling Object Hazards In The Workplace
If you were struck by a falling object in the workplace, whether you are an employee or just visiting a shop, building site or another work environment, you could be entitled to claim compensation for the pain and suffering you sustained as a result of an accident at work. Even if an object falls from a low height, you may suffer a significant head injury or another part of your body.
Some of the most common workplace falling object claims involve hand tools which, when stored at height, can cause significant injuries to anyone below. Business owners and employers have a duty of care under The Work at Height Regulations 2005 to ensure that employees and visitors be protected from falling object injury. Failure to do so could be deemed negligent, and a court could rule that a business owner/employee be liable for your injuries.
If you suffer a falling object workplace injury, there are specific things you can claim, which are detailed below:
- Special damages
- Medical expenses
- Travel costs
- Care costs
- Loss of income
- Loss of anticipated income
Having sustained an injury from a falling object in the workplace, it is essential to follow the dropped objects procedure that is set in place by the management. All reports passed onto RIDDOR by the Health and Safety Executive would be needed when filing hit by falling object claims. The report would also be used in annual H&S dropped objects statistics.
Call us today for more information on falling object injury claims, or read on to find out more about falling object injury claims in a public place.
Claims For Being Struck By A Falling Object In A Public Place
If you have been struck by a falling object in a public place, whether in a shop, park or another area where the public is permitted to be, the responsibility for any injuries you sustain would be down to a shop/business owner, local council, management or person who is in control of a designated area.
The most important part of filing a falling object claim is being able to prove third party negligence which means gathering as much evidence as possible to pass onto a personal injury lawyer. The proof needed in falling object accident claims include the following:
- That a third party was negligent
- They failed to make an area safe from falling objects
- Photographic evidence of injuries sustained
- Photographic evidence of where the injury occurred
- Witness statements and their contact details
- CCTV evidence (if possible)
I was hit by a falling sign can I claim compensation?
Accidents in the workplace or in a public place that involve falling signs can cause minor to more serious head injuries. Many people ask us, “can I claim for a falling object injury” and the answer is yes. If you were struck by a falling sign, you would be entitled to claim compensation for the injuries you sustained. If the incident happened in the workplace, whether you are an employee or just visiting, the business owner/employer could be held responsible for not having made sure the work area was safe. A court could rule they were negligent and rule in your favour awarding you falling object injury compensation for the pain and suffering you had to endure.
If the incident happened in a public place, whether a shop, supermarket, park or another area where the public is allowed to be, then the people who would be held responsible would be the management of an area, the business owner or the local council.
Severe head injuries must be taken seriously and include the following:
- Unconsciousness
- concussion
- Fits or seizures
- Problems talking
- Problems staying awake
- Hearing problems
- Double vision
- Vomiting
- Blood from nose
- Loss of memory
- Swelling/bruising around eyes and behind ears
- lack of coordination
- Difficulty standing up/walking
The level of compensation you may be awarded would depend on the seriousness of your head injury. A personal injury lawyer would ensure you receive the right level of compensation for a falling object injury that involved a sign. To find out how we can help process falling object injury claims, please contact us today.
Am I Eligible To Claim Compensation For An Injury From A Falling Object?
People who have been struck by a falling object, whether in a public place or at work, may be entitled to file for compensation from the third party or employer if negligence can be established. If you have sustained an injury in the last 3 years and where children are involved, the time limit is longer, we would work on your falling object compensation claim bearing in mind that we would do so on a No Win No Fee basis taking all the strain off having to find the funds to get your claim started.
Injuries Caused By Objects Falling From A Height And Other Levels – Compensation Examples
Compensation for injuries caused by objects falling from height can vary on a case-to-case basis, because the unique circumstances of each claim are considered.
Following a successful personal injury claim, you will be awarded general damages. General damages compensate you for the pain and suffering that your injuries have caused you.
Many legal professionals will value claims with the help of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document that contains guideline compensation amounts for a range of injuries. In the table below, you can find some of the amounts listed in the 16th edition of the JCG.
Please only use this table as a guide.
| Injury | Compensation | Additional information |
|---|---|---|
| Brain damage- Very severe | £282,010 to £403,990 | In these cases there will be little, if any, evidence of meaningful response to environment, little or no language function, double incontinence and the need for full-time nursing care. |
| Brain Damage- Moderately Severe | £219,070 to £282,010 | In these cases, there will be substantial dependence on others and a need for constant professional and other care. |
| Brain Damage- Moderate | £150,110 to £219,070 | Cases in which there is moderate to severe intellectual deficit, a personality change, an effect on sight, speech and senses with a significant risk of epilepsy and no prospect of employment. |
| Neck injury- Severe | In the region of £148,330 |
Neck injury associated with incomplete paraplegia or resulting in permanent spastic quadriparesis or where the injured person still has little or no movement in the neck after a period of years. |
| Neck injury- Moderate | £24,990 to £38,490 |
Includes injuries such as fractures or dislocations which cause severe immediate symptoms and which may necessitate spinal fusion, and chronic conditions, usually involving referred symptoms to other parts of the anatomy or serious soft tissue injuries to the neck and back combined. |
| Neck injury- Minor | £4,350 to £7,890 |
Full recovery achieved with 1 to 2 years |
| Shoulder injuries- Severe | £19,200 to £48,030 | Associated with neck injuries and involving damage to the brachial plexus |
| Shoulder injuries- Serious | £12,770 to £19,200 | Dislocation of the shoulder and damage to the lower part of the brachial plexus causing pain in shoulder and neck, aching in elbow, sensory symptoms in the forearm and hand, and weakness of grip. |
| Shoulder injuries- Moderate | £7,890 to £12,770 | Frozen shoulder with limitation of movement and discomfort with symptoms persisting for about two years. |
| Spinal injury- Severe | £91,090 to £160,980 | Cases of the most severe injury involving damage to the spinal cord and nerve roots, leading to a combination of very serious consequences |
| Spinal injury- Moderate | £27,760 to £38,780 | Cases include, amongst other things, compression/crush fracture of the lumbar vertebrae where there is a substantial risk of osteoarthritis and constant pain and discomfort. |
| Spinal injury- Moderate | £12,510 to £27,760 | Includes many frequently encountered injuries to the back such as disturbance of ligaments and muscles giving rise to backache |
Additionally, you could be awarded special damages. This compensates you for the financial losses you suffered due to your injuries.
For example, if you needed to take time off work to recover, and this resulted in you losing pay, you may be able to claim back these lost earnings under special damages. It can also cover:
- Travel costs.
- Medical bills, such as for prescriptions.
- The cost of any home adjustments.
- Professional care costs
To be able to claim these financial losses back under special damages, you will need to provide evidence about them. This could include payslips, invoices and bank statements.
Contact our team to learn more about claiming for injuries caused by objects falling from a height. They can offer help on a range of accident at work claims, such as construction injury claims, and warehouse injury claims.
No Win No Fee Falling Object Compensation Claims
For many people making a claim for compensation following a falling object, injury is just too expensive. Our No Win No Fee structure takes the burden off finding funds to pay for essential legal advice when it comes to filing personal injury claims. We can begin work on your claim without you having to pay anything in advance for us to do so.
Having worked on many successful No Win No Fee falling object compensation claims in the past, our team of legal experts are familiar with what is often a complex process, and as such, our success rate is something to be proud of.
We only ask for payment once you have been awarded compensation for the pain and suffering you endured as a result of a falling object injury. There’s nothing to pay should your case be unsuccessful.
Our next section will go into more detail about how we can help with falling object injury claims.
Why Make Your Falling Object Compensation Claim With Us?
At Legal Expert, we pride ourselves in providing a first-class personal injury service and keep our claims lines open 24-hour, 7-days a week, 365 days a year. This ensures you can contact us at any time to discuss a falling object injury claim.
We also offer a no-obligation, initial free consultation, which enables us the time to understand your case and whether you could be entitled to file a claim against a third party. Working with us on a No Win No Fee basis takes the pressure off and allows you to focus on making a full recovery.
We work with true professionals in their field, and our personal injury solicitors are well acquainted with the legal process involved in filing falling object compensation claims on behalf of their clients. Call us today to find out how we can help you with your falling object injury claims, making sure the personal injury claims time limit is respected.
Contact Legal Expert Today
To speak to a personal injury solicitor today and for a quick response to your smoke inhalation queries, please call us directly on 0800 073 8804 or request a “call back” by filling out the form.
You can also email us at info@legalexpert.co.uk –all emails are answered within 3 hours, Mon-Fri.
Our claims lines are open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, 365-days a year.
Helpful Links
The link below takes you to the Health and Safety Executive website, which provides information on falling object accidents in the food and drink industry:
The link below takes you to the NHS website, where you will find details about severe head injuries:
The link below provides essential information about head injury claims:
The link below offers valuable advice about Split Liability:
The link below will take you to our guide on claiming for medical negligence:
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Falling object injury claims FAQs
What are the two types of injury claims?
A personal injury compensation claim is made up of two heads of claim, which include general damages covering pain and suffering and special damages covering financial losses.
How long do injury claims take to settle?
The amount of time it takes to settle a personal injury claim will vary. Complicated claims where liability is in dispute or the injuries are serious may take some time to settle.
How long after a falling object accident can I claim?
The personal injury claims time limit is three years from the date that the accident took place.
How are damages calculated?
Your payment for a personal injury claim will be calculated based on how serious your injuries are and how they’ve affected your quality of life.
What type of damages are lost wages?
Loss of earnings is classed as special damages and will be calculated separately from the amount for your injuries.
I’ve been injured at work, what are my rights?
If you’ve been injured in the workplace, then you have a right to seek compensation if the accident was caused by your employer’s negligence and you can’t be sacked for making a claim. You should report your accident in the workplace accident book so a record of the incident exists.
Can I claim compensation for an object that’s fallen from a vehicle?
Yes. If you were injured by an object that fell from a vehicle because it wasn’t secured or because someone was negligent in another way, you may be able to make a claim.
Can I claim for a falling object injury on someone else’s behalf?
Yes. You are able to claim as a litigation friend for a child under the age of 18 or for someone without the mental capacity to make a claim themselves.
Thank you for reading our guide on falling object injury claims.
