Last updated 10th February 2025. Window cleaner accident claims are made by individuals injured while performing window cleaning, often in environments where working at height and hazardous conditions are unavoidable. Whether the accident occurred due to a faulty ladder, inadequate safety equipment, poor risk assessments, or a lack of proper training, these incidents can result in serious and sometimes life-changing injuries.
If you are a window cleaner who has been hurt at work, you may have the right to pursue compensation, regardless of whether you are employed, self-employed, or working through an agency. A window cleaner accident claim can provide financial support for medical treatment, loss of earnings, rehabilitation costs, and the long-term effects of your injury, while also ensuring that those responsible for maintaining safe working conditions are held accountable.
You can get in touch with our team right now to discuss your window cleaner personal injury compensation claim if you prefer. Find out through a free assessment exactly what you could be owed in compensation.
4.8 (466 reviews) What Is A Window Cleaner Accident?
Window cleaner personal injury claims rely upon being able to demonstrate that employer negligence caused your injuries. When you’re at work, your employer has a duty of care to ensure your safety as much as is practicable.
There are two pieces of legislation that require your employer to extend a duty of care to your safety and wellbeing as far as reasonably practicable while at work. Firstly, the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974 obliges all employers in Britain to reduce or remove hazards to their employees as much as they practicably can.
Another piece of legislation relating to working at heights called the Work at Height Regulations 2005 may be applicable to you as well. This outlines how employers should safeguard those who work at a height.
For more information on the duty of care you’re owed in the workplace, and how this can be breached, speak with an advisor today. If you have a valid claim, you could be connected with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.
Health And Safety When Cleaning Windows
There are several steps that your employer should take in order to ensure your safety while you’re in the workplace. This includes while cleaning windows.
As part of the duty of care that they owe, your employer needs to make sure that they carry out risk assessments. These can identify hazards to health so that they can be reduced or removed. For example, if there’s a particular risk to cleaning a side of a building that is particularly susceptible to strong winds, then steps could be taken to mitigate this.
Furthermore, you should be given equipment that is fit for purpose, safe and well-maintained. If your employer fails to do this and gives you equipment that is faulty in a way that poses a risk to your safety, then you could be injured.
You should also be provided with the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that you need to do your job safely. For example, you might need to wear a hard hat or gloves to reduce the risk of you being injured. If you aren’t provided with this, or if you’re given equipment that isn’t fit for purpose, then you could be entitled to claim.
Liability For Window Cleaner Accidents
If you’re involved in an accident as a window cleaner, then it would need to have been caused by the negligence of another party in order for you to claim.
If you work for a window cleaning company, then your employer owes you a duty of care. If they breach this, then you could be injured.
However, you could also be owed a duty of care if you are working for a window cleaning company through an agency. In order to claim, you’ll need to establish:
- Who had the duty of care
- That it was breached
- That you were directly harmed as a result
Furthermore, there are time limits to starting window cleaner personal injury claims that you should be aware of. Under the terms of the Limitation Act 1980, a claim must generally be started within 3 years.
This period can start from either the date of the accident or the time that you first became aware that your injuries were caused by negligence. Speak to our team if you need further clarification on this, or for details on the exceptions that apply.
Can I Claim Compensation If I’m A Self-Employed Window Cleaner?
If you are injured cleaning windows as a self-employed window cleaner, you may still be able to claim personal injury compensation if you meet the eligibility requirements mentioned above.
However, who you would make your window cleaner accident claim against can vary if you are self-employed. To find out if you could be eligible to claim as a self-employed window cleaner, contact our team of helpful advisors today. They can offer more information.
Examples Of Window Cleaning Accidents
There are a number of different ways that someone could be injured as the result of a breach of duty when cleaning windows. For example:
- You could be involved in a ladder accident because the equipment you were provided was not maintained, resulting in a broken foot
- Inappropriate footwear provided that causes you to slip or trip
- Ropes or harnesses provided that are not fit for purpose, causing a head injury when you fall
- Struck due to a falling object from above
- Lack of training and supervision that result in an injury such as a broken hand
You could also sustain psychiatric injuries as the result of a window cleaning accident. For example, you could experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the result of an accident, even if you didn’t sustain any physical injuries as a result.
If you have any questions that our Window cleaner accident claims guide has not answered, get in touch with a member of our team today for free legal advice.
What Evidence Can Help Me Prove A Personal Injury Compensation Claim?
If you’ve suffered harm as a window cleaner in an accident, you must be able to provide evidence in order to make a claim. Evidence is crucial to the personal injury compensation claims process, as it can help support various different areas of your claim. For example, the right evidence can help demonstrate the severity of your injuries, how they occurred, and who is responsible.
Some examples of evidence that could be used to support your claim if you were injured cleaning windows include:
- Photographs: Taking pictures of your injuries can help illustrate their severity, whereas pictures of the accident site can help demonstrate how the accident occurred.
- CCTV: If your accident was captured by a CCTV camera, it’s possible that you could request the footage and use it as evidence.
- Medical records: Your medical records can offer more insight into your injuries, as well as the treatment you will need to recover. In some cases, if you work with a solicitor, they may arrange for you to undergo an independent medical assessment.
- Witness statements: Taking the contact details of witnesses allows their statements to be taken at a later date.
One of the benefits of working with a No Win No Fee solicitor on your claim is that they can help you collect this evidence. For example, a solicitor can talk to witnesses and take their statements, and can help you find collate evidence to build a strong case.
To find out if one of our solicitors could help you collect evidence to support your claim, contact our team of advisors today.
Personal Injury Compensation Payouts For A Window Cleaner Accident
Once you have the necessary facts in your window cleaner personal injury claim clear, the next step is to look at how a compensation amount is calculated. There are two heads of damages that can be considered.
The first is called general damages which compensates you for the pain and suffering that your injuries have caused you. Legal professionals use amounts listed in the Judicial College Guidelines to help them value this head of claim. We’ve used some of these in the table below (except for the first row):
| Area of Bodily Injury | JC Guideline Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Serious Injuries with Special Damages including Lost Pay, Medical Expenses and the Cost of Care. | Very Serious | Up to £1,000,000 + |
| Head | Very Severe (a) | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Back | Severe (a)(i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Neck | Severe (a)(i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Pelvis/Hips | Severe (a)(i) | £95,680 to £159,770 |
| Knee | Severe (a)(i) | £85,100 to £117,410 |
| Leg | Severe (b)(ii) Very Serious | £66,920 to £109,290 |
| Hand | Serious Hand Injuries (e) | £35,390 to £75,550 |
| Arm | Substantial and Permanent Disablement (b) | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Ankle | Very Severe (a) | £61,090 to £85,070 |
Special Damages in Window Cleaner Personal Injury Claims
Special damages look at the financial losses that your injuries have incurred. This may include:
- Missed income or loss of earnings from time off while recovering
- Damage to personal property such as eyewear, clothing, or a mobile phone
- Medical bills
- Adaptations needed to your home
Applicable bills and receipts that show these costs could form evidence that supports your claim. If you have other costs caused by the injuries, speak to our advisors to see if they could be included in your claim.
Claiming For Window Cleaner Accidents With Our Solicitors
Claiming for window cleaner accidents with our solicitors is as straightforward as picking up the phone and getting a free eligibility check from our advisors. This is because if you have a valid claim, Legal Expert will do all the hard work for you, designing a service that fits around your specific needs.
In the sections below, we look at how everyone at Legal Expert can help you to make a window cleaner injury claim.
Why Choose Our Solicitors To Claim For A Window Cleaner Accident?
You should choose our solicitors to claim for a window cleaner accident because of our years of experience and the millions in compensation that have been won in this time. Here are just some of the ways our experts can help you:
- Calculating a possible compensation figure.
- Communicating with the defendants and keeping you informed of the claim’s progress.
- Explaining all the complicated legal jargon and making sure you understand how the case is developing.
- Assisting you with collecting the right evidence.
- Negotiating with the defendants on your behalf and reaching a fair and accurate settlement that reflects the injuries you have experienced.
Can I Make A Window Cleaner Injury Claim On A No Win No Fee Basis?
Most certainly. Our solicitors work to very desirable No Win No Fee terms with a type of contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). With this contract, you won’t be paying any service fees at the start of or during your claim, nor will you have to pay a solicitor’s fee if the claim is lost.
Should you win, however, a success fee is taken from your awarded compensation before it’s sent through to you. The maximum percentage that solicitors can charge as their success fee is legally bound to 25% so you know from the beginning that you’ll be keeping most of your compensation.
Get In Touch With Legal Expert Today
A Legal Expert advisor can assess whether you have a valid window cleaner claim and if you do, connect you with a specialist solicitor.
- Call our advisors on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online
- Use our ‘live support’ option to the bottom right of this page
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve included these frequently asked questions to give you additional information on common queries put to our advisors. More detailed answers can be sought using the contact details given above.
When Is A Window Cleaner Accident Considered Negligent?
A window cleaner accident will be considered negligent when it caused by a third party, whether an employer or the occupier of the building, not taking steps to protect the window cleaner while they were on the premises.
Who Is Legally Responsible For Window Cleaner Accidents?
If the window cleaner works for a company, their employer has a responsibility for their safety. While window cleaners are on site, the occupier of the building they are cleaning must also legally ensure the area is safe for the work to be carried out.
Can Employers Be Liable For Window Cleaner Accidents At Work?
Yes they can. If an employer provides faulty equipment or fails to provide sufficient training to the window cleaners, and an accident occurs, the employer can be held liable for any injuries.
Can Property Owners Be Responsible For Window Cleaner Accidents?
Yes a property owner can be responsible for window cleaner accidents at work if they have failed to take steps that ensure the reasonable safety of the window cleaners while they are on the premises.
Can Self-Employed Window Cleaners Make Accident Claims?
A self-employed window cleaner can make an accident claim against the occupier of the building in the right circumstances. As they are a visitor to the property they are cleaning, the occupier must ensure the environment is reasonably free from hazards.
Can Falls From Ladders Or Scaffolding Be Claimed For?
Yes, falls from ladders or scaffolding can be claimed for if the fall was due a fault with the equipment itself, or due to the persons in control of the area not addressing a hazard.
More About Liability In Personal Injury Claims
We hope that you’ve found this window cleaner accident claims guide useful. We’ve included some guides below that you might find useful:
- Workplace accident claims
- Elbow injury claims
- Details on compensation for slipping on a wet floor
- More information on working and cleaning at heights
- Advice from the NHS after a fall
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) advice from the government
If you have any more questions about making a window cleaner personal injury claim, get in touch today.
