Apprentice Accident At Work – How To Claim Compensation
By Megan Black. Last updated 25th August 2023. Have you suffered an injury as an apprentice in an accident at work? This article will explain your rights in the workplace, what can cause an accident and the injuries that could occur. We will also explore compensation examples and how our professional solicitors could help you when claiming.
An accident at work can hinder you in your apprenticeship, potentially causing injury that could detrimentally affect your physical and mental health. It may even impact your work ability and future employment opportunities. To learn if you can make a personal injury claim as an apprentice after an accident at work call our claims team.
Apprentice Accident At Work Claims Guide
If you would like to check your eligibility for your claim, we recommend contacting our advisors. They are available around the clock to answer your questions, giving free and relevant legal advice. They can also understand the legitimacy of your claim and may connect you with our expert solicitors. Talk to our advisors today by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Starting your claim online
- Emailing info@legalexpert.co.uk
- Using the live chat feature
Select A Section
- Apprentice Rights – Are They The Same As Other Employees’?
- Causes Of An Apprentice Accident At Work
- What Injuries Could An Apprentice Suffer At Work?
- Apprentice Accident At Work Claims Calculator
- How To Claim For An Apprentice Accident At Work
Apprentice Rights – Are They The Same As Other Employees’?
In the workplace, an apprentice has rights just like any other type of employee. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 outlines the duty of care that employers have to ensure take reasonable steps to ensure safety in the workplace.
Should your employer breach their duty of care to you and you subsequently are injured or suffer harm, you may have grounds for a valid claim against your employer. However, you’ll need to provide evidence that can prove your employer’s negligence and any injuries you have sustained.
Have you had an accident at work that wasn’t your fault? Continue reading to find out how to claim compensation and what evidence you can use to support your claim.
Causes Of An Apprentice Accident At Work
Accidents at work can happen for a variety of reasons, however, to claim you must be able to prove that your employer’s negligence led to your injury.
Health and safety legislation sets out the responsible steps an employer should apply as part of their duty of care, which includes:
- Providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Employers should provide all employees with the correct PPE where necessary. Failing to provide PPE could result in serious injury such as sustaining a head injury due to a dented hard hat.
- General housekeeping – Walkways need to be cleared of obstructions and spills, as they can lead to slip, trip, and fall accidents.
- Providing sufficient training and supervision – All employees should have access to free and relevant training, especially important with apprenticeships, as they are often learning on the job. If the training and supervision are inadequate it can lead to injuries that could have otherwise been avoided, including the mishandling of dangerous substances or the improper use of tools, machinery, and equipment.
Speak to our advisors today on legislation surrounding an apprentice accident at work claim today.
What Injuries Could An Apprentice Suffer At Work?
Multiple types of injuries can be suffered in the workplace. RIDDOR has curated a list of specified injuries to workers which must be reported for example:
- Fractures, with the exception of toes, thumbs, and fingers
- Amputations
- Sensory injuries i.e. deafness and blindness
- Crush injuries to torso or head with internal and brain damage
- Burns
- Scalping
- Loss of consciousness due to head trauma or asphyxiation
- Enclosed space injuries such as hypothermia and hyperthermia
For advice on what injuries could be claimable in an apprentice accident at work claim, speak to our advisors today.
Time Limit For Claiming For Work Accident Injuries
If you have been injured as an apprentice in an accident at work, and are eligible to pursue a personal injury claim, you must also ensure that you start legal proceedings within the correct time limit. Under the Limitation Act 1980, you will generally have 3 years to start your claim.
However, there are some exceptions that apply to this limitation period. For example, the time limit is paused for those under the age of 18. From their 18th birthday, they will have 3 years to begin their own claim. Alternatively, a litigation friend could make a claim on their behalf prior to their 18th birthday.
Furthermore, the time limit is suspended indefinitely for those who lack the mental capacity to make their own personal injury claim. In this case, a litigation friend could act on their behalf. If they were to regain this required mental capacity and a claim has not already been made for them, the injured party will have three years to start their own claim from the date of recovery.
To see whether you are still within the correct time limit to begin your claim, you can contact one of our friendly advisors.
Apprentice Accident At Work Claims Calculator
If you are an apprentice involved in an accident at work in order to be eligible to make a personal injury claim you will need to show how your employer breached their duty of care, and how this led to an accident in which you were injured.
In successful personal injury claims, you may receive two types of compensation. The first is general damages, covering the pain suffered due to your injury.
The 16th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines 2022 (JCG) outlines the possible compensation amounts for general damages. The awarded amount differs according to the injury and how severe it is. Please see the below table for potential payout figures for a wide array of injuries:
| Injury | Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of sight in one eye and reduced vision in the other (c) (ii) | £63,950 to £105,990 | The remaining eye has reduced vision and/or issues akin to double vision. |
| Total loss of hearing in one ear (c) | £31,310 to £45,540 | The higher award constitutes problems such as dizziness, headaches, or tinnitus. |
| Severe knee injuries (iii) | £26,190 to £43,460 | Where there are persisting symptoms of pain, discomfort, movement restrictions, instability, and deformity with possible needed future surgery due to kneecap, ligament, or meniscus damage. |
| Moderate leg injuries (iv) | £27,760 to £39,200 | The person may suffer from multiple or complicated fractures or serious crushing injuries to a single limb. The amount awarded depends on recovery and treatment undertaken as well as degenerative changes, effects on unemployment, and extent of future symptoms and scarring. |
| Damage to teeth (f) | Up to £38,130 | Substantial chronic pain like those found in untreated abscesses, persisting over a few years with significant worsening in the overall standard of the teeth. |
| Less serious leg injuries (i) | £17,960 to £27,760 | Incomplete fracture recovery or serious injuries to the soft tissue. |
| Moderate ankle damage (c) | £13,740 to £26,590 | There are less serious disabilities caused by fractures and ligament tears, causing walking and stair difficulties with metal plate pain and scarring. |
| Moderate feet injury (f) | £13,740 to £24,990 | Where there may be metatarsal fractures that are displaced causing permanent deformities and persisting symptoms. |
| Multiple fractures of facial bones (b) | £14,900 to £23,950 | Involves permanent facial deformity. |
| Minor Achilles tendon (d) | £7,270 to £12,590 | The injured person may have turned their ankle causing tendon damage and feeling of unsure footing. |
In addition, you may be eligible for special damages, which cover the unexpected costs accrued due to your injury. These damages cover a litany of expenses, including:
- Child care costs
- Loss of income and future earnings
- Gracious care costs i.e. family carers
- Travel costs for medical appointments
Contact our advisors for your apprentice accident at work compensation claim today.
How To Claim For An Apprentice Accident At Work
Should you pursue your apprentice accident at work claim, then speak to our advisors today to understand if your claim is valid. If your case has a solid basis our advisors may put you in touch with our expert No Win No Fee solicitors.
Our lawyers offer Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA), which is a way to fund the solicitor’s service. CFA lawyers do not require you to pay an upfront fee and if the claim fails you do not pay them.
A CFA lawyer is paid via a success fee, which is a small capped amount of your compensation but only if your claim is successful.
If you would like to use our solicitor’s services, reach out to our advisors today by:
- Calling us on 0800 073 8804
- Starting your claim online
- Emailing info@legalexpert.co.uk
- Using the live chat feature
Self-Employed, Temporary Worker And Other Employee Injury Claims
Below, you can find a list of guides which may tell you more about accident at work claims:
- Discover more answers to your queries on our accident at work FAQs page
- Can I claim compensation if I’ve left the company?
- Can you lose your job if you claim against your employer?
- Injured due to tiredness or fatigue – can I claim?
- I hurt myself at work, can I make a claim?
- What to do if you cut off your finger at work
- I suffered a burn injury at work, how much could I claim in compensation?
- How to claim compensation for industrial dermatitis
- I was injured at work – what are my rights?
- Is my employer liable for an accident at work?
- What should I do if I hurt myself at work?
- Who pays my medical bills if I’m injured at work?
- Can I make a claim if injured in my probation period?
- Who pays damages in an accident at work claim?
- I slipped on water at work, can I make a claim?
- Does my employer pay my medical bills if I’m injured at work?
- Can you still claim compensation f you didn’t take time off work?
- Do you have to be an employee to make a workplace injury claim?
- I am a new employee, can I make a claim?
- How do you prove an accident at work claim?
- Do you need to be an employee to make a workplace accident claim?
- What happens if you do not report an injury or accident?
- Can I make a claim if I’m an agency worker?
- I was dismissed after an accident at work, what should I do?
- If I was partly at fault for an accident can I still make a claim?
- I am self-employed and had an accident at work, can I make a claim?
- I had an accident at work due to no safety boots – can I make a claim?
- I suffered a head injury due to no helmet – can I make a claim?
- Can I claim if injured because of no safety goggles?
- What is the time limit for an accident at work claim?
- What are my employers’ responsibilities after an accident at work?
- Will suing my employer create problems?
- How to make a claim for inadequate tools and equipment
- What is the maximum weight I can lift at work?
- I had an accident at work, what are my rights?
- Who has the overall responsibility for recording injuries at work?
- How long after an injury at work can I make a claim?
- I fell down the stair at work, can I make a claim?
- Learn more about accident at work claims here
Or, take a look at the useful links provided:
Contact our advisors today for more information on your apprentice accident at work claim.
