I Hurt Myself At Work – How To Claim Compensation
By Cat Way. Last Updated 14th June 2023. In the guide below, we are going to attempt to explain how, when you hurt yourself at work in an accident that was the fault of your employer, you may be eligible to make a compensation claim.
Once you have finished reading this guide, you should have most of the information you need to approach your own claim with a general understanding of the process involved in making a claim.
Hurt at work compensation claims guide
Of course, we have only given general information. Your claim may have unique aspects, that raise additional questions.
You can always speak to one of our advisors on 0800 073 8804 to have these questions answered. At the same time, our team can explain how our claims service could be the right option for you.
Select A Section:
- I Hurt Myself At Work, What Should I Do?
- I Hurt Myself At Work, Can I Sue For Compensation?
- If I Hurt Myself At Work Do I Still Get Paid?
- How Much Compensation Could I Receive If I Hurt Myself At Work?
- No Win No Fee Compensation Claims When Hurt At Work
- Other Guides You May Find Helpful
I Hurt Myself At Work, What Should I Do?
Part of the answer to the question, do I get paid if I get injured at work? is that this depends on your following to proper accident reporting process. Alongside the actual procedure for reporting workplace accidents, there are some things you can also do in preparation of making your claim. We recommend the following steps:
- Report the accident, and also make sure you make an entry in the company accident book.
- Find out of there were any witnesses to the accident, and gather their contact details (so they can be used as witnesses if needed).
- Take photographs or video of the site of the accident and its cause if possible.
- Seek medical treatment, even for minor injuries.
- Keep a list of any financial losses you suffer due to your injuries.
As a final step, we recommend you speak to one of our advisors on the number below. They will evaluate your claim for you, and also give you critical information such as the personal injury claims time limit that will apply in your own case.
I Hurt Myself At Work, Can I Sue For Compensation?
You may be wondering what to do if you hurt yourself at work and want to start a personal injury claim. The first step is making sure that your claim is valid, is to establish the following:
- You are owed a duty of care.
- This duty is breached.
- Because of this breach, you are injured.
Employers have a duty of care towards their staff to take all reasonably practicable steps to keep them safe while working. This is outlined by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. If your employer fails to fulfil this duty of care, and you suffer an injury as a result, then you may be entitled to compensation.
For more information on what to do if you hurt yourself at work as a result of your employer’s negligence, contact our team today.
If I Hurt Myself At Work Do I Still Get Paid?
To answer the question, I was injured at work do I get paid? Then there are two possible routes to recovering lost income due to a work-related injury or illness. Both are dependent upon you following the correct accident at work procedure in reporting the incident.
The first option, is Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Your employer may offer a generous sick pay package, possibly your entire salary for a set period of time. Even if your employer doesn’t provide this, you could be entitled to state-paid SSP. SSP pays £89.35 per week for a period of 28 weeks.
The second option, if your employer does not pay you sick pay, and you cannot claim SSP, is to claim back the income you lost, as part of the overall settlement for your personal injury claim.
How Much Compensation Could I Receive If I Hurt Myself At Work?
You may be wondering how much compensation you could receive if your claim is successful. Every personal injury claim is valued on a case-by-case basis, meaning the compensation you could receive will depend on the individual circumstances of your case.
All successful claimants receive general damages. This is the first of two potential heads of claim that you could receive. General damages address your injuries, both mental and physical, and the way they affect your life going forwards. When legal professionals calculate this head of claim, they often refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which is a document that provides guideline settlement awards for different injuries. You can find some examples of the guidelines stated in the 16th edition of the JCG below.
| What Injury? | Potential Compensation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Very Severe Brain Damage | £282,010 to £403,990 | Little if any meaningful response to environment and some ability to follow basic commands. |
| Moderate Brain Damage (i) | £150,110 to £219,070 | Moderate to severe intellectual deficit with some risk of epilepsy and no prospect of employment. |
| Chest Injuries (c) | £31,310 to £54,830 | Damage to the lungs and heart causing some disability. |
| Kidney (c) | £30,770 to £44,880 | The claimant loses one kidney but the other remains undamaged. |
| Hernia (a) | £14,900 to £24,170 | Even after repair physical activity is limited and pain continues. |
| Moderate Back Injuries (i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | Compression/crush fractures of the lumbar vertebrae causing pain, discomfort, and a risk of osteoarthritis. |
| Minor Back Injuries (i) | £7,890 to £12,510 | A full recovery or at least a recovery to nuisance level occurs within 2-5 years without surgery. |
| Severe Knee Injuries (i) | £69,730 to £96,210 | Disruption of the joint causing osteoarthritis, lengthy treatment and considerable pain. |
| Toe Injuries (b) | In the region of £31,310 | Amputation of the great toe. |
The second head of claim that you could pursue is special damages. Compensation under this heading addresses the financial losses you experience as a result of your injuries. For example, if you break your leg, you may no longer be able to drive to and from work. In this case, you could potentially claim back the cost of bus tickets or taxis. To claim these losses back, you must be able to provide evidence of them, such as with invoices and receipts.
This heading can also help you recoup the cost of:
- Lost earnings.
- Mobility aids.
- Prescriptions.
- Childcare.
- Domestic help.
For more information on claiming compensation after a workplace injury, contact our team. They are on hand to answer any questions you may have about the claims process, such as “I hurt myself at work, could I be eligible for compensation?”
No Win No Fee Compensation Claims When Hurt At Work
Have you considered using a No Win No Fee claims service to manage your claim? Rather than risk losing legal fees you pay your solicitor, this kind of claims service removes all financial risk to yourself.
When you use our claims service, you are not expected to pay anything until your claim has been successful. You don’t pay to start your claim, and there is no fee to process your claim. If your claim is unrestful, you still don’t pay a penny. When we do secure a settlement for you, we will deduct our fee from the money received for you automatically.
Contact Legal Expert Today
I got hurt at work, can a personal injury lawyer help me to claim compensation for my injuries? Is this the kind of question you have been asking yourself? If it is, then we can help. Reach out to one of our expert advisors on 0800 073 8804 today. They will evaluate your claim for you, and offer you a way to proceed with no financial risk at all.
Other Guides You May Find Helpful
These external links have useful information:
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 and get more help on claiming for an accident at work.
- Are you wondering if you can claim compensation once you’ve left the company? Our guide offers more information on making a claim after leaving your job.
- To find out if you can lose your job if you claim against your employer, read our helpful compensation claims guide.
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