Updated on 17th December 2025. Suffering an injury at work can be an unexpected and frightening experience, depending on the severity and circumstance of the accident. Not only do you need to navigate the accident itself, but also what comes after, and that’s your recovery. Most would think about the physical and mental strain an individual faces when navigating a recovery period. However, the financial strain can sometimes be just as overwhelming for some. If you are in this situation, you are likely asking yourself, if I’m injured at work, who pays my medical bills? This is one of the more common FAQs regarding accident at work claims, and we can answer it for you in our guide.
Here at Legal Expert, our advisors are passionate about helping people like you get the assistance they need. It’s only fair that you balance the scales after what you have experienced, and our advisors will answer any questions you may have regarding the accident at work claims process. Moreover, our solicitors will offer their legal services on a No Win No Fee basis so you can claim straightaway with confidence. Our client-centred approach has helped many claimants walk away with the highest possible personal injury compensation for their circumstances. Let us help you. Contact us today.
4.8 (466 reviews) The Big Questions Answered
- What injuries can you suffer in an accident at work? You can suffer a wide variety of injuries depending on the accident itself, ranging from puncture wounds to broken bones.
- What are the different types of workplace accidents? Accidents can involve slips, trips and falls, crush incidents, falls from a height and being struck by a falling object.
- How can accidents at work be prevented? Accidents at work can be prevented by implementing thorough risk assessments, ensuring equipment is properly maintained, and ensuring employees are sufficiently trained.
- Can I claim? You can claim if you are able to prove that you suffered your workplace injury due to the negligent actions of your employer.
- How is personal injury compensation determined? Personal injury compensation is determined by the type of injury you have suffered, the severity and whether you have incurred financial losses.
If I Was Injured At Work, Who Pays My Medical Bills?
Yes, your employer could be responsible for the payment of your medical bills if they were at fault for your injury. You must first consider whether you meet the eligibility criteria for a personal injury claim following an accident at work.
Workplace accident claims require you to show that:
- Your employer owed you a duty of care
- They failed to act in accordance with their duty
- This caused you to suffer injury
All employers owe a duty of care to their employees in the workplace. This means that they must act in accordance with the laws that are in place to protect you, such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This law requires your employer to take reasonable steps to help ensure your safety. Examples of valid workplace accident claims include:
- You suffer from manual handling injuries when your employer tells you to lift heavy boxes without any training. Your injuries include strain to your neck and shoulder
- While working in an office, you fall over a tangle of wires that should have been tidied and secured out of the way. This causes you to sprain your wrist and dislocate your knee
- You experienced a pallet wrapping machine accident because your employer failed to perform regular maintenance checks. When the machine malfunctions, it traps your finger. As a result, your finger is partially amputated
You can contact our advisors to further discuss the question, ‘I was injured at work, who pays my medical bills?’. Continue reading to learn more about how compensation is paid and what it may cover.
How Will My Employer Pay For My Compensation?
Your employer will likely pay for your compensation using the employer’s liability insurance. This is an insurance policy that employers are legally required to take out, unless they are employing family members or individuals living abroad. It helps employers pay compensation in instances where an employee suffers an injury or illness related to their work.
If you have any more questions about how employers pay compensation to their employees, our advisors are on hand to provide more information.
Do Work Injury Medical Expenses Fall Under Special Damages?
Should you make a successful accident at work claim, your personal injury compensation will be split into two different heads of claim.
One of these heads is special damages. These compensate you for the costs relating to your injury. You may need to pay for prescriptions, physiotherapy or other treatments, all of which you may be able to recover.
Other costs that you could reclaim through special damages include:
- Lost earnings (due to time taken off work)
- Expenses made to travel to and from medical appointments
- Payments for professional care
- Payments for home adjustments, such as a stair lift or handrails
Special damages can provide much-needed support to claimants, especially when the recovery process has been difficult. For example, you could use the money awarded to cover private medical and rehabilitation costs.
If you work with our solicitors, they will make sure that you get the medical care you need before the claim has concluded. For example, they can help you to apply for an interim payment. This means that, in some circumstances, you can receive a payment before the claim has been completely settled.
Please do not hesitate to contact our advisors with any questions about the costs that special damages cover. You can also find out what else workplace accident compensation covers.
What Else Can I Be Compensated For After An Accident At Work?
You could also receive compensation for the suffering and pain caused by your injuries. This head of claim is referred to as general damages. This covers the type and severity of your injuries, as well as the impact they have had on your daily activities and lifestyle.
In successful injury claims, general damages are always awarded. You may also be eligible to receive special damages as well. However, you will need to be able to prove your expenses.
If you choose to work with one of our solicitors, they will assess the value of your workplace accident claim. They will address the query, ‘I was injured at work; who pays my medical bills?’ and will also argue for your compensation to cover the full impact it has had on you.
How Can I Start My Work Injury Medical Expenses Claim?
As we have explained above, there are many instances in which your employer could be liable to pay your medical bills. However, this typically requires you to make a successful personal injury claim with the inclusion of special damages.
In some workplaces, they may provide healthcare coverage for their employees, which you could use to treat your injuries. You will need to check with your employer whether this applies to your place of work.
When starting a personal injury claim for your employer to pay your medical bills, you will need to provide evidence that backs up your claim. This must prove that your employer was at fault for your accident and how this caused your injury. The following evidence could be gathered:
- A copy of your medical records to show that you required medical treatment
- Bank statements to show medical expenses
- Photos of your injuries or CCTV footage of the incident
- Contact details of people who witnessed your accident
- An accident report (your employer may have filed an accident report, depending on the type of accident you had)
You can contact our team to discuss what evidence you will need for a potential claim. If you find yourself asking, ‘I was injured at work; who pays my medical bills?’, it is essential to consider the evidence for your claim. Our advisors can assess what evidence will prove the costs that you wish to recover.
Get Help From Legal Expert
If your claim is eligible, you could seek the representation of one of our highly trained solicitors. They work on the basis of No Win No Fee. This means that through a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), you will not need to pay for your solicitor’s work:
- Before your workplace accident claim starts
- While the claim is underway
- If you do not receive compensation
In the event that you do receive workplace accident compensation, you will need to pay a success fee. This is a percentage of your compensation that you owe to your solicitor. This can make some people worry. However, we can confirm that you will receive the majority of the total award. There is a legal cap in place to ensure that you keep the majority of your compensation.
Alongside our affordable fee agreement, we also offer the following excellent services to help our clients:
- Corresponding with the defending party on your behalf
- Connecting you with specialists who could help with your recovery process (such as physiotherapists)
- Assisting you with the collection of evidence to strengthen your case
- Keeping you updated on your claim and helping you to make informed decisions
- Gaining an independent medical assessment to confirm the severity of your injuries
Contact Our Solicitors To Start Your Claim
Our advisors are available to handle your enquiries 24/7. We welcome all questions, so you can simply call to ask, ‘I was injured at work; who pays my medical bills?’. We understand that starting a claim against your employer can seem like a daunting prospect. Therefore, we can address your questions free of charge before you decide whether to proceed.
They may be able to connect you to an expert No Win No Fee solicitor who can help you to claim compensation. Our legal team have already achieved over £80 million in compensation for our previous clients. A compensation award can help you to focus on your recovery and move on from your financial worries, so why not get in touch:
- Contact us online
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Chat with us using the live pop-up on this webpage
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Read our other guides:
- Learn how to claim compensation for an unloading accident at work
- Visit our guide on claiming for a work van accident
External resources:
- Follow the NHS advice on first aid
- Read the Health and Safety Executive statistics on workplace injuries
- Find out how to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Thank you for reading our guide. We hope you now have an answer to the question, ‘I was injured at work; who pays my medical bills?’.
