- Your Need To Know Questions Answered
- Can I Make An Accident At Work Claim?
- How Much Compensation Could I Claim For My Injury At Work?
- What Evidence Could Help In Accident At Work Claims?
- Make A No Win No Fee Claim
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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If you’ve been injured while carrying out your job, you may be entitled to pursue an accident at work claim for compensation.
Last Updated On 11th December 2025. Suffering an accident at work can have life-altering consequences, often resulting in serious physical injuries, lasting mental harm, and subsequent financial losses. If your injury was your employer’s fault, you may be giving some thought to the accident at work claims process. Fortunately, our friendly team of advisors are here to help answer any questions you may have during this upsetting time.
At Legal Expert, our advisors also provide a free consultation service that carefully reviews each case to determine whether a claim can be made. Following this, you could be connected with one of our experienced solicitors to start your claim. As experts in accidents at work, our highly-trained solicitors have the knowledge needed to provide you with the support you deserve during this challenging time. In particular, they can help gather the evidence necessary to show that your employer’s negligent actions caused your injury.
Contact our advisors today to find out if you can make an accident at work claim with one of the dedicated solicitors here at Legal Expert.
4.8 (466 reviews) 
Employers have a legal duty of care to their employees under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Under this law, it is an employer’s responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their workers.
The eligibility criteria for accident at work claims are as follows:
In most cases, the time limit is 3 years from the accident date, per the Limitation Act 1980. However there are certain circumstances where exceptions can be made. These are:
In these scenarios, a litigation friend may be appointed by the court to pursue the claim on behalf of the injured person. To find out more about the time limit for accident at work claims, or for a free assessment of your eligibility, get in touch with us today.
4.8 (466 reviews) Compensation in successful accident at work claims can be awarded under two heads of loss. These are:
Determining a potential compensation value for your claim is one of many tasks our highly experienced solicitors can assist you with throughout the claims process. Those assigned to this task can refer to the medical documents you provide alongside the figures from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG).
The JCG provides guideline compensation brackets for various injuries. We have taken a broad selection of those values for use in our compensation table. Please note that the top row isn’t from the JCG.
| Injury Type | Severity | Guideline Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Serious Injuries With Significant Financial Losses | Very Serious. | Up to £1,000,000 + |
| Brain Damage | Very Severe (a) | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderate (c)(i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | |
| Back Injuries | Severe (a)(i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate (b)(i) | £33,880 to £47,320 | |
| Chest Injuries | Total Removal of One Lung and/or Serious Heart Damage (a) | £122,850 to £183,190 |
| Damage to Chest and Lungs(s) | £38,210 to £66,920 | |
| Leg Amputation | Above-knee Amputation of One Leg | £127,930 to £167,760 |
| Shoulder | Serious (b) | £15,580 to £23,430 |
| Hand Injuries | Total or Partial Loss of Index Finger | £14,850 to £22,870 |
| Less Serious Leg Injuries | Less Serious (c)(ii) | £11,120 to £17,180 |
4.8 (466 reviews) Yes, you can claim back the money you have lost due to the injury and accident. This could be lost salary from having to take time off work to recover, and it could also cover bonuses too.
This part of the claim isn’t limited to your earnings, but any cost you incurred because of the injury. This can include:
Make sure you retain copies of your payslips as well as other documents such as invoices for care, receipts and travel tickets as proof of any financial losses you have experienced.
Each year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes statistics on workplace accidents, showing which are the most common. Below, you can find a summary:
Wet floors, uneven surfaces and poor housekeeping are frequent causes.
Poor technique or lack of equipment can lead to strains and back injuries.
Inadequate guarding, unsecured loads or busy sites can cause impact injuries.
Assaults in the workplace may arise from inadequate risk assessments or controls.
Common on scaffolds or ladders where edge protection and training are lacking.
High-risk sites demand strict controls over height, vehicles and plant.
Evidence forms a key part of all accident at work claims. You will need to demonstrate that the employer’s breach of their duty resulted in you being injured.
Examples of possible evidence include:
Working with one of our solicitors may be very beneficial. A trained legal professional can utilise their knowledge and expertise and ensure your claim has the evidence it needs.
To discuss how to prove your claim, or for a free assessment of your eligibility to begin an accident at work claim, talk to our advisors today.
Our experienced accident at work solicitors can offer their services to you on a No Win No fee basis. This particular contract, also called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), gives multiple benefits. These include:
We explain all of the terms clearly before beginning the claim, so if you have any questions we can answer them for you.
If you’d like to learn more about our accident at work claims service or to request a free case consultation, contact us today by clicking below:
4.8 (466 reviews) Below, you can find answers to some frequently asked questions on accident at work claims.
You may have suffered an injury in the workplace, but may not be classed as an employee. This could occur if you are self-employed, such as a freelancer or as a contractor or subcontractor.
Under health and safety law, you are owed the same duty of care as employees while you are on an employer’s premises and carrying out work-related duties. For example, if you are an electrician hired to install wiring on a premises but the employer did not ensure that the floors were free of trip hazards and you sustain injuries in a trip and fall, you could claim compensation.
However, you cannot seek compensation if your injury occurred in your own environment. For example, if you sustain injuries in a trip and fall in your home office. In these cases, it is your own responsibility to ensure the area is relatively safe.
Yes, you can still make an accident at work claim if you were partly responsible. This is known as split liability.
This is when both the employer and the claimant are both partially responsible for the accident happening.
In these cases, if you are, for example, 50% liable for the workplace accident, you will be awarded 50% of the compensation. Likewise, if you are 20% liable for the workplace accident, you will be awarded 80% of the compensation, and so forth.
Employers can avoid accidents at work claims by taking reasonable steps to prevent injuries. This is obviously quite a broad category; what’s deemed reasonable for an office would be inadequate for a construction site or factory.
So, to help employers meet their legal obligations, the HSE publish guidance on a variety of topics. We have included some of this guidance below:
Some examples of different kinds of accidents that could occur if correct safety measures aren’t followed include:
Yes, you should always report an injury sustained during work to your employer.
You could make your supervisor or team leader aware of an incident when it happens. Alternatively, there may be a designated contact listed in your employee handbook or staff intranet.
It is also worth finding your workplace’s dedicated first-aider as they can provide any necessary medical attention. A first-aider could also help you enter a workplace accident report by noting down the treatment you received.
If you don’t believe that your workplace has taken your concerns seriously, you can tell the HSE about the issue.
Injury at work claims can take differening lengths of time. It all depends on the case itself. For example, in straightforward cases with non-complex injuries, a claim could resolve within 12 months. If the injuries are serious or if the defendant disputes that they were responsible, it could take longer.
Successful claims are normally paid by your employer’s Employers’ Liability (EL) insurer, which they are legally required to have (minimum £5m cover). It’s not taken from frontline budgets.
No. You cannot be dismissed just for bringing a personal injury claim. Doing so can be unlawful; you’re protected from victimisation for asserting your rights.
Report it, get it recorded in the accident book, seek medical attention, gather evidence (photos/CCTV, witness details), and keep receipts for costs. These records help with any claim or SSP.
If an employer has 10+ employees, they must keep an accident book/records by law; keeping records helps risk management and insurance.
RIDDOR requires employers (the “responsible person”) to report certain injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences to HSE within set timescales. Not every accident is reportable, but serious/specified injuries and certain absences are.
Yes. Agency workers can claim if a party that owed them a duty of care was negligent (host employer or agency, depending on control). Link internally to your agency-worker guide. You can find out more in our dedicated agency worker guide.
Often yes—if a duty of care was owed and breached (e.g., unsafe premises, lack of controls). You can head over to another of our comprehensive guides to learn more about self-employed accidents at work.
If the defendant admits liability and you have immediate needs (e.g., lost earnings, rehab), your solicitor can seek interim payments deducted from the final award. Head to our specific guide to learn more about interim payments.
Liability can rest with the party in control of the work or premises (main contractor, occupier, or your direct employer). Your solicitor will identify the correct defendant(s) and insurer.