Last Updated: 30 October 2025. A lifeguard’s job requires them to be alert to danger and take the steps necessary to intervene when people are at risk. If they work in an environment where their health, safety, and well-being aren’t protected, then it can lead to accidents and catastrophic injuries. If this has been your experience, you may wish to seek compensation for your pain, suffering, and financial loss through a lifeguard accident claim.
Our solicitors are specialists in accident at work claims, and recognise that any injury can leave lifeguards facing a long and difficult recovery, potentially leaving them unable to continue with their careers. They understand how challenging this time can be, so you can rest assured that your solicitor will have your back throughout the claims process. Contact us now to discover how we can assist you in securing a fair payout.
4.8 (466 reviews) What You Need To Know About Lifeguard Accident Claims:
- How do lifeguard accidents occur? They may occur due to slips, falls, trips, faulty equipment, or inadequate maintenance.
- What if I informed my employer about a loose tile and they didn’t repair it? If your employer didn’t make repairs in a timely manner, you could claim lifeguard accident compensation for any resulting injuries and financial loss.
- Can I lose my job for making a lifeguard injury claim?- No, you cannot lose your job for making a lifeguard injury claim for an accident that wasn’t your fault.
- What if I miss the time limit for my lifeguard injury claim?- Your lifeguard injury claim may be time-barred, but you should still consult a solicitor for advice on the next course of action.
- Will I have to use a solicitor for my lifeguard injury claim after a consultation? Here at Legal Expert, your initial consultation is complimentary and comes with no obligation to make a claim.
A Guide To Lifeguard Accident At Work Claims
Your employer owes you a duty of care which is laid out by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). This states that employers must take reasonably practicable steps to ensure their employees’ safety.
These steps include:
- Providing the appropriate level of training to employees
- Performing repairs and maintenance within the correct time frame
- Carrying out risk assessments
Therefore, an employer may breach their duty of care by failing to provide their employees with any training. This could lead to unsafe working conditions, which leads to an accident and injury.
It is also important to note that under Section 7 of HASAWA, employees have a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety. Therefore, you must cooperate with your employer by adhering to any training provided and behaving sensibly.
Below we will lay out the eligibility criteria that must be met to make an accident at work claim:
- Firstly, your employer owed you a duty of care at the time and place of the accident.
- Secondly, your employer breached their duty of care, causing a leisure centre accident.
- Finally, this breach caused you to suffer from physical or psychological injuries.
Please call our team of advisors for an assessment of whether you could be eligible to bring forward a personal injury claim.
Lifeguard Hazards In The Workplace
As previously mentioned, employers must carry out risk assessments to determine any hazards in the workplace and manage the risks. This duty is outlined by The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. After identifying a hazard and assessing its severity, an employer must take action to eliminate the hazard completely or at least control the risk if elimination isn’t possible.
There may be various hazards that could lead to a lifeguard accident at work. For example:
- Wet and slippery flooring or a missing tile could lead to slip, trip and fall accidents.
- Swimming pool water must be treated with chemicals to minimise the risk of employees and the public spreading and contracting illnesses. If a swimming pool’s filtration system is faulty, it could lead to unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
Accident At Work Statistics
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national workplace health and safety regulator. They compile employer reports of injuries in the workplace under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) and provide useful statistics to assist in improving workplace health and safety. These statistics show that in 2023/24:
- There were a total number of 61,663 reported non-fatal injuries to employees.
- The highest cause of these injuries was slips, trips or falls on the same level.
- There were a total number of 124 reported fatal injuries to workers (2024/25)
- Falling from a height was a cause of 35 of these injuries.
Types Of Injuries Caused By Lifeguard Accidents At Work
If, as a lifeguard, you were injured in an accident at work, you could suffer from minor to serious and life-altering injuries.
Examples of injuries you could sustain in a lifeguard accident include:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Fractures
- Head and brain injuries
- Heat exhaustion or heatstroke
- A chemical burn
- Psychological injuries
Speak to one of our advisors to learn more about whether you could be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
How To Claim For An Accident At Work
To strengthen a lifeguard accident claim, we recommend that you gather evidence of your employer’s negligence and the effects that this has had on your quality of life. This could include the following:
- Photographs
- Witness contact details
- CCTV footage
- Medical records
Additionally, we recommend that you seek legal advice. Please get in touch with our team at Legal Expert today for free and confidential advice.
Examples Of Payouts For A Lifeguard Accident At Work
For a successful personal injury claim following a lifeguard accident at work, you could receive up to two potential heads of claim:
- Special damages – under which you could receive compensation for the financial losses incurred as a result of your injuries, such as loss of earnings, care costs and travel expenses. You must provide evidence of any monetary losses, including payslips, travel tickets and bank records.
- General damages – under which you could be compensated for both the mental and physical pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
We have provided the table below as a guide to compensation brackets for various injuries under general damages. We used the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) to create this table. Legal professionals, such as solicitors working on personal injury claims, can also use the JCG’s suggested compensation brackets to help them value settlements.
| Injury | Notes | Potential Compensation Brackets |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Injuries and Special Damages | There can be many injuries and private healthcare costs, professional care and loss of earnings. | Up to £1,000,00+ |
| Very Severe Injury Caused by Brain Damage (a) | Within this bracket, the person will have double incontinence, little, if any, language function or evidence of a meaningful response to their environment, and a need for full time care. | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderate Injury Caused by Brain Damage (c)(i) | The injury has caused the person an intellectual deficit which is of a moderate to severe nature. Their personality will also have been changed and there could be impacts on the persons’ senses with a significant risk of epilepsy. | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Moderate Injury Caused by Brain Damage (c)(iii) | The injury has impacted the person’s memory and concentration. Their ability to work will be reduced and there will be a small risk of epilepsy. | £52,550 to £110,720 |
| Severe Back Injury (a)(i) | This bracket will include the most severe injuries involving damage to nerve roots and the spinal cord, resulting in a combination of very serious consequences. This can include severe pain and disability. | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate Back Injury (b)(i) | Various injuries fall within this bracket. For example, damage to an intervertebral disc with reduced mobility and nerve root irritation. | £33,880 to £47,320 |
| Less Severe Elbow Injury (b) | Injuries within this bracket will not involve major surgery or significant disability but will cause an impairment of function. | £19,100 to £39,070 |
| Moderate Back Injury (b)(ii) | This bracket includes many commonly encountered back injuries, such as disturbances to muscles and ligaments leading to backache. | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Moderate Knee Injury (b)(i) | This bracket will include injuries involving torn cartilage or meniscus, or dislocation. This will lead to a mild future disability. | £18,110 to £31,960 |
| Moderate Foot Injury (f) | This bracket will include displaced metatarsal fractures that lead to permanent deformity and persisting symptoms. | £16,770 to £30,500 |
| Moderate Hand Injury (f) | Crush injuries, lacerations and penetration wounds. | £6,910 to £16,200 |
The rows in the table above are a guide, and the top row isn’t quoted from the JCG. For a more personalised estimation of the payment you could be eligible to receive, please get in touch with a member of our team.
4.8 (466 reviews) Contact Us For Expert Advice Following A Lifeguard Accident
Please contact Legal Expert today to see if you can make a personal injury claim for a lifeguard accident at work. Suppose our advisors find that you could have legitimate grounds to make a personal injury claim, in that case, they may place you in contact with one of our No Win No Fee solicitors, who could offer to work on your claim under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
Entering into a CFA generally means:
- You won’t pay any upfront or ongoing fees for a solicitor’s services.
- You won’t pay any fees for the services of a solicitor if your claim is unsuccessful and you do not receive compensation.
- A solicitor can take a small percentage of the compensation if your claim is successful. The law caps this success fee. Therefore, you will not be overcharged.
Please get in touch with Legal Expert to see if you can bring forward a personal injury claim after a lifeguard accident at work. You can:
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Contact us via our form
- Write to one of our advisors using the live support feature below
Related Content And Articles
We have included the resources below to provide further information about making a personal injury claim.
Our articles:
- What Are My Rights After An Accident At Work?
- How Much Compensation For A Gym Accident Claim?
- How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Work-Related Illness?
Other useful links:
- GOV.UK – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- NHS – First aid
If you have any queries about claiming personal injury compensation for a lifeguard accident, please don’t hesitate to contact us.