By Danielle Jordan. Last Updated 29th July 2025. In this guide, we will explain how negligence could contribute to pallet truck accidents and injuries. Accidents occur in workplaces daily. But in this guide, we examine examples of accidents that could occur through an employer’s negligence. All employers owe their workforce a duty of care to take reasonable practical steps to prevent injury and illness to staff while they are carrying out work duties.
If an employee is injured because this duty is breached, this amounts to negligence for which a personal injury claim can be pursued. Not only in this guide will we look at health and safety laws that protect you while working, but we will also examine how these can be the basis of an accident at work claim.
Throughout this guide, we will look at the eligibility criteria, what evidence can be used to support your case, what sources are referenced when valuing injuries and how our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you.
Our advisors are here to help if you would like to learn more about the accident at work claims process. They can offer free legal advice and an evaluation of your claim and what it could be worth. In addition to this, if your claim is valid, they could put you in contact with one of our solicitors to help you start your claim.
To find out if you could be eligible to access their services on a No Win No Fee basis, contact our team of advisors today:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Contact us online.
- Use the live chat feature
Browse Our Guide
- Pallet Truck Accidents At Work – The Criteria For Claiming Compensation
- How Long Do I Have To Claim For An Injury At Work?
- Examples Of Pallet Truck Accidents At Work
- Proving Liability In Accident At Work Claims
- How Much Compensation Can You Claim For A Pallet Truck Accident?
- Pallet Truck Accident Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Learn More About Workplace Accidents
Pallet Truck Accidents At Work – The Criteria For Claiming Compensation
To claim for injuries caused by pallet truck accidents, you must be able to prove that your accident was caused by negligence. This means that:
- Your employer owed you a duty of care
- They breached this duty
- Because of this, you were injured
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, every employer owes their employees a duty of care. This means that they have a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to keep you safe while carrying out your work duties. Get in touch with our team today to determine if you are eligible to make an accident at work claim.
How Long Do I Have To Claim For An Injury At Work?
Your particular circumstances will determine how long you have to start a claim for an injury at work, but it is generally 3 years. This time frame is set down by the Limitation Act 1980, but the nature of pallet truck accidents means there may be situations where those 3 years do not apply.
There are, therefore, exceptions to the standard time limit for 2 groups who are unable to claim independently of others. These exceptions have been summarised for you here:
- Minors: Injured persons who are minors will have 3 years from their 18th birthday to start any legal action. This will give them until 21 to begin a claim.
- Persons without mental capacity: If someone has such reduced mental capacity that they cannot manage their own affairs, then the 3 years are indefinitely paused. However, this time limit will be counted from the date mental capacity returns, if a recovery is made.
In order to get any potential legal action for an accident with a pallet truck started before time limits take effect, a litigation friend may be appointed. Litigation friends can be any adult who meets the suitability requirements. They are given decision-making powers over the claim and must act in the best interests of the person they are acting on behalf of.
You can find out more about claiming for someone else, as well as ask about the time limits in pallet truck accident claims, by talking to an advisor today.
Examples Of Pallet Truck Accidents At Work
Pallet truck accidents can happen in a number of ways, but as we’ve already mentioned, you must be able to prove that your injuries were caused by negligence in order to claim. Some examples of how employer negligence could result in a pallet truck accident include:
- If your employer provides inadequate training before asking you to move heavy loads with a pallet truck, this can result in an accident.
- Your employer could breach their duty of care by knowingly providing defective equipment, such as a broken pallet truck or roll cage, which causes you to become injured in an accident.
- If your employer does not undertake a risk assessment before asking you to move stock or heavy loads with a pallet truck, despite knowing that you have a pre-existing back injury that could be exacerbated through this action.
For more information on claiming for injuries caused by your employer’s negligence, we recommend you contact our team of advisors.
Proving Liability In Accident At Work Claims
An important part of making an accident at work claim is showing how you think your employer is liable for your injuries. One way of going about this is by collecting evidence. You can do this by yourself, or you could do it with the help of a solicitor.
Some examples of evidence that could be beneficial include:
- CCTV footage: If your workplace has a CCTV system, you may be able to request footage of the accident to use as evidence.
- Medical records: Your medical records can help prove the extent of your injuries and can detail the treatment that you receive for them.
- Accident book report: Workplaces with ten or more employees must have an accident book. Logging your accident in a timely manner ensures that there is a record of your accident.
- Witness contact details: When you collect the contact details of potential witnesses, it allows a professional to take their statements later.
Get in touch with our team today to find out how one of our solicitors could help you collect evidence for your claim. Or, read on to learn more about compensation for injuries caused by pallet truck accidents.
How Much Compensation Can You Claim For A Pallet Truck Accident?
How much will be awarded for a pallet truck accident claim if successful may be determined by your general and special damages. Your pain and suffering is covered by the former, while special damages can compensate you for how your injuries affected you financially.
When making a personal injury claim for accident at work compensation, those valuing your general damages will use your medical records, possibly a report done by an independent medical expert, and the Judicial College Guidelines. The JCG is a document that lists various types of injuries accompanied by suggestive compensation brackets.
Below in the table, you will see an excerpt from the JCG, but please bear in mind that these are only for guidance purposes, and what might be awarded in a personal injury claim for a pallet truck accident is unique to the case. The first entry in the table is not part of the JCG.
JCG Examples
| Injury Type | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|
| Multiple and Very Severe Injuries Plus Financial Losses Such as Lost Income | Up to £500,000+ |
| Brain Damage - Moderate (i) | £183,190 to £267,340 |
| Foot Injuries - Amputation of 1 Foot | £102,470 to £133,810 |
| Foot Injuries - Severe | £51,220 to £85,460 |
| Pelvic/Hip Injuries - Severe (ii) | £75,550 to £95,680 |
| Back Injuries - Severe (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Shoulder Injuries - Severe | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Achilles Tendon - Serious | £30,500 to £36,720 |
| Other Arm Injuries -Simple Fractures of the Forearm | £8,060 to £23,430 |
| Toe Injuries - Severe | £16,770 to £25,710 |
Special Damages Awarded In Pallet Truck Injury Claims
As well as general damages, you could also be awarded special damages compensation. This can reimburse you for your past and future financial losses related to:
- Lost earnings, work benefits or lost pension contributions
- Medical costs, including prescription fees
- The cost of a carer or domestic help
- Vehicle or home adaptations, such as a wheelchair ramp, if you are left disabled.
It is important to keep any documentation, such as payslips, receipts, or invoices, that can prove these losses.
If you are not sure what can be claimed, give our advisors a quick call and, through a free consultation, they can evaluate your accident at work claim.
Pallet Truck Accident Claims With A No Win No Fee Solicitor
If you are eligible to claim for injuries suffered in a pallet truck accident, you may like to instruct a solicitor to work on your case. One of our accident at work solicitors could support your claim. They generally use a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to provide their services. This is a type of No Win No Fee agreement.
When you use this type of agreement to work on your claim, you won’t be asked to pay upfront or ongoing solicitor fees. You also won’t be charged these fees for their work on your case if you are not awarded compensation.
However, if your claim wins, your solicitor will deduct a success fee from your compensation. This fee is taken as a percentage that is capped by the law.
To discuss pallet truck accident claims, get in touch with one of our advisors. They can also assess your claim, and if it is eligible, you could be connected to one of our solicitors. To speak to an advisor:
- Use our live webchat feature.
- Contact us online by filling in our form.
- Call 0800 073 8804.
Learn More About Workplace Accident Claims
For more helpful articles on workplace injury claims, we recommend:
- Lifeguard Accident At Work Claims
- Can I Claim Compensation For A Lifting Injury While Pregnant?
- Injured By Scrap Metal Claims
- Can I Make A Claim For Nerve Damage After An Accident At Work?
- Cleaner Injured At Work Claims
Or, for more helpful resources:
- NHS 111 – Get Help For Your Symptoms
- GOV – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- HSE – Simple Health and Safety.
For more information on pallet truck accidents and when you could claim, contact our team today.
