Skip accidents can happen suddenly, whether during the drop-off/removal process or due to poor maintenance. While certain steps and procedures should be taken to minimise the risk to people’s well-being, that doesn’t always happen. If you’ve experienced this and been hurt through no fault of your own, please read on to see how we could help you seek compensation and get started with the skip injury claims process.
Key Takeaways
- Most compensation claims of this nature are related to accidents in public or at work
- Dangers include striking overhead cables, failed equipment, and falls or slips
- A skip worker or manager should check their vehicle and equipment each day
- Employees should receive appropriate training for skip drop-off/removals
- Our solicitors handle all claims for skip injuries on a No Win No Fee basis
You can reach out to our advisors today to find out if you can make a skip injury claim. By discussing what happened to you, they can determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim and answer any questions you have with no obligation to pursue compensation.
What Are Skip Injury Claims?
Skip injury claims are the legal process for seeking compensation for harm caused by the negligent actions of another party. If you are not familiar with personal injury law, you may not know when you could have valid grounds to claim, so please read on to see some examples involving accidents at work and in public.
Workplace Skip Accidents
Workplace skip accidents may happen because of inadequate training and poor maintenance. When you are working, your employer is required to take reasonable steps to ensure your safety, well-being, and health. This is referred to as a duty of care and is set by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Imagine that your employer instructed you to assist with dropping off a skip. You inform them that you have not received the appropriate training, but they tell you to go anyway. While delivering the skip, you are not aware that you need to move from the area, and the weight of the skip breaks your little toe.
Injured By A Skip In Public
Being injured by a skip in public can occur due to overflowing waste or poorly secured equipment. While in public, you are owed a duty of care under the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This requires occupiers to take practical actions to ensure your reasonable safety as a visitor.
For example, you suffer a serious arm injury after being cut by sharp refuse that is hanging out of a skip outside of a restaurant. Here, restaurant management should have ensured that the skip was safe for visitors to walk past.
Skip Removal Accident
Skips are incredibly heavy, meaning that serious injuries can occur if there is a skip removal accident. Many things can go wrong during a skip removal, and the equipment must be handled with care and properly maintained.
Say that you are walking past a skip that is being removed from a premises. The lifting equipment is faulty and hasn’t been regularly inspected by the removal company, causing the skip to fall and hit you suddenly. This leaves you with multiple injuries, including head trauma.
Don’t worry if your skip injury accident isn’t in our examples; you can always chat with one of our friendly advisors today to discuss your specific details.
Can I Claim Compensation After Being Injured By A Skip?
Yes, you can claim compensation after being injured by a skip if the incident was caused by a negligent party breaching the duty of care they owed you. We’ve already touched on this term, but a duty of care is essentially an obligation to take certain actions to protect the safety and well-being of others. With that in mind, your claim would need to establish:
- Who owed you a duty of care
- How it was breached
- That the breach directly caused your injury
If you are at all uncertain about this eligibility criteria or would like to know whether you can make a claim, contact our team today for a completely free case assessment.
What Injuries Could A Skip Accident Cause?
Various injuries could result from a skip accident, affecting the bones, muscles, organs, and ligaments. These injuries can involve:
- Fractures
- Strains and sprains
- Concussion
- Lacerations
- Psychological damage
Speak with our advisors to discuss the specifics of your injuries and see if you have grounds to claim today.
How Much Skip Accident Compensation Could I Get?
For your specific case, how much skip accident compensation you could get will depend on the nature of your injuries and their financial impact. General damages will always be awarded in successful claims, as this is the part of the compensation that applies to the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
When assessing the value of general damages, legal professionals have the option of using the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document is beneficial for calculating payouts, as it establishes compensation guideline brackets for varying severities of harm.
We have included some brackets from the JCG in the table below. However, you should not view these as a guarantee of your potential compensation payout, nor can they reflect the unique nature of your skip injury claim. The top figure in the table below was not taken from the JCG.
| Type/Severity of Injury | Severity | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple very severe injuries with financial impact (e.g. lost earnings, medical bills, and travel costs) | Very severe | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain/head | Very severe - May be some ability to follow basic commands | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Neck | Severe (ii) - usually involving serious damage or fracturing of cervical spine discs | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Hand | Amputation of ring, middle and/or index fingers | £75,550 to £110,750 |
| Back | Severe (iii) - includes disc fractures or soft tissue injuries | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Wrist | Total loss of function in the wrist | £58,710 to £73,050 |
| Arm | Less severe injury - significant disabilities but substantial recovery | £23,430 to £47,810 |
| Leg | Less serious (i) fractures with an incomplete recovery or serious soft tissue damage | £21,920 to £33,880 |
| Knee | Moderate (i) - features dislocations, torn meniscus or cartilage | £18,110 to £31,960 |
| Toe | Severe - covers bursting injuries and wounds with significant ongoing symptoms | £16,770 to £25,710 |
Special Damages In Skip Injury Claims
Some skip injury claims also include special damages if the harm suffered has had a financial impact. However, you must have bank statements, receipts, and other proof to claim for any loss you experienced. If you do have this evidence, recoverable costs can include:
- Private medical treatments and prescriptions
- Travel expenses required to attend medical appointments
- Lost income due to time taken off work
- Payments for carers to help with daily activities
- Home adjustments (such as a stairlift or wet room)
If you are looking for a more tailored discussion of compensation, why not contact our helpful advisors? They can provide you with a free case assessment and outline the specific factors that may be considered when calculating your payout.
How Can I Prove My Skip Injury Was Someone Else’s Fault?
You can prove your skip injury was someone else’s fault by supplying CCTV footage, medical records, and other evidence establishing how a third party’s negligent actions directly caused you harm. This might involve using:
- Test results, GP notes, and other medical documents.
- Photos of the skip accident scene/your injuries, or video footage of the incident
- The contact information of those who could give a supportive statement to a solicitor
- Your accident report, if your injury was sustained at work or in public
Why not use our free advice line to learn more about proving skip injury claims? Our advisors would also be happy to explain how one of our solicitors could help with obtaining evidence for your case.
Is There A Time Limit When Claiming For A Skip Accident?
Yes, there is a 3-year time limit when claiming for a skip accident, typically starting from the date of the incident. This is set by the Limitation Act 1980, but the time limit doesn’t apply to those who cannot claim because they are under 18 or have a mental incapacity. Instead, the standard 3 years will only take effect if:
- A child turns 18
- Mental capacity is restored. In this instance, the 3 years will be counted from the recovery date
However, that doesn’t mean someone from these groups cannot claim. For both these exceptions, an eligible adult can step in as a litigation friend to claim on their behalf while time limits are on hold.
You can discuss this role further and see if you have enough time to claim by having a chat with one of our advisors.
No Win No Fee Skip Injury Claims
Our solicitors have taken on No Win No Fee skip injury claims nationwide, providing expert guidance under the advantageous terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). By signing this type of contract, you won’t pay any service fees for your solicitor’s work:
- Prior to the start of the skip claim
- While your personal injury claim is being assessed
- If you are not compensated
If you receive skip injury compensation, you will pay your solicitor a success fee. This is a percentage of the compensation, but a legal cap ensures you’ll keep the largest share. Of course, that isn’t the only benefit of claiming with one of our solicitors.
Here at Legal Expert, our solicitors provide a fully personalised and high-quality service, tailored to the individual needs of every client. They believe every client matters and take the time to deliver truly exceptional representation throughout the claims process. Here are just some of the ways they can help:
- Assistance when proving your injuries and establishing liability
- Professional handling of correspondence with the defending party on your behalf
- Straightforward explanations of legal concepts and processes
- An expert approach to negotiations to ensure any settlement fully reflects the severity of your injuries and losses
Get In Touch With Our Solicitors
You can speak to our enquiries team today to find out whether one of our solicitors can help you claim. They will give you straightforward answers free of charge, so what do you have to lose by getting in touch?
- Call our team on 0800 073 8804
- Complete an online submission form
- Speak live with an advisor using the window in the corner
Learn More
You can learn more about claiming personal injury compensation with the following guides:
- Read about delivery drive accident claims
- See if you can claim after falling in the streets
- Explore the pothole accident claims process
Some external resources:
- Government information on skip licences
- HSE guidance on skip hire and waste transfer
- An HSE overview of musculoskeletal disorders in waste management
Thank you for reading our guide on skip injury claims.
