How Much Compensation Can I Claim For A Factory Accident?
By Michael Patrick. Last Updated 19th January 2021. If you work in a manufacturing environment, and you are injured due to an accident that occurs in the workplace, you may be entitled to make a factory accident claim for compensation.
All employers in the UK are expected to maintain certain standards in health and safety. For some types of businesses, such as those in the manufacturing sector, additional safety regulations are applicable, any time an employee is injured in a work-related accident in a factory, and it is due to non-compliance with Health and Safety Regulations for the Manufacturing Industry, a valid compensation claim will surely exist.
Select a section:
- A guide to factory accident claims.
- The most common types of accident that occur in a factory.
- The most common types of injuries sustained in factory accidents.
- How do factory accidents happen?
- Is the employer always to blame after a factory accident?
- How to make a claim for a factory accident.
- What Can Be Claimed for After a Factory Accident?
- How much compensation will I receive for a factory accident?
- No win no fee factory accident claims.
- Why choose us as your claims service for a factory accident claim?
- Call now for free advice and to start a claim.
A Guide to Factory Accident Claims
Factory accident
Suppose you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident at work, and your job is carried out in a manufacturing environment. In that case, you will likely be interested in pursuing a factory accident compensation claim.
Starting a claim for compensation following a factory accident does not need to be a complicated procedure. We have published this short guide to assist you, which will provide you with all the background you will need to decide whether you have a valid claim and what you need to do next.
This guide covers the most common types of accidents that occur in a factory and the most common types of injuries these accidents cause. It will then walk you through preparing to make your factory accident claim and give a general indication of the amount of factory injury compensation you might receive for a range of injuries.
Once you have read the information in this guide, you can use the contact information at the bottom of the page to get in touch with us, so that we can help you put your manufacturing accident compensation claim into motion.
The Most Common Types of Accident that Occur in a Factory
Although there are a very many ways that an injury can happen in a manufacturing environment, statistically, some ways are far more common. Below is an overview of the most often seen types of accident or incident that results in an injury whilst working in a factory:
- Musculoskeletal-related accidents – in laymen’s terms, these types of injuries are sprains, muscle damage and other injuries that are caused by overexertion. The typical example of this is some form of back injury caused by incorrectly lifting a heavyweight.
- Movement-related accidents – these are akin to the musculoskeletal accidents outlined above. However, instead of them being caused by overexertion, they are caused by forcing the body to move in ways it is not designed to do. An example of this would be having to reach up to grab a piece of machinery requiring the operator to overstretch themselves.
- Vehicular accidents – in many manufacturing environments, especially those that are heavily automated, vehicular accidents can be a common occurrence. This covers everything from a manually driven forklift truck hitting a worker, to an automated materials trolley causing an injury.
- Equipment and machinery accidents – especially relevant in heavy industry-related factories, such as a forge or a car works. If misused or faulty, dangerous machinery can cause some of the most severe industrial injuries.
- Fire – unsurprisingly, fire is a significant risk in many types of factories. A fire can result in a number of severe injuries, not just burns, but also respiratory-related health conditions and long-term scarring.
- Chemical hazards – very similar to a fire risk, chemical exposure can cause chemical burns, poisoning and in the most extreme cases, rapid death. The long-term side effects of chemical exposure are hard to quantify. A person can walk away from a chemically related accident with no visible impact, only for them to become seriously ill sometime later, possibly years into the future.
These are the most common ways that accidents causing an injury in a factory occur. There are obviously many more.
The Most Common Types of Injuries Sustained in Factory Accidents
In the section above, we took a look at the most common ways that injuries can happen in a factory. This section will take a look at the actual damages that occur most frequently in a manufacturing environment:
- Burns – burns injuries are a prevalent injury that factory workers are at risk of. Although most burns injuries that happen at work are relatively minor, some can be extremely serious and even life-threatening.
- Again, breaks and fractures are a widespread occurrence; a wide range of industrial accidents can cause broken bones.
- Spinal and back injuries – a widespread injury, mostly caused by overexertion, such as lifting or moving heavy objects.
- Respiratory problems – most often caused by either the smoke from a fire or exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals.
- Damaged hearing – factories are required under HSE Noise Guidelines to ensure that the factory floor’s decibel level remains below safe levels. If a spike in decibel level occurs, it can cause permanent damage to a person’s hearing. Something to note here is that hearing damage caused by high volume noise does not heal naturally. This kind of damage is always permanent and irreparable.
- Damaged eyesight – either caused by an intrusive object, or by exposure to fire or caustic chemicals.
- Poisoning and toxic shock – caused by exposure to harmful chemicals. This can be a single significant exposure or a repeated minor exposure.
- Amputation – the single most serious injury caused by accidents that involve heavy equipment and manufacturing machinery.
The list above is based on the most common injuries that people sustain whilst working in a factory. There are, of course, very many more.
How do Factory Accidents Happen?
Accidents happen for a reason. They are not random, they are driven by cause and effect. This is why we have health and safety legislation in place. Following even Basic HSE Guidelines, removes many of the causes that can result in a factory accident. Factory accidents happen for several key reasons, including:
- Inadequate health and safety compliance – failure to comply with HSE regulation is the primary reason for factory accidents occurring.
- Badly designed HSE protocols – in this instance, HSE compliance is managed by badly designed operational processes, which expose employees to an increased risk of accident.
- Poorly maintained machinery and equipment – when corners are cut with maintenance, then equipment malfunction is more likely, which could result in an accident.
- Insufficient staff training – HSE protocols are only as good as the people who are actioning them. Failure to educate staff sufficiently to carry out their HSE duties to sufficient standards will increase the risk of accidents happening.
These four drivers are to blame for most factory accidents that happen, which lead to an injury claim being made against the factory operator.
Is the Employer Always to Blame After a Factory Accident?
When claiming for an accident in a factory, employer liability has to be proven for a claim to be successful.
In most cases, there will be a clear-cut route to apportioning blame for the accident happening in the factory, which leads directly back to the employer. Though in some cases, the blame might be shared with another party.
For example, if an accident happens that was caused by the actual factory building itself, and the building is rented from a third party, the blame may partially be attributed to the building owner. The building owner has their own factory health and safety requirements to meet.
Workplace Accident Statistics
Throughout the duration of this guide, we have outlined how a workplace accident could ultimately affect your health and well-being. While there are some circumstances where a workplace accident could be the fault of a third, party, there are also circumstances where a negligent party could be at fault. In the moments where an accident is your employer’s fault, you may consider taking legal action for the damages they’ve inflicted.
Between 2019/20, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) documented that there were 64,247 non-fatal accidents reported by employers, and all together, there were 639,000 non-fatal accidents that occurred. Over the course of the year (2019/20), the following statistics were documented by the HSE:
- Around 29% of all accidents in the workplace were caused by a slip, trip or all.
- 19% of accidents were directly caused by handling or lifting heavy items.
- It was reported that 8% of accidents were due to a fall from a height.
- 11% of accidents were caused by an item sticking an employee.
- Acts of violence accounted for 9%.
The statistics above offer insight into workplace accidents. However, please note that not every accident at work is the direct cause of negligence.
How to Make a Claim for a Factory Accident
If you feel you have a valid factory injury claim, you are going to need professional legal guidance and representation. We offer a completely free initial fact-finding session. During which, we will try and understand all of the circumstances of the accident, and the injury it caused.
Once we have all of this information, we will tell you a) whether we think you have a valid compensation claim for a factory accident and b) what we think you should do next.
Most likely, we will offer you a No Win No Fee form of legal representation for your factory injury compensation claim. You will have nothing to pay unless we win your case for you.
What Can Be Claimed for After a Factory Accident?
There are a number of types of damages that compensation for a factory accident will include, and these are:
- General damages – to compensate you for all of the physical effects of the injury; pain, suffering and mental trauma.
- Special damages – to compensate you for tangible losses that are not related to the injury’s physical effects. For example, having to cancel a significant event such as a wedding, which caused a financial loss, would come under special damages.
- Ongoing care – to compensate you for the financial overhead of either paying for in-home care or having to spend time in a private care facility.
- Medical costs – to compensate you for any money you have spent paying to have your injury treated, or for therapy and treatment during the recovery stage.
- Travel costs – to compensate you for any money spent making journeys you otherwise you would not have had to, due to the accident or the compensation claim itself.
These are the basic categories of damages which make up a compensation claim. There may be others that apply to your specific case, contact us for more information regarding this.
How Much Compensation Will I Receive for a Factory Accident?
When it comes to estimating compensation for a factory accident, there is no way to discern how much a particular claim may win in damages, without knowing the specifics of the case. However, the figures below can be used as a rough guide:
| Injury | Severity | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toe Injury | Moderate | Up to £7,300 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Toe Injury | Severe | £7,300 to £10,450 | |
| Toe Injury | Amputation | £27,750 to £42,600 | |
| Foot Injury | Amputation | £128,750 to £153,200 | Both feet. |
| Foot Injury | Amputation | £63,825 to £83,325 | One foot. |
| Foot Injury | Very severe | £63,825 to £83,325 | Permanent loss of use of one or both feet. |
| Foot Injury | Severe | £31,900 to £53,200 | |
| Foot Injury | Serious | £19,000 to £29,800 | |
| Foot Injury | Moderate | £10,450 to £19,000 | |
| Foot Injury | Minor | Up to £10,450 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Severe | In the region of £29,200 | |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Serious | £19,000 to £22,875 | |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Moderate | £9,575 to £16,000 | |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Minor | £5,525 to £9,575 | |
| Ankle Injury | Very severe | £38,050 to £53,000 | |
| Ankle Injury | Severe | £23,800 to £38,050 | |
| Ankle Injury | Moderate | £10,450 to £20,200 | |
| Ankle Injury | Minor | Up to £10,450 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Knee Injury | Severe | £19,900 to £73,125 | |
| Knee Injury | Moderate | Up to £19,900 | |
| Leg Injury | Amputation | £74,475 to £214,350 | |
| Leg Injury | Severe | £73,150 to £103,250 | Permanent loss of use of one or both legs. |
| Leg Injury | Very serious | £41,675 to £64,275 | |
| Leg Injury | Serious | £29,800 to £41,675 | |
| Leg Injury | Moderate | £21,100 to £29,800 | |
| Finger Injury | Severe fracture | Up to £27,925 | |
| Finger Injury | Loss of index finger | In the region of £14,250 | |
| Finger Injury | Partial loss of finger | £9,250 to £14,250 | |
| Finger Injury | Fracture of index finger | £6,925 to £9,300 | |
| Finger Injury | Total loss of middle finger | In the region of £11,875 | |
| Finger Injury | Serious injury to ring or middle fingers | £11,300 to £12,425 | |
| Finger Injury | Amputation of one or more fingers | £6,575 to £19,000 | |
| Thumb Injury | Severe | £14,900 to £26,600 | |
| Thumb Injury | Serious | £9,575 to £12,750 | |
| Thumb Injury | Minor | £7,350 to £9,575 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Thumb Injury | Loss of Thumb | £27,000 to £41,675 | |
| Wrist Injury | Very severe | £36,200 to £45,500 | Permanent loss of use of one or both wrists. |
| Wrist Injury | Severe | £18,625 to £29,800 | |
| Wrist Injury | Serious | £9,575 to £18,625 | |
| Wrist Injury | Moderate | Rarely exceed £7,800 | |
| Wrist Injury | Minor | £2,675 to £3,600 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Hand Injury | Amputation | £107,000 to £153,200 | Amputation of one or both hands. |
| Hand Injury | Very severe | £42,250 to £64,275 | Loss of use of both hands. |
| Hand Injury | Severe | £73,100 to £83,325 | Loss of use of one hand. |
| Hand Injury | Very serious | £22,050 to £47,050 | Loss of use of one or both hands, that will take several months to recover from. |
| Hand Injury | Serious | £11,000 to £22,050 | Medium-term loss of use of one or both hands. |
| Hand Injury | Moderate | £4,100 to £10,100 | Short-term reduced function of one or both hands. |
| Hand Injury | Minor | £700 to £3,300 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Elbow Injury | Severe | £29,800 to £41,675 | Limited use of the arm. |
| Elbow Injury | Moderate | £11,900 to £24,350 | Restricted use of the arm. |
| Elbow Injury | Minor | Up to £9,575 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Arm Injury | Amputation | £104,250 to £228,000 | Amputation of one or both arms. |
| Arm Injury | Severe | £73,100 to £99,500 | Permanent loss of use of one or both arms. |
| Arm Injury | Serious | £29,800 to £45,500 | Long-term loss of use of one or both arms. |
| Arm Injury | Moderate | £14,600 to £29,800 | Reduced functionality of one or both arms in the medium-term. Breaks and fractures, serious tissue damage. |
| Shoulder Injury | Severe | £14,600 to £36,500 | Permanent restriction of movement in arm or neck. |
| Shoulder Injury | Serious | £9,700 to £14,600 | Long-term restriction of movement in arm or neck. |
| Shoulder Injury | Moderate | £6,000 to £9,700 | Minor restriction of movement in the arm of the neck, expected to heal with several weeks. |
| Shoulder Injury | Minor | Up to £6,000 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Neck Injury | Severe | £34,575 to £112,750 | Permanent nerve damage, partial paralysis or numbness of the limbs. |
| Neck Injury | Moderate | £6,000 to £29,250 | Nerve damage, partial paralysis or numbness of the limbs, which will heal with time. |
| Neck Injury | Minor | Up to £6,000 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Back Injury | Severe | £29,475 to £122,350 | Incapacitating injury, causing immobility in the long-term. |
| Back Injury | Moderate | £9,500 to £29,475 | Incapacitating injury, causing immobility or pain during movement in the short-term. |
| Back Injury | Minor | Up to £9,500 | Soft tissue damage, cuts and bruises. |
| Eye Injury | Severe (permanent) | £6,925 to £136,700 | Total blindness in one or both eyes. |
| Eye Injury | Minor | £3,000 to £6,650 | Impaired vision which will heal fully in time. |
| Total deafness | Severe | £69,000 to £83,325 | |
| Deafness (one ear) | Moderate | £23,800 to £34,600 | |
| Partial Deafness | Minor | Up to £34,600 | |
| Cheekbone Injury | Minor to severe | £1,775 to £12,000 | |
| Jaw Injury | Minor to severe | £4,900 to £34,600 | |
| Damaged teeth | Minor to severe | £830 to £29,000 | |
| Brain Injury | Very severe | £214,350 to £307,000 | Complete loss of life quality, unable to care for oneself, serious degradation of mental capacity. |
| Brain Injury | Severe | £166,500 to £214,350 | Significant loss of life quality, permanent impediment to mental capacity. |
| Brain Injury | Moderate | £32,725 to £166,500 | Loss of life quality, with the expectancy of full recovery in the future. |
| Brain Injury | Minor | £1,675 to £9,700 | Minor problems with mental faculties such as memory and cognitive ability. |
| Paralysis | Quadriplegic | £246,750 to £307,000 | |
| Paralysis | Paraplegic | £166,500 to £216,000 | |
| Psychiatric Damage | Severe | £41,675 to £88,000 | Requiring long-term therapy, with expected permanent lowering of life quality. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Moderately severe | £14,500 to £41,675 | Requiring long-term therapy, with reduced life quality in the long-term. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Moderate | £4,450 to £14,500 | Requiring ongoing therapy, with reduced life quality in the short-term. |
| Psychiatric Damage | Minor | £1,170 to £4,450 | |
| Psychiatric Damage | PTSD | £3,000 to £76,500 | |
| Chest Injury | Minor to severe | up to £114,100 |
The actual amount of compensation paid as part of a claim for damages after a factory accident will always be decided on a case by case basis. Please contact us for a more accurate estimate of how much compensation you may be entitled too.
No Win No Fee Factory Accident Claims
If you have a reason to claim compensation for factory injury, you would traditionally need to pay all of the ongoing legal costs whilst your claim is being processed. These costs can mount up quickly.
To help making a compensation claim easier to access for people without the cash on hand to pay legal costs, we offer a No Win No Fee agreement. We will take your claim on, and will not charge you anything to do so. We will represent you to the same standard you would receive if you were paying the legal fees from your own pocket. If we win your claim for you, then you will pay us a fee. If we don’t win, then you will owe us nothing.
Why Choose Us as Your Claims Service for A Factory Accident Claim?
We manage hundreds of factory injury compensation claims every year. We have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that your claim has the most chance of success and to make sure that you are awarded the most compensation possible.
We treat every client with respect and understand that most people will not fully understand the legal process being followed to pursue their claim. Therefore, we always aim to explain what we are doing on your behalf and what we are aiming to achieve in simple terms.
Call Now for Free Advice and to Start a Claim
If you are ready to take the next step towards claiming compensation for an injury you have sustained whilst working in a factory, you should contact us today.
You can telephone us on 0800 073 8804, or use the webchat on this site to speak to us instantly. Or if you would prefer, you can use the contact form to send us your details, and we will arrange a free initial consultation session at a convenient time for you. Contact us now, so that we can begin helping you to claim the compensation you are entitled too.
Helpful Links
Slip Trip or Fall at Work Claims
Have you had a slip trip or fall at work? Find out how much compensation you can claim.
Compensation For a Slip Trip or Fall Claim
If you have had a trip at work or fall in a public place, click the link to find more.
Have you suffered from a back injury at work? Claim compensation today.