Introduction
Workplace accidents are more common than you might think, the vast majority being small incidents where no one is to blame. Some work accidents, however, lead to a significant personal injury and could have been avoided simply by an employer taking the appropriate precautions. Personal Injury Lawyers
In this instance, making a work accident claim may be a sensible option. Making a claim can not only help you get back on your feet after an injury, but can also make sure your colleagues don't have to suffer a similar injury by drawing attention to the hazard.
Can I make a work accident claim?
No matter what industry or occupation you work in, employers have a duty of care towards their employees. This duty of care essentially means they must do everything which is 'reasonably practicable' to ensure the welfare of staff. In an office environment, this could mean thoroughly testing electrical equipment to avoid shocks, or making sure a slippery reception floor is signposted properly. Conversely, on a construction site, ensuring employee welfare could mean ensuring safety barriers are sufficient to protect those working at ground level from falling objects. Personal Injury Claims Law Firm
Successful work accident claims can be made for a wide variety of accidents. In addition to office and construction site accidents, factory accidents are relatively common. This is partly due to the physical nature of factory work. Again, most accidents that happen in factories are minor incidents, but the use of heavy machinery means that, unfortunately, serious accidents do happen.
Compensation claims can also be made for injuries sustained in a military accident, or where an industrial disease is contracted and the employer has not supplied the appropriate safety equipment.
Wherever the employer has been negligent or ignored their duty of care, and someone has been injured as a result, there may be a legitimate work accident claim.
Can I lose my job?
The fear of facing repercussions from their employer is, understandably, the main barrier for most work accident victims. The truth is, it's against the law for an employer to sack an employee for making a compensation claim - this is unfair dismissal. What's more, most companies are required to take out insurance to protect against this type of situation, so do not pay any compensation themselves.
Who can help?
There are a number of different work accident claims companies to choose from, and selecting the right one to handle your claim is an important decision. Things to look out for include how much experience the company has, and whether they specialize in work accident claims. Accident Attorneys
Several companies can offer a no win no fee service, which means that if your claim is unsuccessful, you don't pay the solicitor who handled your claim anything at all. This makes claiming much less risky. Similarly, some claims companies are able to offer 100% compensation. This is because the solicitor's fees are recovered from the other side. Accident Law Company