Last Updated On 31st March 2026. Whilst at work, we expect to be able to do our jobs safely, without the risk of accidents. However, with the Health and Safety Executive, the UK’s regulator for workplace health and safety, reporting 680,000 non-fatal injuries in 2024 to 2025 alone, these types of accidents can be a common occurrence.
A workplace accident can change your life in an instant. Not only can it mean ongoing physical pain and suffering, but it could also leave you unable to work. This can lead to both a disrupted routine and a loss in income, oftentimes causing further stress and worries. During such a challenging time, you shouldn’t have to face these concerns alone. With the support of a specialist accident at work claims solicitor such as those on our panel, you could seek compensation for your injuries.
You might be wondering how compensation could help you; not only could you receive a payout for your injuries, but compensation can also be awarded for the psychological distress caused by your accident, as well as any financial losses you’ve experienced. If your injuries were caused by the negligence of your employer, accident at work claims could help you get the support you need to move forward.
Read on to learn whether you’d be eligible to make a workplace accident claim, or you can get in touch with our advisors for more information:
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Jump To A Section
- Can I Make Accident At Work Claim?
- The Most Common Workplace Accidents
- What To Do After An Accident At Work
- How Much Compensation For Accident At Work Claims
- Can Workplace Injury Compensation Cover Financial Losses?
- What Evidence Is Needed For Accident At Work Claims?
- How Long Is The Accident At Work Claim Time Limit?
- Step By Step Process To Accident At Work Claims
- No Win No Fee Accident At Work Claims
- How Can No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Information
Can I Make Accident At Work Claim?
Yes, you could make an accident at work claim if we can show that your employer failed to take all reasonable steps to ensure your safety. In essence, we must prove:
- You were owed a duty of care from your employer
- This duty was breached
- Their breach caused your accident, and led to you suffering injury as a result
If the above can be demonstrated, you could have the basis to bring an accident at work claim. However, the first point of discussion is determining that you were owed a duty of care.
Legally, your employer must take all reasonable steps to ensure your safety whilst at work; this is their duty of care. Not only do they owe this duty of care to full-time workers, but it is also inclusive of those who work part time. The duty of care afforded to you is laid out in the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA).
As per this duty, your employer must ensure that they provide adequate training, perform regular risk assessments and ensure that all work machinery and equipment is maintained and repaired where needed.
You could also be wondering if you’d be eligible to seek compensation if you are self-employed.
In these circumstances, Section 3 of the HASAWA applies, as it extends the legal obligation to those who aren’t employees. Thus, if you’re an external contractor who has been employed to perform work or repairs, reasonable steps must also be taken to protect you.
For a free initial consultation, please get in touch with our advisors today.
The Most Common Workplace Accidents
The HSE found that between 2024 and 2025, the most common workplace accidents were a result of slips, trips or falls on the same level. Additionally, 17% of accidents occurred after handling, lifting or carrying goods, and a further 10% of accidents were caused by the worker being struck by a moving object.
Some specific examples of workplace accident claims include situations where:
- Your employer asks you to move some boxes of stock, even though you haven’t received manual handling training. As a result, you lift multiple boxes and suffer a severe back injury.
- Whilst working in the warehouse yard, you slip, trip and fall suffering multiple fractured bones. Your foot got caught in an uneven tile on the floor that hadn’t been cordoned or signposted.
- When working on roofing, you fail to notice that the ladder you’ve been given is defective. As you step down onto the ladder, you fall, experiencing a serious neck injury and a broken leg.
- Your employer fails to perform maintenance work on a shelving unit in the stockroom. As a result, when you go to grab a box from the shelf, it topples and crushes you against the floor. You suffer lacerations and a severe head injury as a result.
- Your colleague is working on a forklift, but hasn’t been given proper training. Due to this, they aren’t sure how to use the brakes, causing them to crash into you. You suffer an injury which causes lifelong paralysis.
These examples are illustrative, and not the only ways in which an accident at work could lead to injury. So, if you’d like to discuss the circumstances of your own workplace accident, please contact our advisors today.
What To Do After An Accident At Work
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Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Visit a GP, A&E, or an urgent treatment centre so the full extent of your injuries can be assessed. Some workplace accidents cause injuries that are not immediately visible, such as fractures, soft tissue damage, or internal injuries, making medical assessment essential.
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Report the accident to your employer without delay. Even if the injury seems minor, it is important that the incident is formally logged.
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Check whether the accident has been recorded in an accident book. Employers are legally required to keep a workplace accident book if they employ 10 or more people. If an accident book is in place, ensure the details of the incident are accurately recorded.
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If your employer has fewer than 10 employees and is not legally required to keep an accident book, ask for the accident to be recorded in writing instead. This could be via an internal report, email confirmation, or another formal record.
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Gather evidence where possible. This may include photographs of the accident scene, details of any hazards involved, and contact information for witnesses who saw what happened.
If you’d like to talk about what you should do after an accident at work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
How Much Compensation For Accident At Work Claims
The amount of compensation you could receive will be judged on the type of injury you sustain, the severity of harm caused as well as the wider impact that the accident can have had on your daily life.
When exploring how much compensation for accident at work claims, we can look at how compensation is valued. Typically, compensation can be awarded under two different heads of loss. These are known as general damages and special damages.
The first head of loss is compensation for the physical injuries and any psychological impact. When this is being calculated, professionals can consider the pain, suffering and any loss of your ability to enjoy everyday activities.
The second head of loss is compensation for any economic losses, encompassing any out-of-pocket expenses incurred following your accident and injuries. We discuss this in further detail in our section below.
However, when general damages are being valued, professionals can make reference to frameworks such as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is a document containing compensation brackets for certain types of injury and severity. We’ve provided a table with figures taken from the JCG as an estimate of how much compensation for accident at work claims. Please be aware that the first entry of the table has not been taken from the JCG and this table is illustrative only, and not a guarantee of compensation.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Various Severe Injuries + Special Damages | Various serious injuries as well as special damages such like lost income, medical costs and rehabilitation expenses | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Very Severe - little to no language function, the need for full-time nursing care and double incontinence | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Injuries Involving Paralysis | Paraplegia - the level of the award will be impacted by age and life expectancy, the degree of independent and the level of depression | £267,340 to £346,890 |
| Back Injury | Severe (i) - nerve root damage and spinal cord damage with severe pain and disability present | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Arm Injury | Severe Injuries - those just falling short of amputation, but extremely serious injuries which cause a brachial plexus injury | £117,360 to £159,770 |
| Neck Injury | Severe (ii) - serious fractures or disc damage to the cervical spine | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Leg Injury | Severe (ii) Very Serious - injuries causing permanent mobility problems, where fractures have required extensive treatment | £66,920 to £109,290 |
| Shoulder Injuries | Severe - with associated neck injuries causing damage to the brachial plexus | £23,430 to £58,610 |
| Hand Injuries | Severe Fractures to Fingers - may lead to partial amputations, impairment of function and deformity | Up to £44,840 |
| Ankle Injuries | Moderate - fractures or limaentous tears which give rise to less serious disabilities | £16,770 to £32,450 |
Can Workplace Injury Compensation Cover Financial Losses?
Yes, workplace injury compensation includes financial losses. As we briefly discussed above, special damages can reimburse you for any out-of-pocket expenses caused by your accident at work.
Typically, this can include:
- Lost income: if you’ve been left unable to work, this lost income can be calculated within special damages. It can also consider reduced employment prospects, and any missed pension contributions or bonuses.
- Medical expenses: the costs of prescription medications, private treatments or reconstructive surgeries can all be claimed back as special damages.
- Care costs: if you require professional care assistance, or even if a family member has taken time off work to help you, any associated costs can be valued.
- Rehabilitation: things such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy or even psychological support can hugely help during your recovery. These expenses can be considered under special damages.
- Home or vehicle adaptations: if you require modifications to improve your mobility or accessibility, these costs can also be factored into special damages.
These aren’t the only sort of expenses you could be compensated for; you could also receive compensation for miscellaneous expenses such as travel costs. However, it’s important to be aware here that in order to claim this head of loss, you must hold evidence of these expenses. This could include payslips, bank statements or invoices.
Will Accident At Work Claims Pay Compensation Early?
In some accident at work claims, you could be awarded early compensation payments. These are called interim payments, and will only be awarded if either:
- Your claim has a high likelihood of success
- The defendant has admitted liability
This is due to the nature of the payments; they are advanced funds taken from your compensation payout that you will receive at the end of your claim.
However, these payments will also only be granted in the event that you can show immediate costs such as accommodation or urgent medical expenses.
To learn more about interim payments, please get in touch with our advisors today.
What Evidence Is Needed For Accident At Work Claims?
The evidence you will need for accident at work claims can include medical records, CCTV footage and contact details of any colleagues who might’ve witnessed how your accident occurred.
Additionally, evidence in accident at work claims might include:
- Medical records including your GP record, copies of any X-rays or scans, and any treatment provided after your injury
- A copy of the accident report book, with a logged report of details about the accident
- Training documents, machine serving records or any appropriate workplace records
- CCTV footage of the accident itself if it was recorded
Working with one of our panel would mean you have help and assistance in gathering these necessary documents, which can help to strengthen your claim. Get in touch with us to learn more about what evidence is needed in accident at work claims.
How Long Is The Accident At Work Claim Time Limit?
Generally, when bringing accident at work claims, claimants will have 3 years from the date of the accident to start their claim. This is stipulated under the Limitation Act 1980, which places a time limit on compensation claims to ensure they can’t be started indefinitely.
With this said, there are two important exceptions to the standard accident at work time limit. These exceptions apply where a claimant is legally unable to manage or pursue a claim on their own.
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If a claimant is under the age of 18, they are not legally permitted to bring a personal injury claim independently. For this reason, the three-year limitation period is paused during childhood. Once the claimant reaches their 18th birthday, the time limit will begin, giving them three years from that date to start their own claim. Alternatively, a claim can be brought on their behalf before they turn 18 by a litigation friend, such as a parent or legal guardian.
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If a claimant lacks the mental capacity to bring a claim themselves, they are also unable to pursue legal proceedings independently. Mental capacity refers to a person’s ability to understand, make, and communicate decisions relating to their claim. In these circumstances, the three-year time limit is suspended for as long as the claimant lacks capacity. If the claimant later makes a full recovery and regains mental capacity, the three-year limitation period will begin from the date capacity is restored. Where capacity is never regained, a litigation friend may be able to bring a claim on their behalf at any time.
These exceptions exist to ensure that vulnerable individuals are not unfairly prevented from seeking compensation simply because they are unable to act for themselves at the time the injury occurs.
To learn more about how the time limits can apply to your claim, please get in touch with our advisors today.
Step By Step Process To Accident At Work Claims
Accident at work claims will follow a structured, step-by-step legal process, typically starting with immediate reporting, sending a letter of claim, and evidence gathering. Please see the claims process below in further detail:
- Consult a Personal Injury Specialist: Engaging with a specialist accident at work solicitor can hugely benefit your claim, helping you to maximise the compensation you receive. You could enjoy advice about your eligibility to claim and receive a compensation estimate, usually on a No Win No Fee basis.
- Submit the Claim: A solicitor will send a Letter of Claim to the defendant notifying them of impending legal proceedings. This formal document will detail the facts of the accident, the legal basis, the injuries you suffered, and the compensation sought.
- Medical Assessment: As a key part of your evidence, an independent medical assessment will be arranged to create a report of the injuries you suffered.
- Negotiate a Settlement: Once liability has been accepted, your solicitor will negotiate a settlement with your employer’s insurer. Offers will be exchanged back and forth between both parties, and will only be accepted if the amount accurately reflects your pain and suffering.
- Court Proceedings: In rare instances where liability is not accepted or a settlement cannot be reached, the claim will proceed to court. In these cases, legal representation is essential for your success.
To learn more about court proceedings in accident at work claims, please get in touch with one of our friendly advisors today.
No Win No Fee Accident At Work Claims
The solicitors from our panel here at No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct work on a No Win No Fee basis, through the use of a contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement.
This way of claiming can offer some benefits to claimants because it means that you’d have no upfront payments in solicitors fees for one of our panel to begin work on your case.
Moreover, you wouldn’t be faced with ongoing payments during the progression of your claim, and most importantly, you’d have nothing to pay towards the work of one of our panel, if your claim was to fail.
In the event that your claim was however successful, then a legally capped success fee would be taken from your compensation. This deduction is limited in line with the Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013, to make sure that successful claimants receive the majority of their compensation.
For more information on No Win No Fee accident at work claims, please get in touch with our advisors today.
How Can No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct Help?
Here at No Win No Fee Lawyers Direct, our friendly advisors offer a free initial case consultation. During this, you have the chance to discuss the circumstances of your own accident at work, whilst assessing the validity of your case. They will explore the eligibility criteria needed to bring your claim, and if you’re eligible, they can then connect you with one of the expert solicitors from our panel.
Following this, one of our panel can begin to build your case. By gathering evidence, and creating a strong body of documents that corroborate your claim, this gives you the best possible chance of a successful case.
Not only this, but a specialist solicitor from our panel could also:
- Offer continued support through the personal injury claims process
- Provide simple explanations of complicated legal terms
- Ensure that you feel listened to and can ask any questions that you may have
- Provide you with regular updates about the progression of your claim
- Advocate on your behalf to achieve a settlement that reflects the harm caused by your accident
Claim With Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Solicitors
For a free case consultation, please get in touch with our advisors by:
- Calling us on 020 8050 4194
- Contacting us online
- Speaking to an advisor using our live chat
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about accident at work claims:
What If You Were At Fault For Your Workplace Injury?
Even if you’re at fault, you could still claim compensation if your employer’s negligence contributed to your accident. With this said, your compensation can be reduced based on your level of fault; for example, if you’re found to have been 50% at fault, your compensation would be reduced by 50%.
What If I Was Injured By A Colleague At Work?
Even if you were injured by a colleague, you could still pursue a compensation claim. Get in touch with our advisors today to learn more about how to make a colleague workplace accident claim.
Will You Be Entitled To Sick Pay If Injured At Work?
If your company policy offers contractual sick pay, you could receive full or partial pay. Additionally,if your company does not offer contractual sick pay, you could still be entitled to seek Statutory Sick Pay provided you meet the criteria.
Do You Need To Take Your Employer To Court For A Claim?
In most cases, you do not need to take your employer to court to make an accident at work claim. The vast majority of workplace injury claims are resolved without a court hearing through negotiation and settlement.
Can You Be Sacked For Making An Injury At Work Claim?
No, your employer can’t legally sack you for bringing a claim against them as you have a legal right to bring a claim. This would be considered unfair dismissal.
How Long Will It Take An Accident At Work Claim To Payout?
The time it takes for an accident at work claim to pay out can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the case, whether liability is accepted, and how severe the injuries are. While some claims can be resolved relatively quickly, others may take longer to ensure the correct level of compensation is awarded.
What Happens If The Company I Worked For Has Gone Bust Since My Accident?
If the company you worked for has gone bust such as insolvency, liquidation or ceased trading, you could still pursue a personal injury claim against them. All employers are required to have Employer’s Liability Insurance, and so the case will move to the insurance company. Therefore, the insurance policy in place at the time of the accident will remain active to cover claims.
Can I Still Claim If I Am A Part Time Or Zero Hour Contract Worker?
Yes, you can still claim if you’re a part-time or zero hour contract worker. Working on a flexible or temporary basis will not remove your rights to a safe working environment.
What If I Am Self Employed And Have An Accident At Work?
You could claim if you’re self-employed and have an accident at work, if you can show that you suffered injuries due to a third party’s negligence. For instance, this could be a company hiring you, such as a contractor or a building site.
My Employer Didn’t Record The Accident In The Accident Book—Can I Still Claim?
Yes, you can still claim even if your employer didn’t record the accident in the accident book. While an accident book may be helpful as evidence, there are many other forms you can provide, such as witness statements, photographs and CCTV footage.
Do I Have To Attend A Court Hearing In Person?
Generally, in personal injury claims, you will not have to attend a court hearing in person. However, attendance will usually be required in high-value cases or where liability is being disputed.
More Information
We have provided a number of external resources which are helpful:
- Find out whether you’re eligible to claim Statutory Sick Pay
- How to manage your return to work after a period of sickness
- Statistics on fatal workplace injuries
Thank you for reading our accident at work claims guide.