Have you had an accident at work? Have you been injured in the course of your duties at any time in the last 3 years?
Did you fail to take any action at the time? Maybe you felt your employer was negligent and was in some way responsible for the accident, but you were reluctant to take action for fear of your employer’s possible retribution. Well, you would not be alone in that regard. Many people have been injured as a result of an accident caused by their employer’s negligence, but failed to pursue the matter because they feared for their jobs if they did.
If you put yourself in the position of the injured party, then their reaction is perfectly understandable: after all, who wants to bite the hand that feeds it? Never the less, there are certain facts you should consider.
Once you understand these facts you may well think differently:
- employers are insured against any losses incurred as a result of your claim, so you won’t be taking any money directly from them.
- employers may actually welcome one or two cases which help them to strengthen health and safety standards, as this may preclude potentially larger lawsuits in the future.
- strictly enforced laws mean that employers unwilling to compensate for workplace injuries or to adapt their practices will face far stiffer penalties.
How do you bring a claim for workplace personal injury compensation?
Any claim for personal injury caused by an accident at work will usually hinge on whether you are able to prove negligence on the part of your employer, but how do you go about proving your employer failed to fulfil his/her legal responsibilities?
Well, employers are legally obliged to provide the following working conditions for all of their employees:
- safe premises in which to work,
- safe working procedures,
- suitable materials and equipment, with adequate supervision,
- competent staff.
If your employer has failed to meet any of these legal requirements, then it is likely you will have a legitimate case to take before the courts.
To make a claim for an accident at work, you will need to provide evidence which proves that your injuries have been caused by negligent working practices in the workplace. This evidence will generally take the form of witness statements, employer logs, a record of similar accidents at the workplace, an accident book, ambulance attendance at the scene of the accident or doctor’s notes.
There are also many other forms the evidence could take, but that often depends upon the nature of the workplace. It will then be up to you and the personal injury solicitor working on your behalf to prove that the injuries were the result of negligence on the part of your employer. It’s worth pointing out that when making such a claim, you will probably be called upon to give evidence against your employer. Some employees will obviously feel uncomfortable about this, but with our solicitor’s help, they needn’t be worried. Our solicitors will be on hand to guide you every step of the way.
Harold Stock & Co’s Solicitors appreciate that many people feel uncomfortable at the prospect of taking action against an employer, so we would always advise that they discuss the details of the case and any possible ramifications with one of our solicitors before embarking upon any action. Once you’ve made the decision to bring a claim, our team of our experienced personal injury lawyers will back you all the way. They’ll pursue the claim on your behalf and ensure that you get the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.
For further information on compensation claims following an accident at work, call Harold Stock & Co Solicitors on 01457 835 597 or email info@haroldstock.com.
