5 common injury at work claims compensation

Your employer must abide by tried and tested safety procedures to eliminate or minimise your risk of suffering an injury at work. If your employer fails to do so and you are injured because of this you are entitled to pursue an injury at work compensation claim.

Although you have a right to compensation for injuries caused by another, you may be hesitant to take steps to seek a legal remedy. You may be worried about losing your job or be fearful of repercussions from your employer or work colleagues. You may have reservations about the time, energy and effort required to seek compensation rightly owed, particularly if you are focused on your recovery. You may ask yourself ‘is it worth making an injury at work claim?’

Our experienced injury at work solicitors are available for a hassle free, confidential, no obligation advice tailored to your own circumstances. Whilst there is not a guaranteed set amount of compensation, below is an indication of the levels of payment you may be entitled to claim for the 5 most common types of accidents at work.

1. Slips, trips and falls

Statistics collated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of non-fatal accidents reported under RIDDOR in 2017/18 indicate slips, trips and falls account for a massive 31% of all reported injuries at work. Falls from height account for a further 8%.

The most common reasons for these types of work place accidents include:

• Poor housekeeping or maintenance of work spaces
• Failure to adequately prepare for weather hazards
• Failure to provide proper PPE or equipment
• Failure to clear obstructions

Common injuries which result from slips, trips and falls include:

• Muscle sprains or strains

You may be entitled to compensation ranging from a few thousand pounds to in excess of £30,000.00 depending upon the nature, severity and longevity of your injury.

• Cuts or lacerations

These may heal quickly but leave unsightly scarring; if you suffer facial scarring your compensation award will range from £1500 to more than £85,000.

Scarring to other parts of the body will attract awards of between £2000 and £19,000, depending upon the visibility and severity of the scars.

• Broken bones

If you suffer a fracture, the amount of compensation you receive will vary based on which bone in your body is broken, the severity of the break and whether you make a complete recovery. If the injury has long term consequences, this will be reflected in the amount of compensation you receive. As a base line, settlements for broken bones typically exceed £3000.

• Brain and head injuries

Head injuries are usually more severe; if you suffer minimal, if any, brain damage you will likely recover up to £11,200.
For cases resulting in brain damage awards may reach up to £350,000 depending on the level of disability.

• Back or spinal injuries

If you suffer a serious back injury such as a compression fracture of the lumbar vertebrae, prolapsed disc or injuries leading to chronic conditions you are entitled to compensation ranging from £10,000 to £140,000.

2. Repetitive strain injury (RSI) or overexertion injuries

• Repetitive strain injuries

RSIs are a becoming more and more common. In office based roles, constant typing and clicking can cause injury to your muscles and tendons which can result in crippling pain, making day to day tasks impossible. In manual roles, repetitive actions can have a similar impact without proper safe guards in place to protect your well being.
Compensation for work related upper limbs disorders will vary, depending on the severity of symptoms, impact on your ability to work and home life as well as the availability of any treatment.
The awards therefore vary from around £1900, for injuries resolving within a few months, to £20,000 where the injury results in permanent disability with surgery.

• Overexertion

Musculoskeletal disorders are commonly caused by the use of improper lifting or manual handling techniques. Your employer is duty bound to ensure you are properly trained and have the right tools to do your job.
If your job involves repetitive work, regular breaks should be given to minimise wear and tear on your body.
Despite this, statistics collated by HSE of non-fatal accidents reported under RIDDOR in 2017/18 indicate accidents involving handling, lifting and carrying are the cause of 21% of all reported injuries at work.
If your employer fails to eliminate or reduce the risks of injury as a result of these activities and you suffer a muscle sprains or strains or a more serious back injury, you are entitled to claim compensation in the amounts detailed above.

3. Being struck by falling objects

Information collated by HSE of non-fatal accidents reported under RIDDOR in 2017/18 indicate accidents involving being struck by a moving object account for 10% of all reported accidents at work.
Injuries caused by such an accident can be severe indeed, particularly those which result in head injuries (see above) or facial injuries, which may include:

• Dental damage

Damage to teeth caused by being struck will likely result in compensation ranging from £1000 – £10,000.

• Facial fractures

Depending upon the severity, location and type of fractures compensation will vary as detailed below:

• Fractures of jaws – between £5500 – £39,500
• Fractures of cheekbones – between £2000 – 13,500
• Fractures of Nose or Nasal Complex – between £1,500 – £20,000
• Le Fort fractures of the frontal facial bones – between £20,000 – £32,000

For injuries sustained to other parts of the body, including muscle strains, cuts, broken bones or spinal injuries resulting from being struck see above.

4. Crashes and collisions

Vehicle related accidents at work will include road traffic accidents which occur whilst driving in the course of your employment or may involve fork lift truck collisions.

Very often such accidents result in muscle sprains or more severe spinal injuries; details of likely compensation awards in such cases are detailed above.

If you are involved in a collision at work which results in paralysis, an estimate of the award you will receive is between £43,000 – £350,000.

5. Getting caught in machinery

Machinery commonly used in factories, on farms or construction sites, if not properly safe guarded poses a significant hazard.

In addition to ensuring machines that may cause injury are properly shielded, employers must provide proper operator training and protective clothing, if necessary.

If your employer fails to do so and you suffer a crush injury at work the consequences can be devastating.

Typically crush injuries affect one or more of the fingers or the whole of the hands; the amount of compensation will depend on the severity and duration of the injuries.

• Fingers injuries, depending on the severity will attract awards from £4000 – £32,000
• Crush injuries to the hand will attract compensation ranging from a few thousand pounds to in excess of £54,000.
• Injuries resulting in total loss or effective loss of one or both hands will range from £84,000 – £176,000.

In addition to your claim for compensation you may also be entitled to compensation for the costs of medical treatment, care and assistance as well as any loss of earnings resulting from your injury.

Please call our injury at work solicitors on 0161 399 1231 for more details.