If you’ve slipped at work and had an injury as a result, and your employer did not take the right safety proceedures to protect you, then you may be aligible to make a work accident compensation claim.
Injuries where employees have slipped or fallen have become a more commonplace occurrence. Slip and fall injuries are not always apparent though. It may be several weeks or even months before an injury presents itself. If the employee has had an accident then they need to have reported the incident to their employer and filled out any paperwork for potential work injury.
The reason why an injury should be reported to your employer and papers filled out, is to protect you if an injury should result from the fall. One problem that people come across when they have had an accident at work, is that it is not obvious straight away, however over time the symptoms of pain and weakness may not go away. It’s always better to document a potential injury when it happens, than it is to recreate the information later
The reasons for a fall may be different, but the underlying cause of any workplace injury is almost always neglect. The UK government passes set of laws in 1974, called the Work and Safety Act. This comprehensive set of laws is very plain about stating the responsibilities of employers. The law details that an employer has a care or duty to protect their workers.
Employers have been mandated through the work and safety acts to evaluate each job function in terms of risk. Employers have a care and duty to minimalize the amount of risk that employees face while doing their jobs. This includes making sure that the work environment is free of hazards that may cause injury or illness, which may be presented both physically or mentally.
What Causes Slip and Fall Injuries?
The immediate cause of slip and fall injuries may be liquid on a smooth surface, powdering granule spills, poor choice of flooring, and other mechanisms of injury. Regardless of the immediate cause the primary reason for these injuries is neglect. An employer has the responsibility of keeping their employees safe. When accidents happen on the job, they are usually the results of employer negligence. The reason for this statement is found in the very laws that protect employees. Reduction of risk is an employer’s responsibility.
When liquid is spilled on the floor, it is because the evaluation of risk has not properly occurred. The employer has a duty to evaluate each step of every process of each and every job function. The evaluation function is to reduce risk. When liquid is spilled, there is a breakdown in function. That breakdown of function lies squarely on the shoulders of the employer. Employers have a responsibility to make sure that their workers are performing their job functions correctly. Employers have a responsibility to make sure that their workers are working safely.
Can I Make a Claim?
If you have experienced a slip and fall injury at work, then yes, you can file a claim for injury. There is a difference that should be pointed out between filing a claim and winning a compensation award. Filing a compensation claim does not guarantee you will be awarded compensation. There is a legal process that claims must go through before they reach the tribunal. Employees who have slipped at work, and suffered an injury should seek counsel with a qualified solicitor who can help them understand their rights.
If you are interested in receiving a free phone consultation, that will assess whether or not you are eligible to file for compensation, please fill in the form at the top right of this page. Many solicitors work on a no-win-no-fee. This is a benefit to victims of industrial injuries.
What is a no-win-no-fee Solicitor?
A no-when-no-fee solicitor is a legal professional who accept cases of merit on the basis that if the case is not won, then the solicitor is not paid. If the case is won, then the solicitor is paid by the opposing insurance company for the employer. The payment for the solicitor does not come out of the compensation award of the victim. This means that the victim keeps the entire 100% of their compensation award.
How Much Can I Claim?
Determining the amount of a compensation claim is not possible. The best that can be hoped for is an accurate estimation of what the case may be worth in terms of compensation. Most compensation categories have a limit or maximum amount of ₤25,000. There is, however, a compensatory award that covers other aspects of the claim. This award can push a claim in to the millions of pounds. This is one of the reasons why discussing potential claims with a solicitor is so important. In the balance hangs a great deal of monetary compensation. Nobody really wins when industrial accidents occur. The reason behind the compensation is not to make people rich it is to provide for their care and well being after an injury. If you have been slipped at work and injured yourself, then contact a solicitor and at the very least find out your basic legal rights.