Unfortunately, accidents happen and when they do, they can result in serious and sometimes life-changing injuries. When an accident happens at work, you face the added stress of having to deal with the potential fallout with your employer.

If the accident wasn’t your fault then you should have no need to feel guilty about what happened – and you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. But should you take legal action against your employer?

Making a claim

If you suffered an accident at work that wasn’t your fault, you should not feel uncomfortable about making a claim for compensation. It is your legal right to do so. By law every employer is required to have insurance to cover accident at work claims made by employees.

As a result, if your claim is successful and you are awarded compensation, this will be paid by your employer’s insurance company and not directly by your employer. Temporary or agency workers have the same rights to pursue compensation as full-time employees.

What should you do if you have an accident at work?

Make sure you report it to your employer as soon as possible and ensure they record it in the workplace accident book. Record as much information as possible about your injury, the accident and how it happened.

Take pictures of the scene and of your injuries and take down the names of any witnesses who saw your accident. The more evidence you have, the more likely your claim will be successful.

You should also make an appointment to see your doctor, even if your injury doesn’t seem serious. This is because they will be able to record the medical details of your accident. Medical notes are important evidence in supporting your claim.

Why claim compensation?

The idea of compensation is to put you back in the position you would have been had your accident not happened.

It is also to compensate you for any personal injury, whether psychological or physical, that you suffered as a result. If you lost earnings or had to pay out on expenses, such as travel to and from medical appointments, you will be able to claim that back if your claim is successful.

You may also be able to claim for care and assistance provided by your friends and family as a result of your injuries. In addition, you could also claim for any treatment you had to pay for, such as physiotherapy or osteopathic treatment, along with any prescription charges.

You shouldn’t feel bad about claiming compensation for an accident that was no fault of your own. When this happens, you should consider consulting a specialist accident at work solicitor like those who work with First4Lawyers to progress a claim and get the recompense you deserve.