Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that work environments are as safe and healthy as possible for employees. Unfortunately, accidents do sometimes happen and statistics from 2018/9 show that 28.2 million work days were lost due to work-related illness or workplace injury.
If you’ve had an accident at work then you may be worrying about your legal rights, loss of earnings and what to do next. If you believe the accident wasn’t your fault, then you may be able to make a compensation claim, but it can be difficult trying to navigate this process on your own. If you’ve suffered an accident or injury at work and want to know what your next steps should be, see below for our handy guide.
Make a record of the incident
It’s important to keep detailed evidence of your accident, including a description of what happened, photos of any injuries and statements from witnesses. This can help your case if you need to claim a benefit like Statutory Sick Pay, or if you want to seek compensation. You can also ask for notes from your doctor or the hospital if you’ve had to seek medical attention.
Report it to your employer
It’s significant to tell your employer about the accident as soon as possible, or get a colleague to report the incident on your behalf. If the company or organisation you work for has more than 10 employees, then they’re legally obligated to record the incident in an accident book.
It’s also a good idea to keep a copy of the report for yourself, especially if your organisation doesn’t have an official accident book.
Make a personal injury claim
If you believe the accident was due to the negligence of your employer, then you may want to make a personal injury claim for compensation. This can be a long and complicated process, so it’s important to seek legal advice before you go ahead. Many solicitors work on a ‘no win no fee’ basis, but they’ll be able to advise you on whether you have a case and the chances of it being successful.