Claim Compensation Via a Construction Accident Lawyer

Updated: November 23, 2025

Reviewed by: Joe Johnson

Updated: November 23, 2025

Reviewed by: Joe Johnson

Accident at Work Lawyer

Joe is an Accident at Work Lawyer from one of our panel law firms.

Construction accidents 

Construction sites can be dangerous places. It’s not surprising that building site accidents are statistically the highest across any industry. If you have had a construction site accident, The Compensation Experts are happy to help. We can help even if you’re unsure whether you were injured in a genuine accident or one due to negligence or error. 

According to the Health and Safety Executive, there were 53,000 workers who suffered a non-fatal injury as a result of working in the construction industry in 2022/23. Of which 37,000 – over 50% – were musculoskeletal disorders (new or long-standing), which accounts for 54% of all ill health in this sector.   

16,000 workers in the construction industry reported suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2022/23. Their mental health conditions accounted for 24% of ill-health in this sector.  

A construction accident compensation claim allows you to claim compensation for accidents that occur on a building site that weren’t your fault. Construction accidents can happen when employers are negligent in their duty of care.   

The Compensation Experts work with construction accident attorneys that provide no-win no-fee agreements.* This saves you the financial risk of paying legal fees upfront.  

Can I make a construction accident claim for compensation?  

Have you had an accident on a building site that wasn’t your fault?  

Here at The Compensation Experts, we help victims get the construction accident compensation they deserve.  

We cover all kinds of construction site injuries. No matter where you work or what kind of work you do, accidents at workplaces do sometimes happen. Construction site injuries sustained in these accidents can be extremely severe.  

Main causes of construction accidents  

Various types of construction accidents can cause injuries on a building site.  

At the Compensation Experts, we’ve seen lots of construction accident claims, so we understand the main causes of accidents.   

Some of the most common building site accidents include:  

• Falls from height, for example, from ladders and scaffolding  

• Objects that fall from height  

• Crush injuries  

• Failure to provide personal protective equipment (PPE)  

• Hearing loss  

• Manual handling accidents  

• Defective machinery accidents  

• Moving vehicle accidents, such as forklifts and dump trucks  

• Welding and chemical burns  

• Electric shock injuries  

Why are these types of construction accidents so common? 

As mentioned, lifting and handling accidents in construction are by far the most common cause of accidents on construction sites. In fact, manual handling accidents made up many of all our self-reported accidents at work in 2019-20. Figures based on HSE Report: Construction statistics in Great Britain, 2020.  

They often happen due to inadequate or incorrect training which can lead to poor object handling. This is dangerous in construction.  

It’s your employer’s responsibility to keep you safe at work. They should avoid construction accidents by following the UK Manual Handling Regulations.  

They must also ensure that everyone has the proper training required to avoid construction site accidents.  

After manual handling accidents, the next most common form of building site accidents are falls from heights. Not only are falls from heights responsible for serious injuries, but they’re also the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. Falls from height account for approximately 51% of all construction accident claims. Figures based on HSE Report: Construction statistics in Great Britain, 2023.  

The necessity of working at heights for building construction means that the risk of falling accidents is increased. Even with scaffolding, both employers and workers need to be fully aware of even a single hazard on a building site that could cause a fall.  

While not always serious; slips, trips, and falls are also common on construction sites. As construction sites tend to be busy workplaces, employers and employees must take extra care to avoid falling due to difficult surfaces.  

This includes keeping communal areas clear, making sure workspaces are kept tidy, and keeping walkways clear. Your employer must make sure that these rules are enforced to keep everyone safe at work.  

As for accidents on construction sites that involve being hit by moving vehicles and objects, these accidents accounted for around 22% of all self-reported accidents in 2019-20. Commonly, this is due to inadequate risk assessment on your employer’s side, or a lack of training for the vehicle drive.  

In all cases, your employer must ensure that everything on a construction site is safe. They should do this by ensuring:  

• risk assessments are being carried out  

• people who are operating vehicles are properly trained  

• all objects are stored safely to ensure they do not fall  

• employees are wearing the correct safety equipment  

Examples of construction accidents  

An example of a successful claim for construction accident compensation might be for an electrician who slipped when walking on a wet gangplank.   

There would be no blame for the wet weather. However, if the walkway was too steep – with foot plates too narrow to provide adequate grip – there may be an argument for the neglect of duty of care.  

The victim might injure his knee, and if he was a self-employed contractor, he may lose income due to being unable to work while he recovered.  

An expert construction accident lawyer would then be able to help secure this electrician’s compensation. This would accommodate them having to take time off work.   

Who is responsible for construction accidents?  

Construction accident claims tend to be complicated as there are usually many people with various jobs working on the site.  

Because of this, it is not always easy to work out who is to blame for accidents. It is even possible that another company may be responsible. This could be the site owner or a company that supplies materials.  

Employers and site managers are responsible for making sure that construction sites are safe as specified by the Health and Safety Executive. They must adhere to guidelines and regulations like the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.  

Because of the number of people who could be at fault, there must always be an investigation before you can make a construction accident claim. This includes: 

• Investigating the construction site 

• Interviewing witnesses 

• Reviewing the contractual relationships between everyone involved 

In some cases, more than one person may be at fault for a construction site accident.  

It is your construction accident attorney’s job to figure out who did what, and if anyone is responsible for your injuries. A construction accident lawyer may also ask you if your employer:  

• Carries out risk assessments of access to the site, and the tools you use  

• Educates you about the dangers of your job, and gives you training on how to use tools correctly  

• Provides the correct protective equipment for your role, such as noise defenders and hard hats  

• Has procedures in place for clearing away spillages  

• Regularly schedules maintenance of equipment to ensure it is safe to use  

If the answer to any of these statements is “no”, our partner personal injury solicitors and construction accident lawyers may be able to help with your construction accident claim.  

What if you are partly responsible for the construction accident? 

Employees and the self-employed, as well as employers, have certain duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

Specifically, you must comply with workplace safety practices and follow the safety training that you have had. There is an expectation that you will take reasonable care for your own safety, and the safety of others.  

If you don’t behave responsibly and have an accident, then the Court may decide that you are partly responsible for your injuries. This is known as “contributory negligence.”  

A common example would be if a worker chooses not to wear a hard hat, and then has an accident where masonry falls on his head. By not wearing a hat, the worker did not cause the accident, but his injuries might be worse than they would have been if he had worn his hard hat.  

In cases of contributory negligence, it is still possible to make a claim. The Courts will divide the blame between everyone who played a part in the accident. For example, the Court may decide that the Defendant was 75% responsible for your injuries, and you were 25% responsible.  

Once blame is divided, the construction accident compensation is reduced by the percentage of your portion of the blame. In this example, you would receive roughly 75% of the settlement fee. 

A construction accident lawyer can examine your case and let you know what proportion of the compensation you would be likely to receive.  

Who is responsible if you are self-employed? 

If you are self-employed and have an accident, you should not assume that you cannot make a claim. If you are self-employed, another party may still hold some responsibility for your safety and the safety of the construction site.  

What if I was injured while visiting a construction site? 

Visitors to construction sites are not covered by the same rules that protect workers. However, if a construction site accident occurs, in most cases, you can still claim for construction accident compensation.  

Property owners must follow The Occupiers Liability Act of 1957 to keep their property free from hazards that might injure visitors. This includes construction site owners. 

Owners must ensure visitors wear helmets and the visit should stay within safe, open areas. Site managers are also responsible for carrying out good housekeeping to prevent slips, trips and falls.  

If the construction site owner did not follow good health and safety practices then they may be to blame if a visitor has an accident.  

What do you have to prove in a construction accident claim?  

To make a construction accident claim, you must show that someone had a duty of care to you which was not followed. You must also show that this was the cause of your injuries.  

It will help your construction accident lawyer to build a case if you keep a record of the following:  

• The date and time of the accident  

• The address of the site  

• The contact details of any witnesses  

• Who you reported the accident to  

• Details of any medical treatment you had  

• Photographs of the scene of the accident  

• A copy of the accident report, or details of who filled it in  

The more details you can provide, the more likely it is that you will be able to convince the other side and the court of your claim.  

How much could your construction accident claim be worth?  

The level of your construction accident compensation will depend on your injuries and the severity of the incident. Serious and longer-lasting injuries typically receive more compensation. This is because they usually have more of an impact on your life.  

Scarring to the body (not the face)	£2,890 – £27,740
Shoulder injuries	Up to £2,990 – £58,610
Lung disease	£2,690 – £165,860
Asbestos-related disease	£18,430 – £139,680
Simple fractures of the forearm	£8,060 – £23,430
Arm injuries	£8,060 – £159,770
Knee injuries	Up to £2,750 – £117,410
Back injuries	Up to £2,990 – £196,450
Head injury	£2,690 – £493,000
Deafness or tinnitus	£6,100 – £171,680
Injuries affecting sight	£2,690 – £493,000
Leg fracture that includes knee joint	£63,610 – £85,100
Serious burn injuries to the body	Over £127,930

Figures for each type of injury are recommended in the Judicial College Guidelines – 17th edition. Construction accident attorneys, insurance companies and Courts use these when valuing your claim.  

You can also claim construction accident compensation for out-of-pocket expenses. It is known as special damages, and includes travel expenses, medical bills, lost earnings, and personal care. If your injuries mean you have to stop work, then you can also claim for future loss of wages.  

The law relating to construction accident claims 

Employers must follow the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to keep their employees safe. Employers must provide their workers with a safe working environment, training, adequate supervision, and safe, risk-assessed work processes.  

Other legislation includes:  

• The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM)  

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH)  

• Manual Handling and Operations Regulations  

• Work at Height Regulations  

• Electricity at Work Regulations  

• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations  

• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations  

• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)  

• Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations.  

They are important as they set out the standard expected of an employer in charge of a construction site. You still have to prove negligence to bring a construction accident claim. 

However, it is much easier to prove if it’s clear that someone breached a health and safety rule.  

Health and safety training 

Employers have a responsibility to make sure that their workers are appropriately qualified and trained.   

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is the UK’s industry training board. A key part of their role is to work with the industry to make sure training standards and qualifications are fit for purpose.   

The CITB Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) test is one way to enable employers to make sure their workers follow best practices.   

The HS&E test covers five core knowledge areas:   

• Legal and management   

• Health and welfare   

• General safety  

• High risk activities  

• Environment  

Manual handling accidents 

As mentioned, lifting and handling accidents in construction are by far the most common cause of accidents on construction sites. In fact, manual handling accidents made up many of all our self-reported accidents at work in 2019-20.  

They often happen due to inadequate or incorrect training which can lead to poor object handling. This is dangerous in construction.  

It’s your employer’s responsibility to keep you safe at work. They should avoid construction accidents by following the UK Manual Handling Regulations.  

They must also ensure that everyone has the proper training required to avoid construction site accidents.  

Falls from heights 

After manual handling accidents, the next most common form of building site accidents are falls from heights. Falls from heights are responsible for serious injuries. 

They’re also the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. Falls from height account for approximately 51% of all construction accident claims.  

The necessity of working at heights for building construction means that the risk of falling accidents is increased. Even with scaffolding, both employers and workers need to be fully aware of even a single hazard on a building site that could cause a fall.  

Slips, trips, and falls 

While not always serious; slips, trips, and falls are also common on construction sites. Construction sites tend to be busy workplaces. Because of this, employers and employees must take extra care to avoid falling due to difficult surfaces.  

This includes keeping communal areas clear, making sure workspaces are kept tidy, and keeping walkways clear. Your employer must make sure that these rules are enforced to keep everyone safe at work.  

Moving vehicles and objects 

Accidents on construction sites that involve being hit by moving vehicles and objects accounted for around 22% of all self-reported accidents in 2019-20. Commonly, this is due to inadequate risk assessment on your employer’s side, or a lack of training for the vehicle drive.  

In all cases, your employer must ensure that everything on a construction site is safe. They should do this by ensuring:  

• risk assessments are being carried out  

• people who are operating vehicles are properly trained  

• all objects are stored safely to ensure they do not fall  

• employees are wearing the correct safety equipment  

What is the role of the Health and Safety Executive in construction accident claims? 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is an independent watchdog that oversees work-related health and safety. Their aim is to protect the health, safety and welfare of people at work.  

The HSE has powers to enforce the law when there are health and safety breaches or issues of risk. If you suffer a construction site accident and your injuries are serious, or the incident was serious, then the HSE may investigate. They may act against the employer if they detect breaches.  

The type of enforcement action the HSE chooses will depend on the seriousness of the incident.  

1. Issue a notice of improvement  
2. Stop certain activities that create serious risks  
3. Prosecute those responsible for serious transgressions, which can lead to unlimited fines and prison time  

The HSE does not award compensation. They will not be involved in your construction accident claim.   

However, it is beneficial to await the outcome of the HSE investigation. This is because it will decide whether the employer was acting outside health and safety laws.   

It would be difficult for an employer to deny your claim in these circumstances.  

How much do solicitors charge for construction accident claims? 

Construction accident lawyers’ fees vary across different firms. These solicitors usually either charge a success fee, or a percentage of your compensation to cover their extra costs.  

In most cases, that figure is around 25%; deducted from the final settlement value.  

Here at The Compensation Experts, we partner with personal injury law firms who typically work on a no win no fee basis.* We receive payments from these third-party law firms, to whom we refer claims. We do not charge you fees for our own services.   

Get in touch and talk to us about construction accidents and injuries  

If you’ve been injured in an accident on a building site, contact The Compensation Experts to find out how we can help.  

We work with an experienced panel of personal injury law firms and construction accident lawyers who will help build a construction accident claim. There is no need to worry if you’re unsure whether you have grounds for a claim, as we will help to work that out before you commit to anything. This is in a free, no-obligation conversation with one of our helpful agents.  

If you have a claim relating to construction accidents, contact us to start the process of getting fair compensation for an injury after a building site accident.