Workplace accidents are often the most unexpected. When you’re in a familiar environment carrying out everyday tasks, getting injured will be the last thing on your mind. Yet, 561,000 people suffered a non-fatal injury at work between 2022 and 2023.
For 124,000 of these people, this incident meant they were absent from work for more than seven days. So, workplace accidents can significantly impact a household’s finances alongside personal pain and suffering.
If you’ve suffered an incident like this in the past three years, the right work accident solicitors will help you get a financial settlement to cover these costs. This article will explain exactly what these specialist lawyers do and how you can find the best one for your case.
What are accident at work solicitors?
Accident-at-work solicitors are legal professionals who specialise in work injury compensation cases. They represent employees who have suffered injuries while in the workplace or when performing the responsibilities of their job role.
Otherwise known as work injury lawyers, they have particular expertise in employment and workplace health and safety law. This makes them well-placed to advise injured individuals on whether an employer was negligent in their legal responsibilities and if they’re entitled to compensation.
Why do I need work injury solicitors specifically?
Having injury at work lawyers means you’ll have the legal support and expertise to navigate the compensation claim process successfully. These specialist solicitors have a thorough understanding of this area of the law. They’ll know your employer’s obligations, whether they breached them, and what compensation you’re entitled to.
By instructing a solicitor who’s experienced in cases similar to yours, you’re more likely to reach a fair and appropriate compensation agreement. It also means you don’t have to deal directly with your employer. This will help you maintain a professional relationship with them. Something fundamental if you plan on returning to work.
Hiring a work accident solicitor also means they’ll work on your compensation case for you. If your case is complex or doesn’t reach an acceptable financial settlement quickly, then the claims process can be difficult to navigate alone. It will involve building evidence of your employer’s negligence, dealing with their lawyers and negotiating the final settlement.
Rather than having the emotional strain of dealing with your claim alone, hiring a specialist solicitor means you can focus on recovering while they take care of the case on your behalf.
What your injury at work lawyer will do for you
To make a successful accident at work compensation claim, your case must prove you’ve suffered injuries due to your employer’s negligence. This could be due to:
- An unsafe working environment with faulty machinery, a lack of team training or inadequate health and safety controls and procedures
- An accident in the workplace, whether that’s a vehicle collision at a construction site or a trip in an office environment
- An unsafe place or system of work, this can include hazardous traffic routes and walkways
A work accident solicitor is experienced in dealing with all of the above cases and knows what constitutes employer negligence under the law. As such, they’ll be able to advise you as to whether your claim is eligible or not and advice on how much compensation you’re entitled to.
Once this is established, these specialist lawyers can guide you through the claims process. This includes gathering evidence for your case, determining how much compensation you’re entitled to and representing you in meetings or court proceedings.
Gather evidence
To prove your case is worthy of compensation, evidence of your employer’s negligence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 must be gathered. The facts of your case will determine the exact nature of this evidence.
For example, proving that an angle grinder injury was due to lack of training will require different evidence to an accident caused by inadequate staffing.
However, it could include:
- Proof of an event, including eyewitness statements, emergency services reports or CCTV footage
- Documentation such as health and safety reports, risk assessments, employment contracts and training or maintenance logs
- Testimony from a claimant’s loved ones, other employees or appropriate experts, such as specialist doctors
- Medical evidence of the injuries an employee has suffered, including diagnosis reports, scans and long-term care or rehabilitation plans
A solicitor won’t just advise on the type of evidence you need to build a successful case but gather it on your behalf. This includes instructing experts, commissioning interviews and requesting confidential information. So you don’t need to spend time and effort chasing this evidence and can be confident in your case’s strength.
Calculate compensation
Again, the amount of compensation you’re entitled to will depend on the facts of your case. With experience building ‘schedules of damages’ for these cases, a work injury lawyer may recommend claiming for costs you didn’t think you were eligible for. They’ll bring this together in a single document for your final settlement negotiation.
The costs may include:
- Damages for the pain and suffering you’ve had as a result of your injury
- Past and future loss of earnings due to injury-related absence, including any pension contributions or benefits you’ve missed out on
- Legal costs associated with building and settling your claim, including lawyer and expert fees
- Financial cover for any long-term care or rehabilitation you need to undergo as part of your recovery
- Expenses related to maintaining your quality of life, such as costs you’ve incurred while making appropriate adjustments to your home
By having a specialist work injury lawyer calculate and negotiate your compensation entitlement, you’ll ensure you get a final total that’s fair and appropriate for the suffering you’ve experienced.
Act on your behalf
An injury at work lawyer will be your representative during the claims process. This means you don’t have to deal with legal jargon, complicated paperwork or complex negotiations alone. It also means you’ve got an experienced expert in your corner to give you advice and help you reach the best possible settlement.
By choosing the right solicitor, you can get professional, friendly support that leaves you with complete financial compensation and a positive relationship with your employer.
How to choose the right injury at work solicitors
There are plenty of injury at work solicitors out there. On the face of it, there might not be much that separates one legal professional from another. However, to make sure you get the best possible representation in your case, choose a solicitor with the right:
- Expertise, including a specialism in workplace accident law, full industry accreditations and qualifications
- Experience in settling cases similar to yours, whether they’re construction-related accidents or work-related stress claims
- Approach to your case, including acting professionally on your behalf and being transparent and understanding in their communications with you
If you’re struggling to find a solicitor who meets the above requirements, then the Compensation Experts can help. We only work with trustworthy specialist lawyers who will act on your behalf on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis. We’ll put you in touch with the right experts for your case so you can focus on your recovery and get the compensation you deserve.