If you’ve been in a workplace accident, there are certain things you should do to give a personal injury claim the best chance of success. This step-by-step guide explains what to do after an accident at work.
For your compensation claim to succeed, we need to prove three things:
- How the accident happened
- That the accident happened because your employer didn’t have the right safety measures in place
- What injuries and financial losses the accident has caused for you.
Following these steps will help us show evidence for these things when we make your claim.
- Get medical help at hospital or from your GP as soon as possible
- Report the accident to your employer as soon as possible
- Get contact details for anyone who witnessed the event
- Take photographs of the scene of the accident
- Write down in detail how the accident happened
- Make notes about your injuries, treatments, and recovery
- Keep records of any financial losses due to the accident
We understand that it may not be possible to follow every step, especially if you’re badly injured or if the accident happened a while ago. Don’t worry – we may still be able to help you make a claim.
If you have any other questions or concerns about making a workplace accident claim, contact us online or call 0800 056 4110 to speak to an adviser.
1. Get Medical Help At Hospital or From Your GP As Soon As Possible
Your health and wellbeing is the most important thing, so get medical help as soon as possible.
Even if you think you’re ok, a medical professional might notice something that you haven’t. For example, you may have concussion without realising it if you’ve hit your head.
Going to hospital or seeing your GP will also mean that your visit will go on your medical record. The record will include a time, date and possibly a brief description of what’s happened to you. This can be helpful evidence for your case.
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2. Report the Accident to Your Employer As Soon As Possible
Reporting the accident to your employer gives extra evidence that the accident took place how and when you say it did. Ask for a copy of the accident report if possible.
Your employer must report serious accidents to the Health and Safety Executive, which can give us extra evidence.
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3. Get Contact Details For Anyone Who Witnessed the Event
Independent witnesses can be very helpful for supporting your case. It’s important to get their contact details early so we can contact them as soon as possible.
Tracking down witnesses down later can be tricky if there were lots of possible witnesses or if they might be contractors working for a different company. So it’s best to do this quickly if you can.
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4. Take Photographs of the Scene of the Accident
Photos are a powerful tool for explaining how an accident has happened and showing why your employer is responsible. It may not always be possible, but try to take photographs of the scene of the accident if you can.
Key things to include might be:
- Missing, broken or unsuitable safety equipment
- Missing signage or hazard markings
- Broken equipment
- Broken or uneven flooring.
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5. Write Down in Detail How the Accident Happened
It’s important to get your full story down in writing while your memory is fresh. Think about what happened leading up to the accident and the process you were following at the time.
Include any specific instructions or training that may have contributed to the accident, if you can remember it. Keep copies of any documents that you can access about the task you were doing, such as method statements or risk assessments.
Try to include what happened straight after your accident as well – your employer’s response to the accident may have an impact on your claim.
Have any colleagues have had similar accidents in the past, or made relevant complaints about safety or working conditions? If so, make a note and let us know.
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6. Make Notes About Your Injuries, Treatments, and Recovery
Notes about your injuries will help us claim the right amount of compensation for you. You should include:
- Your injuries straight after the accident – take photos if possible
- How your injuries have healed over the following days, weeks, or months – photos can help here too
- How the injuries have affected activities such as work, hobbies, housework, or looking after the kids
- The level of pain or discomfort that your injuries cause you
- How the accident or injuries have affected your mental health – do you feel anxious, depressed, self-conscious, or tired?
- What medical treatments you’ve had – it’s worth noting even simple things like taking painkillers.
Keeping a diary can be a helpful way to make sure you capture all the details. If you get any letters from your doctor, please hold on to them.
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7. Keep Records of Any Financial Losses Due to the Accident
You can claim compensation for any earnings that you’ve lost due to the accident. For example, if you can’t work due to your injuries, you can’t work as much as usual, or you can’t do the same job as before.
Keep any payslips you’ve had since the accident and any from at least three months before the accident.
You can also claim for any expenses that you’ve had to pay because of the accident, so keep receipts or invoices for these as well. You may be able to claim for:
- Transport to and from medical appointments
- Painkillers or medicine
- Physiotherapy or rehabilitation
- Aids, equipment and home adaptations to help with your injuries – for example, a leg brace, an accessible car, or changes to make your bathroom easier to use.
If anyone has been looking after you since the accident, make a note of what they do and how long they spend. Even if it’s a family member, we may be able to claim compensation for their time and effort.
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The most important part of making a workplace accident claim is getting the right legal advice.
Whatever stage you’re at, our solicitors can advise you on what to do after an accident at work. If you’re unsure how to get the right information or need help with any of these steps, we’ll be there for you.
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Call us on 0800 056 4110 or contact us online and we’ll call you back at a time that’s convenient for you.
