Every day in the UK, millions of people go to work in an office environment. Everyone expects to safely carry out their roles, especially when they consider themselves to be in a “safe” industry. But what happens when you suffer an injury that wasn’t your fault?
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about making office accident claims, from discussing what your employer is expected to do to keep you safe all the way up to funding a solicitor.
Key Takeaways
- Your employer is responsible for your health and safety while you’re at work
- It’s possible to suffer a serious injury in an office environment
- If you got hurt because your employer didn’t keep you safe, you could claim
- You can still claim compensation if you received Statutory Sick Pay
- A No Win No Fee solicitor could help you make an office accident claim with no upfront fees
Our team of accident at work claim advisors are here to help. If you’d like to start your free, no-strings-attached consultation for your office injury claim, contact us today by:
- Calling us on 0800 408 7825
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
Jump To A Section
- Who Can Make Office Accident Claims?
- Types Of Office Accident Claims
- What Compensation Could I Get For An Office Accident Claim?
- I’m Unable To Work Whilst I Recover, Am I Entitled To Sick Pay?
- How Do I Claim For An Office-Based Workplace Injury?
- What Is The Time Limit To Make An Office Accident Claim?
- Can My Employer Penalise Or Sack Me For Making A Claim?
- Can I Make A No Win No Fee Office Accident Claim?
- Learn More
Who Can Make Office Accident Claims?
Anyone can make an office accident claim as long as they can prove that negligence has occurred. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a full-time employee, a temp worker, or on a zero-hour contract. But what is negligence?
In terms of personal injury law, negligence occurs when:
- You are owed a duty of care
- This duty is breached
- You are harmed because of this
When you work in an office, you are owed a duty of care by your employer. The term “duty of care” essentially means that they have a legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to keep you safe while you’re working, as per the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA).
For example, your employer might be expected to undertake risk assessments to identify and mitigate any risks that could be present in the workplace. If they fail to do this, and you end up suffering an injury because of this, then you could make an accident at work claim.
Keep reading to find out how negligence could occur in an office. Or, contact our team of friendly advisors to find out if you could be entitled to compensation.
Types Of Office Accident Claims
So, how can an accident happen in an office? You could potentially get accident at work compensation if:
- Your employer failed to carry out a risk assessment before laying extension cables across a walkway. This causes you to trip and fall on a trailing wire, and you break your pelvis.
- You tell your employer that you have a back condition and need a specialist chair. They ignore your concerns, and this causes your back pain to get worse and worse until it’s permanently exacerbated.
- Your employer fails to signpost a spillage with a wet floor sign or have it cleaned up in a timely manner. This causes you to slip and fall, hitting your head on the floor and breaking your arm.
- Your colleagues reported a faulty kettle in your office to your employer, but they did not replace it or mark it as unsafe for use. You use the kettle to make a cup of tea, but it breaks, causing you to suffer severe scald injuries on your arms.
These are only a few examples of how negligence can happen in an office, despite many seeing it as a relatively risk-free environment. If you’ve been injured because your employer failed to uphold their duty of care, contact our team today and learn more about making office accident claims.
What Compensation Could I Get For An Office Accident Claim?
One of the most common questions our advisors receive is, “How much compensation could I get for an accident at work?” The answer is: It depends. Each claim is valued according to its unique factors, like how much evidence you have and how severely you’ve suffered.
If you win your claim, you’ll get general damages compensation. This is guaranteed for all successful claimants because it covers the pain and suffering you’ve gone through as a result of your injuries. This head of compensation includes both physical injuries and damage to your mental health, as well as loss of amenity (otherwise known as damage to your quality of life.)
When compensation under this heading is calculated, solicitors and other professionals can use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) as a point of reference. This document is particularly helpful, because it contains a list of common injuries, graded by severity, with guideline compensation brackets.
You can take a look at some examples of these brackets in the table below. Please note that these are only guideline amounts, not guarantees, and the first entry in this table is not a JCG figure; it’s only illustrative.
| Injury | Compensation Bracket |
|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries Plus Special Damages, e.g Loss Of Wages | Up to £500,000+ |
| Moderately Severe Brain Damage | £267,340 to £344,150 |
| Moderate Brain Damage (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 |
| Severe (ii) Neck Injuries | £80,240 to £159,770 |
| Moderate (i) Neck Injuries | £30,500 to £46,970 |
| Severe Back Injuries (iii) | £47,320 to £85,100 |
| Moderate Back Injuries (ii) | £15,260 to £33,880 |
| Severe Pelvis And Hip Injuries (ii) | £75,550 to £95,680 |
| Arm Injuries Resulting in Permanent and Substantial Disablement | £47,810 to £73,050 |
| Hernia (a) | £18,180 to £29,490 |
Special Damages
General damages aren’t the only kind of compensation that you could receive; you may also be eligible for special damages. This head of claim covers the financial losses caused by your injuries. For example, special damages could potentially cover the cost of:
- Lost earnings
- Childcare
- Mobility aids, like a wheelchair or crutches
- Private medical treatment to avoid NHS waiting times
- Prescriptions
- Travel to and from appointments
- Home adjustments
Interim Payments
If you’ve suffered a serious injury at work, then you may have immediate expenses that are beyond your budget, like the cost of a care facility. In this case, you may be able to apply for an interim payment.
Interim payments are issued in cases that have a high chance of succeeding to help the claimant afford necessities, like a wheelchair-accessible flat or immediate private surgery. When an interim payment is issued, it is then deducted from the final compensation amount.
Who Would Be Responsible For Paying My Compensation?
A lot of people worry that making an accident at work claim would put a financial strain on their employer, especially if they work for a small business. But accident at work compensation doesn’t come from your employer’s pocket; instead, it comes from their insurance.
By law, employers are expected to take out Employer’s Liability insurance, and the policy has to meet at least £5 million cover. In fact, if they don’t do this, they can be fined up to £2,500 per day if they go uninsured.
This helps protect your right to make an accident at work claim when necessary. Contact our team today if you’d like to learn more about where your compensation could come from, or keep reading to find out if you are entitled to sick pay.
I’m Unable To Work Whilst I Recover, Am I Entitled To Sick Pay?
Whether or not you could receive sick pay depends on what your contract says. Some businesses provide full pay to their staff, and some don’t provide sick pay at all. If you are entitled to sick pay, your contract should state how much and how long you can receive it.
Even if you aren’t given sick pay as part of your contract, you may still be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) as long as you earn more than £123 a week and are classed as an employee. This is paid by your employer and enforced by the Government. The current rate of SSP is £116.75, and this can be paid out for up to 28 weeks.
Contact our team today to find out if you could recoup your lost earnings as part of an office accident claim.
How Do I Claim For An Office-Based Workplace Injury?
Some of the most important steps in the office accident claims process include:
- Seeking medical attention: The first and most important step is seeking medical attention. Doing this means you get the help that you need, but it can also be helpful later on in the claims process, as it creates a record of your injuries.
- Reporting the injury: All workplaces with ten or more employees must have an accident book. Recording your accident here helps mitigate the risk of future accidents, but it can also be used as evidence later on in your claim.
- Collecting evidence: This is one of the most important steps in the claims process. Your entire claim hinges on whether you can prove that negligence occurred, so collecting evidence like CCTV footage, photographs, and the contact details of witnesses is essential.
- Seeking legal advice: We always recommend seeking advice from a legal professional before starting the claims process. Our panel of solicitors have years of experience in accident-at-work law, and they can offer helpful insights into the claims process.
One of the benefits of working with a solicitor from our panel is that they can guide you through the claims process. Get in touch with our team today to learn more.
What Is The Time Limit To Make An Office Accident Claim?
Under the Limitation Act 1980, the office accident claims time limit is three years. This applies to all personal injury claims, but don’t worry; you don’t need to finish your claim in this time, you just need to start it.
This rule also comes with some exceptions. For example, the time limit doesn’t apply to those who lack the mental capacity to make their own claim. Instead, a litigation friend can start the claims process for them at any time.
For more information on the accident at work claims time limit, contact our team today.
Can My Employer Penalise Or Sack Me For Making A Claim?
A lot of people worry that they’ll be punished or penalised for making an accident at work compensation claim. But if you’ve been a victim of negligence, then you have the right to pursue compensation.
A solicitor from our panel can give you more in-depth advice on navigating the workplace while making a claim. Get in touch with our team today to learn more, or keep reading to find out if working with our panel is right for you.
Can I Make A No Win No Fee Office Accident Claim?
Our panel of accident at work solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that you can access their expert services without paying any upfront fees, as per the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
If a No Win No Fee solicitor helps you win your claim, then they’ll take a success fee. This is a small percentage of your compensation, which is legally capped, and your solicitor will discuss this with you before the claim starts.
At Public Interest Lawyers, we are here to help. Our panel of personal injury solicitors aren’t just here to help you with the legal aspects of your claim, but they can also connect you with a specialist from a panel of recovery experts. We partner with a wide range of specialists, ranging from rehabilitation centres to brain injury experts.
Contact Us
Our team of advisors are here to help. They can tell you everything you need to know about making office accident claims in a free, no-strings-attached consultation when you get in touch by:
- Calling us on 0800 408 7825
- Contacting us online
- Using the live chat feature
Learn More
For more helpful accident at work claims guides:
- Learn how to claim for an accident at work caused by oil
- Get information on making a claim for total blindness after an accident at work
- Find out how to claim for an accident at work that was caused by a change in your duties
Or, to access more resources:
- Find out how to request CCTV footage of yourself from GOV.UK
- Get information on first aid from the NHS
- Learn about taking sick leave from GOV.UK
Thank you for reading our guide on making office accident claims.
