Work Accident Claim

Accident Claim

In the 'good old days' it was pretty much the responsibility of the worker to look after himself in the workplace, any accident he/she had was their own fault for not being careful. If a complaint was made it was a fair bet that they would not be working for long!

Thankfully things have changed a lot since then. Unions have made their mark as have the health and safety at work executive. Maybe things have gone a bit too far? Perhaps; but probably not if you are the one that has injured themselves.

One thing is for sure however and that is that employers can no longer afford to neglect the well-being of their workers or indeed the workplace if they want to avoid a claim for accident compensation.

If you have suffered an accident at work and feel that it is due perhaps to the negligence of the management then you should consider the following steps before making any claim.

Step 1:

Make sure that any accident you have is properly documented. This means to have all the relevant information written down in the works accident book. Include your full name, time and date of the accident as well as the full circumstances surrounding the scene of the accident including anything that you feel may have contributed to it.

Be sure to get a confirmation from any witnesses that may have been there at the time, perhaps asking them to write their own account of the incident.

Step 2:

If there is a works doctor then be sure that you have them check over your injuries and properly document them. Even with the check over by this doctor you may want to get confirmation from an independent GP as a further option.

Step 3:

Any expenses that you may incur as a result of your works accident should be well documented. All receipts or invoices should be filed away. You may have medical bills, physiotherapy or consultation accounts, everything must be kept if you want to claim the insurance.

Step 4:

Always employ the services of a good solicitor when considering compensation claims. Most of these will give their services on a "no result no fee" or advertise a "no win no fee accident claim", though be sure to confirm this - and check out their fees!

Finally:

Have you lost a number of days/weeks earnings as a result of the accident? Be sure to keep a record of how this accident has affected you or your lifestyle in the days/months/years following the occurrence. These are all important details for the business of filling in a work accident claim.

Disclaimer: The author does not intend these observations to replace professional counsel and indeed advises that professional or legal advice should always be sought.