You’ve no doubt heard it many times – ‘if you’ve had an accident at work, you could be entitled to compensation!’ But have you ever actually seriously considered it? Many people write it off, thinking that the accident needs to be something seriously drastic to even be considered for a claim. But that’s not true at all – an accident at work can be anything from a slipping on a wet floor to injury by machinery, and anything in between. 

What counts as an accident at work?

An accident at work can cover a number of accidents, but broadly covers any injury or disease that has been caused as a result of economic activity. This includes:

• Injury from malfunctioning or faulty equipment
• Disease or illness as a result of job requirements, such as working with asbestos
• Accidents that have occurred as a result of employer negligence
• Any injury that prevents an employee from carrying out their normal working duty for at least three consecutive days
• Lack of training that resulted in accident or injury

If you’ve experienced any of the above, or you think you might have, it’s well worth checking to see if you can claim compensation from your employer. It doesn’t matter if you’re still employed by them or not, but you’re more likely to have a good ground for a claim if the incident happened  within the past three years. 

How do I make a claim for an accident at work? 

If your accident or injury is covered by any of the criteria above, you could be able to make a claim against your employer. Get in touch with a solicitor that specialises in accidents at work, like Zen law, to discuss your situation. They will be able to offer further advice and guidance.

What happens if I want to make a claim?

If you’ve got good grounds for a claim and want to take action against your employer, your solicitor will take details of the incident from you. They will then contact the company and notify them of your intentions to make a claim. Most companies want to avoid going to court and will work with your solicitor to negotiate a settlement. This isn’t always the case though. In this event, your solicitor can represent you if you wish. 

What to look for in a work accident solicitor

So you’ve decided that you want to sue your employer for an accident or injury at work. You now need to find a solicitor to pursue the case for you – this includes contacting your employer, negotiating with them and handling any paperwork. Strictly speaking, you don’t need a solicitor – you can do it all yourself if you want to. Unless you have a strong legal background, we would highly recommend hiring a solicitor though. 

A work accident solicitor should offer:

• No win, no fee
• Complete handling of the case on your behalf
• Support, advice and guidance throughout your pursuit of the claim
• Strong experience in work accident claims

Zen Law Solicitors offers all of the above. We specialise in work accident claims and have been in business for over 20 years – so we’ve seen all manner of claims. We are committed to doing the very best for you, so if you’ve been affected by an accident or injury at work, don’t put off claiming for compensation. Get in touch with Zen Law solicitors on 0161 826 1126 and see how we can help you get the money you deserve.