It is unfortunate but there a lot of compensation claims made for work accidents. In the region of 2.2 million people are employed in Britain’s major industry, the construction business. And, even though the United Kingdom has quite a low rate of accidents compared to the rest of the European Union, accidents at work still happen far too frequently. These incidents have resulted in over 2800 fatalities over the last twenty five years along with many more people suffering from serious injury and industrial diseases.
What is a construction industry accident? Generally speaking it is one which takes place on a building site. The most common form of work accidents in the building industry are those involving scaffolding with people or items falling from a height, and accidents involving power tools, lifting equipment and any number of incidents involving faulty equipment.
Of course, it is not only the people working on the construction sites who are at risk of sustaining serious personal injury. Folk who are simply passing by the site may also be unfortunate enough to be injured when an accident occurs. Either way, both the employee and the passer-by are entitled to make a compensation claim under different laws for any injuries they may have received.
Health and Safety is the responsibility of the employer. He should take responsibility for the application of health and safety regulations and make sure the workers receive adequate training and supervision. He should also ensure the building site has insurance cover. If you are unlucky enough to suffer an accident at work, here is what you should do.
As soon as you have received treatment for your injuries following the accident at work, you should inform your supervisor. Make sure all the information is entered precisely in the accident book as this will be an important piece of evidence should you pursue a personal injury claim.
You should also keep a written record of every other piece of evidence you can gather together to prove that the employer is responsible for the accident. You should also look at whether there any witnesses to what happened? And has this type of accident happened before at your place of work? You will need to take up the services of a solicitor who specialises in this kind of work to make the claim for compensation on your behalf. The solicitor will advise you how much you should claim for and what chances your claim has of being successful.
The money awarded for the compensation claim is not only for the injuries incurred from the work accidents but also for any loss of current and future earnings due to incapacity, any trauma caused and any damage to your personal property at the time of the accident. Claims of this kind more often than not add up to quite substantial amounts of money. Your solicitor is likely to provide a no win no fee service, avoiding further financial strain being put on you at this already costly time.
You may, at first, be reluctant to claim against your employer, fearing repercussions following your claim, but if you are certain the accident could have been avoided had proper safety measures been in place, you should certainly proceed, and to make every effort you possibly can to ensure this kind of accident at work does not happen again. You do, after all, also have a responsibility to those persons who you work alongside regarding their safety too.
How To Claim Compensation UK is an independent Internet resource with information for anyone looking to claim compensation for legal, medical or professional negligence. Visit the site for free information on how to file a claim, how to find a good compensation solicitor and advice on taking a claim forward
