Employees in the UK are entitled to a certain degree of protection from their employers. Specifically, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers are obliged to take reasonable, practicable steps to ensure that the working environment is made safe.
Of course, not all employers live up to the standards expected of them. So, what legal action might an affected employee take in the wake of an accident at work?
Know Your Rights
To begin with, workers in the UK have a right to pursue a legal remedy when they suffer as a result of a workplace accident that wasn’t their fault. You also have a right to be supported in this claim by your employer – which means that they need to provide any evidence they have that might clarify the nature of the accident and apportion blame. This might mean written records, or security-camera footage.
Report the Incident Immediately
To stand the best chance of success, you’ll want to make an immediate record of the accident in question. Employers are obliged to keep an accident book for exactly this purpose. The accident book is there to help the employer identify patterns of risk, and to act as evidence in a courtroom.
Collect Evidence to Support Your Claim
The accident book shouldn’t be your sole source of evidence. You might also immediately record the scene of the accident, as well as any injuries you’ve suffered. Capturing witness testimony on video might also be helpful. If you should need medical attention after the accident, it’s worth logging all of these – as well as any expenses you might incur in the process of keeping them. For example, you might have to pay for parking in the car park just outside your physiotherapist.
Seek Legal Advice from an Expert Solicitor
A good personal injury lawyer will be able to guide you through the process of seeking compensation. In most cases, your legal representation will proceed on a no-win, no-fee basis – and you’ll only very rarely be required to attend the courtroom in person. In fact, most cases are settled outside of court.
Understand the Timeframe for Filing a Claim
As soon as you’re made aware of the fact that an injury has been suffered, a clock will start to tick. From that point, you’ll have three years to file a case – but the earlier you act, the fresher the evidence will be, and the better your chance of success will be. It’s also worth bearing in mind that this countdown doesn’t begin until you turn eighteen – meaning that if you’re working as a teenager, you might have slightly longer to get the ball rolling.
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