After you’ve contacted us, we’ll set up a free initial consultation to discuss how you were injured and what defects there may have been with your work equipment. We’ll discuss what funding options are available to you to pay for your claim, including No Win No Fee agreements* or Legal Expenses Insurance (LEI).
We’ll then get in touch with your employer or the manufacturer of the faulty equipment, at an early stage to see if they accept the blame for your injuries. If they accept responsibility, we’ll try to secure interim compensation payments which can fund private medical care and ongoing expenses, before your claim fully settles. Any interim payments will be taken out of your final compensation award.
Our lawyers will look into your case in detail, gathering evidence from independent medical professionals and health and safety specialists. These experts will analyse what might have happened to the equipment at work for example was it serviced regularly and maintenance kept up. Could it have been if more training was provided then the accident might not have happened?
We can determine any future implications to your health and advise on the care you’ll need in the future.
We’ll always try and negotiate claims out of court, keeping the claim process as short as we can. However, if your employer doesn’t accept responsibility or doesn’t agree with the amount of compensation we feel you need, we’ll start court proceedings.
In very serious cases, it may be that someone has died as a result of equipment at work, health and safety failings or poor training by employers on the equipment an employee might be using.
If a loved one has died, our lawyers can help you with:
- Recovering compensation - as a result of their death at work you may not have enough income to support you and your family
- Representing you at inquest - an inquest is an important way to help employers and manufacturers of faulty equipment look at their policies, procedures and existing equipment. By conducting an inquest we can get independent answers for you and your family
- Getting you the answers and apology you deserve from those responsible such as your loved one's employers or the manufacturer of the faulty equipment.
Our lawyers could also help you access a statutory bereavement award, which is separate to a claim for compensation. This is available if you’re the spouse, civil partner or parent (if they’re under 18) of the person who died.
The death of a loved one is never easy, our bereavement counsellors and support staff can help you in these situations.
You normally have three years to make a compensation claim, starting from the date of the defective equipment injuring you.
Depending on your injury, we may make a claim against your employer, or against the company which manufactured the faulty equipment. This may add complexity to your claim so the sooner we know about your injury, the easier it is to investigate the equipment, manufacture, training and other issues surrounding the accident.
If you were under the age of 18 when the accident happened – perhaps during work experience or an apprenticeship – the three year period begins on your 18th birthday. This means you have until you’re 21 to make a claim.
However, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin to investigate your claim. If you have questions or concerns about the time limits, please call us for free initial advice on 0800 056 4110.
Many of our cases are funded with a No Win No Fee agreement. This means that there’s no financial risk* to you when making a compensation claim.
At the start of your claim, we’ll discuss the funding options available, advising you which we think is the most suitable. If you have legal expenses insurance (LEI), or can access support through trade union membership, these may be best for you. Legal expenses insurance is included in many household and car insurance policies, so it’s always worth checking whether you’re already covered.
If we think you’re best supported by a No Win No Fee agreement, we’ll explain the process clearly. This involves setting up an insurance policy that will protect you, at no cost to you. You’ll only have to pay anything when your claim is successful – your opponent will pay most of our fees.
Please visit our No Win No Fee page for more information on how it works.
Our workplace accident solicitors are highly rated by independent legal guides such as Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. With offices up and down the country, we’re able to help you wherever you are.
We have years of experience in securing compensation for those who have been injured at work. Our solicitors are aware that every claim is different and we take the time to understand the care and support you need.
For some people, getting an apology and explanation for what’s happened is just as important as a compensation award. We’ll take the necessary steps to help you make a complaint and will campaign to ensure systems are put in place to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen to somebody else.
