Claim Work Accident Compensation Claim Guide

Over 604,000 people
were injured at work
in the UK in 2023/24 Sce: Labour Force Survey

A guide to making a work accident claim

In 2023 to 2024, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), reported that around 604,000 people in Great Britain suffered a workplace injury or work-related illness.

If you\'ve been injured in an accident at work, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. A successful claim can provide financial support for lost earnings, treatment costs and the wider impact of your injury.

This guide explains your rights after a workplace accident, what steps to take, and how the work injury claims process works. It also directs you to further resources for support as you begin to rebuild after a work accident.

What to do after a work accident

Taking the right steps straight after an accident will help your recovery and protect your right to claim compensation.

Get medical attention: Always seek medical attention after a work accident, even for minor injuries. Medical records may be vital evidence later.
Report the accident: Tell your employer and make sure the details are recorded in the accident book.
Keep records: Write down what happened, collect witness details, and keep copies of reports or photos.
Track your recovery: Follow medical advice and keep receipts for treatment or expenses.

Why is medical evidence so important?

Medical evidence is a key part of making a work accident claim.

A personal injury will need to establish that your injuries resulted from the work accident.

In order to work out how much compensation you should receive, your solicitor will also need to know:

What injuries you suffered
The seriousness of your injuries
Whether your accident made any existing injuries worse

Some workers decide to make a claim months or years after the accident - perhaps after their injuries have healed.

Medical records from the time of the accident, can help to prove the severity of your.

However, even if you didn\'t seek medical attention at the time, your solicitor will usually arrange for you to see an independent medical expert. This expert could be a GP or specialist, depending on the type of injury.

The medical expert will then write an injury report, detailing the severity of your injuries, and what impact they have had on your life and your ability to work.

Eligibility to make a work injury claim

You may be able to claim compensation for a workplace accident if the following apply:

The accident happened in the last three years
You were injured as a result
Another party was at fault and owed you a duty of care

All employers have a legal duty of care to protect the health and safety of their workers. If your employer failed in this duty and you were injured, they can usually be held liable.

You can use our free injury claim calculator to check if you are eligible to make a claim and see how much compensation you could receive.

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Will my employment status affect my right to claim?

Your right to claim compensation does not depend on whether you are full-time, part-time, on a zero-hours contract, or working through an agency. Employers owe the same duty of care to all workers, regardless of contract type.

In some cases, even self-employed people and contractors can bring a claim if the accident was caused by the negligence of the company they were contracted to.

Find out more:

How the work injury claims process works

Making a work injury claim may feel daunting, but the process is straightforward once you have the right support. In most cases, your solicitor will handle the legal steps and guide you through each stage.

The key steps usually include:

Speaking with a solicitor about what happened and how you were injured
Gathering medical evidence and other records to support your claim
Notifying your employer and their insurer
Negotiating a fair settlement, or going to court if necessary

Most claims are resolved out of court, and your solicitor will keep you informed throughout.

How much work injury compensation can I claim?

The value of a work injury claim depends on your individual circumstances. Compensation is made up of two parts:

General damages for the pain, suffering and impact on your quality of life
Special damages for financial losses such as lost earnings, medical costs, and travel expenses

Our compensation calculator uses the latest Judicial College guidelines to estimate how much you could claim. It considers the type and seriousness of your injuries, multiple injuries where relevant, and any additional financial losses.

Find out how much
you could claim

Instant accurate calculation
Shows true cost of making a claim
Confirms your right to claim

Calculate my compensation

Common questions about liability

Many people worry they will not be able to claim if the circumstances of their accident are complicated. In practice, the law gives wide protection to injured workers. Some common concerns include:

What if I was partly at fault? You may still be able to claim. Compensation can be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility, but you will not automatically lose your right.
What if a colleague caused my injury? Employers are usually responsible for the actions of their staff under the principle of vicarious liability. Your claim would still be against the employer, not the individual.
What if my employer has ceased trading or was uninsured? You may still have options, including claiming through the employer’s insurer or through other statutory schemes.

For more information, see:

No Win, No Fee Explained

A No Win No Fee agreement allows you to make a work accident claim with no financial risk.

If your claim is successful, your solicitor receives a success fee, which is deducted from your compensation. This fee can be up to 25% of your award but never more.

If your claim is not successful: You pay nothing. Your solicitor will have arranged legal expenses insurance so that all costs, including the other side’s fees, are covered.

This means you can pursue a claim without worrying about upfront costs or unexpected bills.

Get the right advice

Getting the right advice early can make the claims process less stressful and give you a clear understanding of your options. Our work injury advisors will:

Work accident claims