Industrial Accidents and Compensation Claims
Industrial accidents can occur at any time, no matter what your profession or work situation. Around 25,000 people are involved in serious industrial accidents in the UK every year. Injuries sustained can range from minor discomfort or pain, result in a person being declared unfit for employment, or in some cases, cause death. If you have been involved in an industrial accident you may be entitled to compensation from the person or organisation responsible.
Compensation resulting from an industrial accident claim will usually be awarded if it can be proved that someone is to blame for the accident in question. This could be your employer, a fellow employee, or another company carrying out work on your site or premises.
Even if your employer is not to blame and has acted within the law, you may still be entitled to a number of benefits.
Ensuring you choose the right solicitor for your claim is an important decision. Irwin Mitchell is one of the UK’s leading law firms, with a national reputation for dealing with industrial accident cases in a fast, professional and courteous manner. We have built solid, lasting relationships with specialist industrial accident solicitors in the UK, so your claim will be handled with sensitivity and benefit from our extensive expertise and knowledge of accidents in the workplace.
Types of Industrial Accident
There are many different types of industrial accident, all of which can occur with varying degrees of severity. Some of the most common types of industrial accident are listed below:
- Trips or falls
- Being struck by a falling object
- A cave–in or collapse – whether it be earth and rock or a building or wall
- Stepping on, being struck against, or being caught between an object or several objects
- Overexertion or strenuous movements, including injuries sustained while lifting
- Exposure to extreme temperatures, electrical currents, atmospheric pressures and environments, or harmful substances and radiation
- Inhaling or ingesting harmful substances
There are many other classifications of accident and the specialist industrial accident solicitor assigned to your case will be able to provide further advice on the type of industrial accident you have been involved in.
Industrial Accidents and Employer Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of your employer to provide a safe workplace and ensure reasonable care of employees’ health and wellbeing. If your employer fails in their responsibly - resulting in an industrial accident, they will be deemed negligent by the courts and you could be entitled to compensation.
Depending on the sector in which you work, your employer is bound by various health and safety laws. These have the underlying aim of protecting you and helping to prevent industrial accidents. Under these laws, you will have the right to claim compensation or a number of other benefits if you sustain an injury at work.
Specialist Industrial Accident Solicitors
Irwin Mitchell is committed to supporting you and your family throughout your industrial accident claim. If your employer has displayed negligence or contravened health and safety laws, we will work with you to ensure a fair and appropriate compensation package.
If you are unsure as to whether you can claim compensation after suffering an industrial accident, simply complete our Industrial Accident Claim Form and our team will contact you to discuss your case further.