Construction Industry Accident Claims

There are a number of ways in which scaffolding accidents can happen, causing injuries to workers and members of the public. We can help with claims that were caused by:

• Falls from height
• Passers-by struck by falling tools and materials
• Unstable scaffolding collapsing
• Electrocutions and burns (when scaffolding is near power lines)
• Poor standard of construction materials (such as bracing)
• Safety procedures not being followed
• Incorrect manual handling
• Using scaffolding in wet conditions

The Health and Safety Executive sets out guidelines that must be followed in the construction industry. To comply with personal protective equipment (PPE) regulations, you should be provided with:

• Head protection
• Hearing protection
• Footwear
• High-visibility clothing

If you have been in an accident on a construction site and feel that your employer didn’t provide you with the correct PPE, we’re here to help. You have the right to expect an adequate standard of safety at work and can make a claim if you have suffered an injury because of lapses in health and safety standards, such as your employer not complying with:

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015: Help with planning work to reduce potential risks, coordinating work, communicating the correct information about risks and how they are being managed.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002: Advice on hazardous chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists, gases and germs. These regulations also provide support on how COSHH assessments should be carried out.
• Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996: Explaining your duties on consulting employees about health and safety matters.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974: This is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and sets out guidance to protect employees in a host of scenarios.
• Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) 1998: The duties of people and companies who own, operate or have control over lifting equipment. LOLER requires that lifting operations are planned by a competent person and are appropriately supervised and states that all equipment should be fit for purpose.
• Provision and Use of Work Regulations (PUWER) 1998: These regulations place obligations on people and companies who own, operate and control work equipment. PUWER states that equipment must be suitable for intended use, maintained to a good standard, used by people with the correct training and should only be used after considering protective devices and controls.
• Work at Height Regulations 2005: This act was designed to prevent injuries and deaths caused by falls from height. Employers who are in control of work at height must ensure that work is properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.

You can make a claim if you have been injured in a construction accident, whether you are an employee, contactor, member of the public or a visitor. You might still be considered an employee under UK law if you are a casual worker or self-employed, while agency workers should be protected by both the agency and the construction company when it comes to health and safety, too, so you might have a claim if you have been injured through no fault of your own.

We can help you with claims made on the behalf of others, including:

• A child who has been in an accident before their 18th birthday
• Someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle their own case

If you have sadly lost a loved one in a construction accident, we can help you with:

• Recovering compensation for their pain and suffering to account for financial losses caused by their death and to cover funeral expenses
• Representing you at inquest
• Getting you the answers and apology you deserve from those responsible

If you are the spouse, civil partner or parent (if under 18) of the person who passed away, you could also access a statutory bereavement award at a flat rate of £15,120 in the event of a wrongful death.

If you got injured because of employer negligence on a construction site, you can discuss your options for making a claim with our specialist personal injury lawyers. We will take you through your funding options, including no win no fee agreements, and collect all the necessary and available evidence to help you make a successful claim.

You typically have three years from the date of the accident to make a claim, so it’s important to get started as soon as possible.

Your compensation amount will cover the likes of loss of income, expenses for travel and medical care, household adaptations and physiotherapy—we will take all of this into account and talk you through every aspect of your claim, so you always know what to expect.