Warehouse Accident Claims

There are many things that can cause injuries in a warehouse, most of which are avoidable if the correct precautions are in place. We could help you make a claim for compensation if you were injured because of the following:

• Slips, trips and falls: These can be caused when waste and tools are left out, when liquids are spilt and not cleared away and when signs aren’t present to mark hazards.
• Falling objects: There’s a particular risk of this happening when goods are stacked too high on pallets, causing them to become unstable. Objects can also fall if they are left on scaffolding and if forklift trucks aren’t loaded correctly.
• Falls from height (including scaffolding and ladders): Work at height is often necessary in warehouses to stack or remove goods from high places. This should only be undertaken by workers with the correct training.
• Manual handling: Injuries can be caused by bad technique and by trying to lift items that are too heavy. Assistive equipment should be provided where necessary and risk assessments should be performed before any manual handling. You should be informed about the best methods of lifting and handling goods.
• Forklift trucks: Drivers should be provided with personal protective equipment (PPE), forklifts shouldn’t be operated in pedestrian areas unless marked and the trucks should only be operated by trained individuals.
• Electric shock and electrocution: Injuries and fatalities can be caused if defective electrical products are used, if sockets are overloaded or short circuit (instigating flash burns), or if you come into contact with live components.
• Defective equipment: Training should be provided in order to make sure that equipment is used correctly. Items should be inspected before use to check for faults and should be maintained as well as possible, being replaced when signs of wear are present.

Your employer has a duty to keep you safe at work, eliminating known risk factors which could cause injuries. If it has failed in this duty, you might be able to claim for compensation.

You might have a claim if you have been injured in a warehouse accident, whether you are an employee, a contractor, a member of the public or a warehouse visitor.

Even if you are a casual or self-employed worker, you might still be considered an employee under UK law, giving you the same rights as other workers when it comes to health and safety.

If you are an agency worker who has been injured in a warehouse accident, both the agency you work for, and the operatives of the warehouse should take responsibility for your safety. They should work together to make sure that precautions are in place to protect you.

We can also help with claims being made on behalf of others, including:

• On behalf of a child who has been in an accident before their 18th birthday
• For someone who doesn’t have the mental capacity to handle their own case
• On behalf of a loved one who has unfortunately passed away

If you have sadly lost a loved one in a warehouse 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

Our lawyers could also help you access a statutory bereavement award, a flat rate of £15,120 which is provided when a wrongful death has occurred. This is available if you are the spouse, civil partner or parent (if under 18) of the person who died.

You could still make a claim even if you were partly to blame for your warehouse accident. When multiple parties are to blame for an accident, responsibility can be ‘split’ and any compensation will be divided accordingly. This can be called ‘split liability’ or ‘contributory negligence’.

When we gather evidence for your case, we will establish whether you were responsible for the accident. Using this information, we will establish how much compensation we think you should receive and will present our findings to your opponent. If we can’t come to an agreement, your case will go to court where the judge will decide the overall value of your claim.

If you were partly to blame but only because you hadn’t been given adequate training, your employer will bear the responsibility because it’s an obligation to provide it.