Work Accident Claim Articles
Work Related Injury Compensation
How much compensation might I expect to receive from a work accident claim?
Every day, all over the UK people are injured in work related accidents. According to the Health and Safety Executive, in 2008 180 workers were killed at work, a rate of 0.6 per 100,000 workers. 131,895 other injuries to employees were reported by RIDDOR: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, with the Labour Force Survey announcing 246,000 reportable injuries.
The HSE report identified that the most commonly occurring accidents are musculoskeletal disorders (mainly bad backs and damage to upper limbs and the neck) and stress. Stress alone accounted for 57% of total working days lost.
As well as accidents many people have suffered from the consequences of long term industrial illnesses such as vibration white finger, mesothelioma (2156 people died of mesothelioma in 2007), asbestosis, pneumoconiosis and silicosis, repetitive strain injury, hearing and eyesight problems. The report suggested that thousands more died from other occupational cancers and lung diseases.
Public administration, transport and health and safety work recorded the largest proportions of workplace illness whilst agriculture, transport and construction were shown to have the greatest number of accidents.
In 2008/09, a total of 329 offences (breaches) were heard, resulting in 309 convictions, a rate of 94%. Organisations found guilty of health and safety breaches received fines totalling £1.73 million, giving average penalties on conviction of £5,607 per breach, which relates to £12 466 per case.
In addition to fines levied for safety breaches, an estimated £10 billion a year is being paid out in compensation. If you have suffered a work related accident or injury through no fault of your own, you may well be entitled to claim compensation. There are no set figures for workplace claims as no two cases are the same. The amount you may be entitled to will of course relate to the nature of accident and its impact on your life and livelihood.
The guidelines in place split the compensation into two amounts. The first, called General Damages takes into account your pain, the suffering you have endured (or are enduring) and what's called the loss of amenity. Perhaps you have lost hearing or the vision from an eye. The amount of General Damages that you are entitled to essentially boils down to three essential factors:
- The severity of your injuries
- How much your injuries have prevented you from carrying out your normal activities
- Ongoing pain and suffering
The second part of the compensation equation is called Special Damages. This relates to:
- Lost earnings
- The cost of private medical treatment
- Travel and prescription expenses
- Any other relevant expenses
By way of compensation guidelines and examples, you could expect the following levels of compensation award:
- £1500 - £7000 for a minor head injury
- £155,000 - £255,000 for brain damage
- £8,000 to £15,000 for a permanently damaged shoulder
- Up to £6,000 for a minor ankle injury
- £35,000 for a severely damaged ankle
- £110,000 or more for mesothelioma
It's vital to take expert advice from a specialist work injury claims solicitor. Your solicitor will help prepare the case to support your claim for general and special damages and work to ensure that you are properly compensated.
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We have created a guide to help you. This has been formed by answering the most commonly asked questions about workplace accidents. The guide explains all that you need to know about Work Accident Claims including answers to the following questions:
- Can you really make a claim and keep all of your compensation or is that just too good to be true?
- Will you lose your job if you make a claim?
- Does it cost you anything to make an enquiry if you decide not to pursue a claim?
- What does "No Win No Fee " really mean?
- What if you need treatment; will you have to wait for months?
- Should you choose a Claims Company or go straight to a Work Accident Claim Solicitor?
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