Accident at Work Solicitors
If you have been injured at work and want to know whether your employer is liable, our solicitors, with over 20 years of experience in workplace personal injury claims in England and Wales, can help.
An accident at work claim in England and Wales arises when an employer’s negligence or breach of duty causes an employee to suffer injury. Every employer owes a duty of care to employees under the common law and must comply with the general duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Where those duties are breached and injury results, the injured worker is entitled to seek compensation through the civil courts.
Employers in Great Britain are also required to hold employers’ liability insurance under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. That insurance exists precisely so that successful claimants can recover compensation even where the employer has limited assets. In practice, most workplace injury claims are met by the employer’s insurer rather than the employer directly. Law Lane Solicitors advises employees from our offices in Stratford, High Holborn and Croydon. Founded in 2015, we are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Our reviews average 4.95 out of 5 based on over 1,200 reviews.
What does our accident at work service cover?
Workplace injuries arise in a wide range of circumstances, from a single traumatic accident to a condition that develops over time through repeated exposure. Our team advises and acts on the following matters:
- Slips, trips and falls at work, including claims arising from wet floors, uneven surfaces, obstructed walkways and inadequate lighting, where the employer has failed to maintain a safe place of work.
- Manual handling injuries, including back injuries, soft tissue injuries and hernias caused by lifting, carrying or moving loads without adequate training, equipment or risk assessment under the employer’s duty of care.
- Machinery and equipment accidents, where an employer has provided defective or inadequately guarded equipment or failed to ensure that workers are properly trained in its use.
- Falls from height, including claims arising from unsafe scaffolding, inadequate edge protection, defective ladders, and failures to provide or enforce the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.
- Construction site accidents, advising workers injured on site due to employer negligence, including failures of site management, coordination of contractors, and safe systems of work.
- Industrial disease and occupational illness, including industrial deafness, vibration white finger, occupational asthma and respiratory conditions caused by exposure to harmful substances in the workplace.
- Repetitive strain injuries and work-related upper limb disorders, arising from poorly designed workstations, inadequate rest breaks or an employer’s failure to act on reported symptoms.
- Stress and psychiatric injury claims, where an employer has failed to address a known or foreseeable risk of psychological harm arising from work conditions or workload.
- Claims under employers’ liability insurance, including advising on the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 and what to do when an employer denies liability or disputes the extent of injury.
- Limitation advice: personal injury claims are generally subject to a three-year limitation period under the Limitation Act 1980, running from the date of accident or the date the claimant first knew about the injury and its cause.
Why choose Law Lane for accident at work claims?
Workplace injury claims require a solicitor who understands both the employer’s legal obligations and the practical realities of the employment relationship. Injured workers are sometimes concerned that making a claim will affect their job. Legally, an employer cannot lawfully dismiss an employee for bringing a legitimate personal injury claim, and the claim proceeds against the employer’s insurer rather than against colleagues. We give clear advice on that position from the outset.
Since the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 came into force, breach of most specific health and safety regulations no longer gives an injured worker a direct right to sue in civil proceedings. Claims are now brought in negligence under the common law, relying on the employer’s general duty of care and the duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This underscores the importance of legal analysis, not its diminishment, and our team understands how to build a strong negligence case from the available evidence.
We have solicitors, solicitor-advocates and barristers working under one roof. Where an employer denies liability and proceedings become necessary, clients do not need to instruct external counsel. Our in-house advocates represent clients from the first letter of claim through to trial, maintaining continuity and keeping costs proportionate.
Get in touch
Our personal injury team is ready to advise you on your accident at work claim today. Early advice protects your evidence and your limitation position.
Phone: 020 7870 4870 or email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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Frequently Asked Questions – Accident at Work Claims
Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?
Yes. English law applies the principle of contributory negligence. If you were partly responsible for the accident, your damages will be reduced by the percentage the court attributes to you, but you are not barred from recovering anything at all. For example, if you are found 25% at fault, you receive 75% of the assessed damages. We advise on the likely approach to contributory negligence in your circumstances before proceedings begin.
How long do I have to make a claim?
The general rule under the Limitation Act 1980 is three years from the date of the accident or, if later, the date on which you first had knowledge that the injury was significant and attributable to the employer’s act or omission. Special rules apply if you were under 18 at the time: the three-year period does not begin until your 18th birthday. Time limits are strict, and missing them will usually bar your claim entirely. Take advice as soon as possible.
What if my employer no longer exists?
Where an employer has dissolved or become insolvent, you may still be able to claim against the employer’s liability insurer directly. The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires employers to have maintained insurance, and the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office can help identify the relevant insurer. We advise on the steps needed in these cases.
Do I need to report the accident before making a claim?
You are not legally required to have reported the accident before instructing a solicitor. Still, a contemporaneous record in the employer’s accident book is important evidence. If no report was made at the time, that does not prevent a claim, but it may be a factor the insurer raises. We advise on preserving and obtaining evidence from the outset of every instruction.
Can I claim if I am a contractor rather than an employee?
Workers who are not employees may still be owed a duty of care by those who engage them or control the site or premises where they work. The position depends on the specific circumstances: the degree of control exercised, the terms of any contract, and the nature of the risk. We advise contractors and self-employed workers on whether they have a viable claim.
How much compensation could I receive?
Compensation in a personal injury claim consists of general damages, which cover pain, suffering and loss of amenity, and special damages, which cover financial losses including medical expenses, lost earnings and the cost of care. The amount depends on the nature and severity of the injury, the medical prognosis, and the financial losses actually suffered. We will advise on the likely range for your specific injuries after reviewing the medical evidence.
What does a no win, no fee agreement mean?
A conditional fee agreement, commonly known as no-win, no-fee, means that if your claim does not succeed, you do not pay our legal fees. If it succeeds, a success fee is payable, subject to the agreed cap. Before entering any funding arrangement, we explain the terms clearly, including any insurance premium that may be required to protect against the risk of paying the other side’s costs.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation for accident at work matters. At that meeting, we review the circumstances of the accident, advise on the merits of a claim and the limitation position, and provide a clear costs estimate for taking the matter forward. Please get in touch to arrange a time.
Personal injury team
Tahir Shahab Khan
Supervising Director, Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Jai Singh
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Monica Coleman
SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Nicola Miley
Senior Litigation ExecutiveView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sajad Zamir
ParalegalView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
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