Work Accident Claims

Work Accident Claims - Know Your Rights
By Jessica A Parker

Workplace accidents claims are more common than you might think. Some work accidents, however, lead to a significant personal injury and could have been avoided simply by an employer taking the appropriate precautions.
Making a work accident claims may be a sensible option. Making a claim can not only help you get back on your feet after an injury, but can also drawing attention to the hazard and ensure your fellow employee don't have to suffer a similar injury.
Can I make a work accident claims?
No matter what industry or occupation you work in, employers have a duty of care towards their employees. This duty of care essentially means they must do everything which is 'reasonably practicable' to ensure the welfare of staff. In an office environment, this could mean thoroughly testing electrical equipment to avoid shocks, or making sure a slippery reception floor is signposted properly.Successful work accident claims can be made for a wide variety of accidents. In addition to office and construction site accidents, factory accidents are relatively common. This is partly due to the physical nature of factory work, but the use of heavy machinery means that, serious accidents do happen.
Wherever the employer has been negligent or ignored their duty of care, and someone has been injured as a result, there may be a legitimate work accident claims.
Can I lose my job?The fear of facing repercussions from their employer is, understandably, the main barrier for most work accident victims. The truth is, it's against the law for an employer to sack an employee for making a compensation claim - this is unfair dismissal. What's more, most companies are required to take out insurance to protect against this type of situation, so do not pay any compensation themselves.
Who can help?
There are a number of different work accident claims companies to choose from, and selecting the right one to handle your claim is an important decision. Things to look out for include how much experience the company has, and whether they specialize in work accident claims.Several companies can offer a no win no fee service, which means that if your work accident claims is unsuccessful, you don't pay the solicitor who handled your claim anything at all. This makes claiming much less risky. Similarly, some claims companies are able to offer 100% compensation. This is because the solicitor's fees are recovered from the other side.