If you have been injured at work, you’ll know first-hand how frustrating this can be. From potential time off work to loss of earnings, and even an impact on your personal life. Depending on what the injury was, you may feel as though your life has been negatively affected by your career. In some instances, you may be adamant that the injury could have been prevented.
With some of the most common injuries at work including slip-and-fall injuries, whiplash and falls from a height, it’s so important that you take steps to get the compensation you deserve. If you want to increase your chances of being successful when making a claim then the best thing you can do is instruct a personal injury claims solicitor.
When you instruct someone who is experienced in personal injury claims, you will have someone who can fight your corner if things get complicated, who can make the process more manageable, and who can help you get an appropriate amount of compensation.
If you’ve experienced a minor injury at work and are wondering how a solicitor can help with your compensation claim, read on.
Common examples of minor work injuries include:
The immediate impact of injuries such as these listed above, may seem inconsequential at the timebut can have a huge impact on your daily life. With the average payout for a minor neck injury being £4,000-£5,000, and minor back injuries at £6,000, it’s important to file a claim if you feel as though you have suffered through no fault of your own.
If you happen to have a moderate injury then you could be entitled to substantially more.
One thing to take note of is that some minor injuries may not be worth pursuing. This could include minor aches, sprains and ligament injuries. The chances of winning your claim may be slim, and it may be difficult to prove that injuries occurred as a result of your work.
If you’re wondering if you’ll be able to pursue a claim for your accident, make sure to get in touch with one of our legal team.
If you want to claim for minor injury compensation, you have should appreciate that there are different time limits in which you have to begin legal action for your claim. Ideally, you need to seek legal advice immediately so you can claim compensation.
The time limit for claiming damages is 3 years. This means that any kind of court proceeding needs to be filed within 3 years of you being aware that you have suffered any kind of injury.
In some instances, the court can extend the time limit. A lot of this comes down to the circumstances of the case. In the context of a compensation claim, a minor injury can range from burns to soft tissue injuries, scalds and even fractures.
When the time comes for you to report your minor injury within the workplace, you will need to collect evidence to support your claim. If you happen to be injured in the workplace or at a venue then make sure that you report the injury to the manager.
Make sure that the accident is accurate within the log book and that you agree with the documentation. Keep receipts of anything that you might buy if it relates to your injury as well. You may be able to claim them back at a later date.
Take some photographs of your injuries, and take note of eyewitness accounts. Get the medical treatment you need so you can support your long-term health, and do your best to support your personal injury claim. Finally, contact a personal injury solicitor.
Incident reports are there to support you in the event of an injury. Employers often make the mistake of not putting down sufficient details, or they write down things that don’t reflect what happened. Although this might not be done maliciously, when incidents happen, emotions often run high.
If an employer knows that they did not provide you with the correct safety equipment or if they did not carry out their role properly when it comes to keeping you safe, then it may be that they will try to dissuade you from filling out an incident report. This can have dire consequences when it comes to your case, as you need a paper trail that leads back to the date of the event.
By making sure that the incident report is filled out properly and by making sure that your employer is taking your claim seriously, you can then take steps to protect yourself more.
When you engage a solicitor to help with your case, they will invite you for a consultation where you can discuss your case and the events of what happened. We’re able to offer these in any of our offices, or if more convenient, at your home.
Our team of solicitors has a lot of expertise when it comes to navigating legal complexities, not to mention that we can also help you determine liability. This is a key part of your case, and it also helps you to assess the extent of your injury. A good solicitor can mean the difference between you getting the payout you deserve, and not getting anything at all.
Gathering Evidence
You will need to take steps to gather evidence for your personal injury claim so that your solicitor can use it to build a case for you. Documentation is very significant, and it strengthens how credible your claim is. The more you can gather, the better. Even if you don’t see the documentation as being relevant, you still need to keep it safe, because it could prove integral to your case if it is presented in the right way.
Here are some of the things you should consider gathering:
If you want your personal injury claim to be successful then you have to prove that what happened was not your fault. You need to give evidence that the defendant owed you a level of care, and that they did not provide it. You need to prove that they were neglectful and that they breached their duty of care.
Furthermore, you have to prove that the accident caused you injuries. The best way for you to do this would be for you to gather as much evidence as you can. In most cases, you have up to 3 years from when you are diagnosed with an injury. If someone under the age of 18 is injured in the workplace then they can pursue a claim up to 3 years after their 18th birthday.
Navigating the Compensation and Claims Process
The process of filing for a compensation claim at work will include you submitting the relevant forms and documentation. The forms will ask for specific information about your injury, how it happened and under what circumstances. You need to be as specific as possible here, because if you miss any details then this could work against you in terms of your claim.
The main challenge that comes with making a claim is that the employer will often try to deny that they were responsible for your injury, so that they can avoid making a payout. A solicitor can help you to address issues like this, as they have worked with employers who try and avoid claims for years, so many tactics they may adopt to lower your compensation, can be countered.
Navigating the claims process can be complex, but with an experienced solicitor like TBI by your side, you can feel confident knowing that you are setting yourself up for success.
There are many benefits to seeking legal representation, from an increased chance of success to having the whole process expedited. Solicitors can also advocate for your rights as an employee, ensuring that you have fair treatment throughout the process.
With neck, back and hand injuries having a high success when it comes to payouts, there has never been a better time for you to seek the legal support you need. If you feel as though you have been injured at work and it wasn’t your fault, or if you believe that your safety has not been your employer’s priority, then now is the time for you to pursue compensation and get the money you need to get your life back on track.
Contact us at TBI today if you want to file a minor injury at work claim, and our experienced team can help you.
