Construction Site Accidents And Claiming Compensation

It is unfortunate but there a lot of compensation claims made for work accidents. In the region of 2.2 million people are employed in Britain’s major industry, the construction business. And, even though the United Kingdom has quite a low rate of accidents compared to the rest of the European Union, accidents at work still happen far too frequently. These incidents have resulted in over 2800 fatalities over the last twenty five years along with many more people suffering from serious injury and industrial diseases.

What is a construction industry accident? Generally speaking it is one which takes place on a building site. The most common form of work accidents in the building industry are those involving scaffolding with people or items falling from a height, and accidents involving power tools, lifting equipment and any number of incidents involving faulty equipment.

Of course, it is not only the people working on the construction sites who are at risk of sustaining serious personal injury. Folk who are simply passing by the site may also be unfortunate enough to be injured when an accident occurs. Either way, both the employee and the passer-by are entitled to make a compensation claim under different laws for any injuries they may have received.

Health and Safety is the responsibility of the employer. He should take responsibility for the application of health and safety regulations and make sure the workers receive adequate training and supervision. He should also ensure the building site has insurance cover. If you are unlucky enough to suffer an accident at work, here is what you should do.

The initial step, following the administration of first aid or other medical treatment, is to inform your line manager or supervisor. Precise details of the accident should be entered in the accident book and this information will be used to form the basis of your compensation claim.

In order to prove your claim that the employer was responsible for your accident, make a written note of as many details of the incident as possible to use as evidence. You should also check to see if there were any witnesses to your accident at work and also check if similar work accidents had occurred there before. The next step will be to employ a solicitor who specialises in personal injury claims. A good solicitor will advise you on your personal injuries claim, including the amount you should claim and what your chances are of success.

The money awarded for the compensation claim is not only for the injuries incurred from the work accidents but also for any loss of current and future earnings due to incapacity, any trauma caused and any damage to your personal property at the time of the accident. Claims of this kind more often than not add up to quite substantial amounts of money. Your solicitor is likely to provide a no win no fee service, avoiding further financial strain being put on you at this already costly time.

You may, at first, be reluctant to claim against your employer, fearing repercussions following your claim, but if you are certain the accident could have been avoided had proper safety measures been in place, you should certainly proceed, and to make every effort you possibly can to ensure this kind of accident at work does not happen again. You do, after all, also have a responsibility to those persons who you work alongside regarding their safety too.

How To Claim Compensation UK is an independent Internet resource with information for anyone looking to claim compensation for legal, medical or professional negligence. Visit the site for free information on how to file a claim, how to find a good compensation solicitor and advice on taking a claim forward