In this article, you’ll read when a construction accident injury could allow you to begin a personal injury claim. We begin by looking at the eligibility criteria for accident at work claims before moving on to review the claims process.
After that, we provide some examples of the types of injuries that could result from an accident on a construction site. As well as reviewing how compensation is calculated for construction industry accidents, we explain the types of evidence that could be supplied to make your case stronger.
Finally, we set out how working with a solicitor from our panel on a No Win No Fee basis could make the process easier and less stressful.
If you’ve suffered a construction site injury, we’ll happily review your circumstances on a no-obligation basis and offer free advice about your options. To arrange this, you can:
- Call us on 020 8050 2736 to speak to a specialist.
- Claim online so we can arrange a callback.
- Connect to our live chat service for 24/7 advice about claiming.
Please read on for more on construction accident compensation claims. If you need any further information along the way, please get in touch.
Construction Accident Injury Claims Guide
Jump To A Section
- When Are You Eligible To Claim For An Accident On A Construction Site?
- How To Claim For A Construction Accident Injury
- How Could A Construction Accident Injury Be Caused?
- Potential Compensation From Construction Industry Accidents
- Could I Claim For A Construction Site Injury Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
- More Resources About Construction Injury Claims
When Are You Eligible To Claim For An Accident On A Construction Site?
On any busy construction site, there are bound to be different types of companies all working at one time. There also may be a contractor, possibly not your employer, as well as sub-contractors. All these different entities owe each other a duty of care to prevent injury or illness. It is when an injury caused by a breach of this duty that makes a personal injury claim possible. However, for the purpose of this guide, we are concentrating on when it is possible to make a personal injury claim against your employer for an accident at work.
In law, your employer must take reasonable steps to prevent you from becoming injured or ill. This is a legal duty of care set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Additional laws such as the Construction (Design and Management) Act 2015 may extend this duty when working on a building site.
b Building site accident compensation could be sought through a personal injury claim if:
- You were owed a duty of care by your employer ( or another third party) at the point you had an accident at work.
- The accident occurred because your employer (or another third party) failed to uphold that duty; and
- As a direct consequence of the accident, you were injured.
The above criteria apply to all types of claims including those for major injuries on a construction site and for fatal accidents.
If you have suffered a construction accident injury and believe it was caused by a breach of duty, why not speak to us about starting a claim today?
How To Claim For A Construction Accident Injury
If you’re injured in an accident in construction through a breach of duty and want to make a personal injury claim, gathering evidence to prove liability, the cause of the accident and your suffering is important. The types of evidence that might strengthen your case include:
- Photographs taken at the scene of the accident and of any visible injuries.
- Information about any medical treatment you’ve received plus copies of your medical records.
- Contact details for anybody who witnessed the accident.
- A copy of your employer’s accident report form.
- CCTV footage if your accident was caught on camera.
Other evidence may be sourced by your solicitor as part of their service if your claim is accepted.
If you’d like more information about what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim please call the number above today. A member of our team will provide advice and assess your construction accident injury claim for free.
How Could A Construction Accident Injury Be Caused?
The criteria set out earlier in this guide explain that you could be compensated for a construction accident injury if it occurred following a breach of duty.
As such, we’ve provided some construction site accident examples below. All of the following could occur following employer negligence and cause you to be injured:
- If you were knocked over and suffered a broken leg because the person driving the dumper truck had no training.
- Your employer asked you to work on the roof without providing you with a harness, and there was no scaffolding surrounding the roof. You slipped and fell to the ground. As a result, you suffered a serious head injury.
- If you suffered a manual handling injury because your employer forced you to move awkward and heavy loads without you being trained.
- You fell into the ground and was left with severe crush injuries when it was being excavated because no risk assessment had been carried out prior to ensure the safety of employees.
This is just a sample of the types of construction industry accidents that could be prevented by employers who adhere to health and safety regulations. If you believe you should be compensated following an injury on a construction site, please speak to a member of our team now.
Potential Compensation From Construction Industry Accidents bb
The amount of compensation awarded for a construction accident injury will depend on how badly you’ve suffered. If your claim succeeds, your payout will be formed of two heads of loss.
The first covering pain and suffering is called general damages. Importantly, suffering may need to be verified independently in construction injury claims. Therefore, if you work with a construction accident solicitor from our panel, they will arrange for you to attend a medical assessment.
After the meeting, a report will be provided to explain your injuries. Your solicitor may use this report, in conjunction with the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), to help value your claim. The JCG is a document used by legal professionals as it provides guideline brackets for many different injuries.
Our compensation table includes some figures from the JCG to give you an idea about the value of your claim. The bracket amounts are for guidance purposes only. However, these amounts are not guaranteed, and you could receive less than the amounts stated if your claim is won.
Compensation Table
| Type Of Injury | Level | Compensation Guidelines | Extra Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Severe Injuries With Special Damages | Severe | Up to £1,000,000 + | This type of settlement is for multiple severe injuries and includes special damages such as the cost of care, home modifications and lost earnings. |
| Brain Injury | Very Severe | £282,010 to £403,990 | Likely to involve quadriplegic cerebral palsy leading to severe physical and cognitive disability. |
| Moderately Severe | £219,070 to £282,010 | Professional care will be needed constantly and the claimant will be very seriousl disabled. As a result, they will depend substantially on others. | |
| Leg Injuries | Amputation (i) | £240,790 to £282,010 | Amputation of both legs above the knee or where one leg is amputated at a high level above the knee and the other is amputated below the knee. |
| Neck Injuries | Severe (i) | Around £148,330 | Such as serious neck injuries linked to incomplete paraplegia. |
| Back Injuries | Severe (ii) | £74,160 to £88,430 | For example, nerve root damage with loss of sensation, impaired bowel and bladder control, reduced mobility and unsightly scarring. |
| Moderate(i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | An example in this bracket is a traumatic spondylolisthesis causing continuous pain and where spinal fusion will probably be required. | |
| Injuries to the Pelvis and Hips | Severe (ii) | £61,910 to £78,400 | Such as traumatic myositis ossifications with the formation of ectopic bone around the hip. |
| Ankle Injuries | Moderate | £13,740 to £26,590 | Fractures, ligament tears and other similar problems that lead to difficulty walking or standing for long periods or walking on uneven ground. |
Importantly, the first row of our compensation table has not been taken from the JCG.
Financial Losses From An Injury On A Construction Site
If you are awarded general damages, your settlement may also include special damages to cover any costs linked to your injuries.
For example, your settlement could cover:
- The cost of adapting your home to improve your quality of life if your injuries lead to a permanent disability.
- Care and support costs.
- Rehabilitation and medical expenses.
- Loss of income.
All costs must be verified so you should retain any relevant receipts, pay slips and any other relevant financial documents.
To see how much your construction accident injury might be worth, please get in touch on the number above.
Could I Claim For A Construction Site Injury Using A No Win No Fee Solicitor?
If you have decided to make a construction accident injury claim, working with a specialist solicitor could make things much easier. If your claim is accepted by a solicitor from our panel, they could help by:
- Collecting any relevant evidence to support your claim.
- Handle all communications on your behalf.
- Making sure the claim is filed in full and on time.
- Providing regular updates to you about the progress of your claim.
What’s more, all accepted claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis as our panel of solicitors work under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA).
A CFA means:
- No upfront charges for your solicitor’s work.
- You don’t pay your solicitor for their work while the case is ongoing or if it fails.
- A success fee will be deducted from the compensation you receive. Importantly, the success fee percentage is legally capped.
To see if you could with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel, you can:
- Call us on 020 8050 2736 to speak to a specialist.
- Ask for advice via live chat.
- Claim online so that we can call back at a convenient time.
More Resources About Construction Injury Claims
Here are a few more of our accident at work claim guides:
- How to file a compensation claim for a workplace injury.
- Advice on claiming shoulder injury at work compensation following an accident.
- A guide about how an injury at work compensation calculator could help.
- We also have a guide on specifically claiming for a head injury caused by a construction site accident.
Finally, here are some helpful external links:
- NHS guidance on when to use 111 if you need medical advice.
- Detail on the eligibility criteria for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
- Information about construction health and safety from the HSE.
Please call if you’d like to know more about claiming for a construction accident injury.