How To Report An Accident At Work

In this guide, we will answer questions on how to report an accident at work. We will discuss workplace accidents and how they can happen as the result of negligence. Furthermore, you’ll find out how much compensation you could be entitled to and how a No Win No Fee solicitor could benefit your claim.

how to report an accident at work guide

How to report an accident at work guide

Our guide will aim to give you useful information about making a workplace accident claim. Furthermore, we encourage you to get in touch with our team today. If you have a valid case, then they could connect you with a lawyer from our panel. 

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How To Report An Accident At Work

You might need to know how to report an accident at work if you’re interested in making a compensation claim. However, there are other factors that might impact your ability to claim.

In order to pursue compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained, you must be able to answer “yes” to the following questions:

  • Were you owed a duty of care by your employer?
  • Was the duty of care owed to you breached?
  • Did you suffer an injury or illness as a result?

If you can confidently answer yes to the above questions, you may have grounds for a valid claim. However, it is crucial that you can provide evidence to support your claim. You could use medical reports, CCTV footage or witness accounts to prove your claim. 

Generally, in order to make a personal injury claim for harm caused by negligence, you need to start your claim within three years. However, 

HSE Accident At Work Statistics

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is a public body that governs health and safety in the workplace. In the latest HSE report looking into non-fatal injuries at work in Great Britain reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR), statistics found that 441,000 workers had sustained a non-fatal injury. The report also found:

  • Non-fatal injuries resulting in over 7 days of absence affected 102,000 employees
  • However, non-fatal injuries resulting in up to 7 days of absence affected 339,000 employees
  • Slips, trips or falls were the most common accident kind
  • Handling, lifting or carrying accidents were the second most common

For free no-obligation advice about claiming, speak to our team today. Our advisors may connect you with a solicitor from our panel if they think you have a legitimate claim. 

What Are Workplace Accidents?

Your employer is responsible for protecting you in the workplace and informing you about any health and safety issues that could affect you. This duty of care is set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA) which is a prominent piece of workplace legislation that outlines the reasonable steps employers should take to protect their employees. 

Under this act, employers have a duty to report certain accidents to the HSE. They are also expected to take all reasonably practicable steps to reduce the risk of injury in those who work for them. For example, they can do this by: 

  • Providing appropriate protective equipment
  • Administering relevant training
  • Maintaining good housekeeping

Workplace accidents should be recorded in the accident book, which is a legal requirement for all workplaces with 10 or more employees. Furthermore, certain reportable incidents should be reported to the HSE under RIDDOR.

If your employer acts negligently and ignores their duty of care to you, and you suffer an injury as a result, you might be able to claim. Speak to an advisor for more information, or continue reading our guide on how to report an accident at work.

How Do Work Accidents Happen?

We’ve included some scenarios of how workplace accidents could happen due to negligence:

  • Lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Employers should provide you with PPE if you need it in order to carry out your job. For example, you might work in construction and would therefore require a hard hat to do your job safely. If you are not provided with PPE, or the hat you were given was not suitable, you are at risk of a head injury.
  • Poor maintenance: If a workplace is poorly maintained, employers risk creating potential hazards. For example, you could trip and fall on a wire that was left trailing on a walkway. Risk assessments should be carried out so that employers can remove or reduce risks that are present.
  • Lack of training: The responsibility lies with your employer to provide you with the training necessary to do your role safely. You could be injured if they fail to adequately train you. For example, if you work in a warehouse and aren’t trained on how to lift boxes, you could sustain a manual handling injury.

There are other ways that you could suffer an injury because of your employer’s negligence. Our advisors are available 24/7 and can offer free, no-obligation advice on how to report an accident at work. 

Calculating Compensation For An Accident At Work

The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) outline compensation ranges for different injuries, covering both psychological and physical harm. However, a number of elements determine how you are awarded, such as the severity of your injury and the length of your recovery period.

Using the JCG, we have created an accident at work compensation calculator. Please take note that these compensation brackets aren’t definite and what you might receive could be different to what you see below:

InjuriesCompensation RangeNotes
Severe (i) Back Injuries£91,090 to £160,980Severe pain will persist and your bladder or bowel may be significantly impacted.
Severe (i) Leg Injuries£96,250 to £135,920Injuries that are so severe that they can be compared with amputation.
Severe Arm Injuries£96,160 to £130,930Injuries are extremely serious and fall short of amputation.
Severe (i) Knee Injuries£69,730 to £96,210An arthroplasty or arthrodesis is unavoidable.
Serious Foot Injuries£24,990 to £39,200Prolonged treatment is necessary and pain may be ongoing.
Moderate (i) Injuries to the Pelvis and Hips£26,590 to £39,170The injury is significant but any disability that is permanent does not pose a great risk.
Less Severe Injuries to the Elbow£15,650 to £32,010There is no need for major surgery and any disability is not major.
Moderate Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder£8,180 to £23,150A recovery will have been made and ongoing effects will not be too detrimental to your health.
Serious Shoulder Injuries£12,770 to £19,200There may be a weakness of grip as a result of your shoulder dislocating.
Minor Brain Injury £2,210 to £12,770If there's any brain damage, it will be minimal.

The pain and suffering you have suffered because of a workplace accident are covered in the general damages head of your claim. You might be asked to attend 

On the other hand, special damages account for financial costs incurred because of your injury. Provided you have sufficient evidence, you may claim for present and future expenses. For example, a payslip can show evidence of any loss of earnings you’ve incurred when you have been unable to work.

For a more accurate valuation of your injury, don’t hesitate to contact us. An advisor can provide you with further guidance on how to report an accident at work and let you know how much your claim might be worth.

Benefits Of No Win No Fee

A No Win No Fee agreement is an arrangement between yourself and your personal injury solicitor. It is a way to fund legal representation and is also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. There are benefits of using a No Win No Fee solicitor, including:

  • No solicitor fees upfront or during the claims process
  • You pay your solicitor fees through a legally capped percentage of your compensation, but only if your claim succeeds 
  • If your claim isn’t successful, you don’t pay your lawyer this percentage

If you think you would benefit from using a No Win No Fee agreement to fund the work of a lawyer, speak to our team today. They could connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor if they think you have a valid claim. 

Ask Us How To Report An Accident At Work

Don’t just rely on our guide to find out how to report an accident at work. Our advisors are on hand to answer any queries you may have about the claims process. In just one phone call, you could find out whether you are eligible to claim. You can get in touch by:

  • Calling us on 0113 460 1215.
  • Speaking to an advisor using the live chat feature on your screen
  • Using our contact page to write to us

More Resources – How To Report An Accident At Work

Before we end this guide on how to report an accident at work, here are some additional resources:

Managing risks and risk assessments – What employers should do to protect you from harm.

Taking sick leave – Government guidance on taking time off work. 

Get medical help – NHS information on where to get medical help.

If you have enjoyed this guide, here are some more of our guides you might be interested in:

How to find quality personal injury solicitors – Find personal injury solicitors near you. 

This concludes our guide on how to report an accident at work. We hope to hear from you.

Writer Lewis Judd

Publisher Fern Stringer