People sometimes dismiss a fall at work as embarrassing rather than serious. However, the injuries tell a different story. 

Common consequences from a fall at work include:

• Fractures and broken bones, particularly wrists, ankles and hips, because we instinctively put our hands out as we fall
• Sprains, strains and torn ligaments
• Back and spinal injuries, which can be slow to heal and disruptive to daily life
• Head injuries, from concussion through to more serious harm where the head strikes a hard surface
• Soft tissue damage and deep bruising

In the most serious cases a fall causes life-changing harm. Even a moderate injury can mean weeks off work, lost earnings, physiotherapy costs and financial stress. We always consider the emotional toll too. Many clients worry about claiming against their employer, and some are concerned that it will affect their job. Those feelings are normal, but they should not stop you getting what the law says you are owed.

Eligibility comes down to three questions. 

1. Did your employer owe you a duty of care? They did; every employer does.
2. Was that duty breached through negligence, for example an unmarked spill or a walkway left blocked?
3. Did that breach cause your injury? 

If the answer to all three is yes, you can make a claim.

A few reassurances, because these worries come up in almost every first phone call. You can still claim if you were partly at fault. Your award is simply reduced to reflect your share of the blame. Workers who are self-employed, agency staff or on zero-hours contracts can claim in some circumstances, because the duty of care often extends to everyone working on the premises, not just direct employees. And it is unlawful for an employer to dismiss you or treat you unfairly for making a genuine compensation claim. Employers carry insurance for precisely this situation, so in practice the claim is met by an insurer rather than paid from the business's own pocket.

If you are unsure whether your circumstances qualify, ask us. It costs nothing to find out, and we will give you a straight answer either way.

There is no fixed tariff, every claim is individual. The value of a claim depends on the severity of the injury, how long recovery takes and the financial losses that flow from it.

Compensation is made up of two parts. 

1. The injury itself: the pain, suffering and loss of amenity you have experienced. A broken hip that ends with a permanent limp is worth more than a sprained ankle that heals in six weeks.
2. Financial losses: including lost earnings while you were off work, medical and physiotherapy costs, travel to appointments, and care provided by family members.

Your solicitor values the claim once independent medical evidence has been obtained, which is why an early conversation is important. We build the full picture before any figure is put to the insurer, so nothing is left on the table.

Under Scottish limitation rules, you normally have three years to make a claim. The clock usually starts on the date of the accident, or on the date you first connected your injury to it, which matters where symptoms emerged gradually. There are exceptions. For children, the three-year period does not begin until their sixteenth birthday, and different rules apply to people who lack legal capacity.

Three years sounds like plenty of time. In practice, the earlier you act the stronger your case, because CCTV footage gets deleted, hazards get repaired and witnesses' memories fade. Speak to a solicitor as soon as you reasonably can.

What you do in the hours and days after the accident can make a real difference to your claim. If you can, take these steps:

1. Report the accident to your employer and make sure it is recorded in the accident book. If your workplace does not have one, put the details in writing by email.
2. Photograph the hazard before it is cleaned up or repaired, along with the wider area and any absent signage.
   Get the names and contact details of anyone who saw the accident or knew about the hazard.
3. Seek medical attention, even if the injury seems minor. Medical records are important evidence, and some injuries worsen over days.
4. Keep receipts and records of every expense, from prescriptions to taxi fares, and note any shifts or overtime you miss.
5. Serious incidents carry their own reporting duty. Under RIDDOR, an employer must report specified injuries such as fractures, incidents that leave a worker unable to do their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days, work-related deaths and certain dangerous occurrences. That report is the employer's responsibility, not yours, but its existence can support your claim.

Missed some of these steps because you were in pain or in shock? That does not mean that you cannot claim. Thompsons can obtain accident book entries, RIDDOR reports, CCTV footage and maintenance records on your behalf.