According to the Health and Safety Executive Labour Force Survey, in 2019/21, 693,000 people suffered injuries in the workplace. Tragically, according to RIDDOR, 142 people lost their lives as a result of workplace accidents in 2020/21.
While shocking, the statistics cannot convey the human cost of workplace accidents – the pain and suffering of the victim and the grief and anxiety of his or her family and friends. Dealing with a workplace accident is a roller-coaster ride, but one that you don’t have to face alone: expert advice - on medical, legal and financial issues - can help you cope with the practical consequences of an accident.
If you or a loved one have been injured at work, our sympathetic injury lawyers can advise on whether you might be entitled to compensation. They will explain the process of making a claim, and advise you of the amount of compensation you may be entitled to. In general, this will depend on the type and severity of the injury you have suffered.
We hear from people who have suffered injuries in a vast range of workplaces and through very different circumstances. We act for workers who have suffered relatively minor injuries in slips and trips through to the most severe injuries, including amputations, catastrophic head and spinal injuries and, sadly, we also act for families whose loved ones have died in fatal work accidents.
What are the most common types of accidents in the workplace?
The HSE lists the different types of incident which cause non-fatal work injuries. In 2017/18 these were as follows (combined figures for 'specified' and 'over 7-day' injuries):
- slips and trips – 21,730
- manual handling injuries – 14.842
- falling object accidents – 7,024
- falls from height – 5,445
- physical assault – 5,055
- contact with moving machinery – 2,507
- strike against fixed or stationary item – 2,400
- struck by moving vehicle – 1,514
- other kinds of accidents including fire, collapses and exposure to harmful substances – 10,545
Workplace Injury Claims
There is no exhaustive list of injuries that can be caused as a result of a workplace accident. It depends on the type of work you were doing, the place you were doing it in and the force with which the accident happened.
Many of the injuries suffered by workers are similar to those suffered by people in general day to day life, including:
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Skin conditions
- Amputations
- Head and brain injury
- Spinal injury
But there are some injuries that are more likely to occur in the workplace. These include:
- Burns and scalds
- Crushing
- Cutting or severing
- Sharps injuries or puncture wounds
- High-pressure fluid injection
- Asphyxiation
- Drowning
- Electrical injuries
Contact Thompsons Today to Make Claim Following a Workplace Injury
If you have been involved in a workplace accident, even if you are unsure whether you would be able to claim compensation, contact our No Win No Fee lawyers today on 0800 0891331. We can investigate matters for you and advise you on your first step towards receiving compensation.
