Injured At Work? Understand Your Rights And When You Can Claim Compensation

By Ian Morris | Updated November 7th, 2024

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If you’ve been injured at work, you have important legal rights that protect your health, safety, and financial well-being. These include the right to seek medical attention, report your injury, take time off to recover, and make a compensation claim if your employer’s negligence contributed to the accident. Understanding your rights can help you navigate the aftermath of a workplace injury and ensure that you receive the support and compensation you’re entitled to.

Key Takeaways:

Your Rights: You have the right to medical treatment, time off to recover, and compensation if your employer’s negligence caused your injury.
Employer Responsibilities: Employers are legally required to provide a safe working environment and report serious accidents.
Compensation: You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
No Win No Fee: You can pursue a compensation claim without upfront legal costs through a No Win No Fee agreement.

Whether it’s a fall at work, an accident involving machinery, or developing carpal tunnel syndrome, the impact of a workplace injury on your life can be significant. Many workers feel torn between their loyalty to their employer and their need to look after themselves. However, it’s important to understand that UK law protects employees who are injured at work. This guide will help you understand what steps to take after an injury and how to protect your rights.

I Was Injured at Work—What Are My Rights?

In the UK, all employees—whether full-time, part-time, temporary, or self-employed—are protected by law when it comes to workplace safety. If you’re injured at work or develop a work-related illness, you have several key rights:

Your Rights Include:

Medical Attention: You have the right to seek immediate medical treatment for any injuries sustained at work.
Accident Reporting: You can report the incident in your workplace’s accident book. This creates an official record of the event.
Time Off for Recovery: If necessary, you can take time off work to recover from your injuries without fear of losing your job.
Sick Pay: You may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or contractual sick pay while recovering from your injury.
Lighter Duties: If you’re unable to perform your usual job due to your injury, your employer must consider offering lighter duties during recovery.
Compensation Claim: If your injury was caused by employer negligence (such as failure to provide proper training or safety equipment), you have the right to make a no win no fee personal injury claim.

These rights are designed to protect workers and ensure that employers take responsibility for maintaining safe working conditions.

When Can You Make a Work Injury Claim?

Just because you’ve been injured at work doesn’t automatically mean you can claim compensation. To make a successful claim, certain criteria must be met:

Conditions for Making a Claim:

Employer Negligence: Your employer must be at fault for failing in their duty of care (e.g., not providing proper safety equipment or training).
Severity of Injury: Your injury must be significant enough to warrant compensation. Typically, this means suffering for four weeks or more or requiring ongoing medical treatment.
Time Limit: The accident must have occurred within the last three years (with some exceptions for industrial diseases or delayed injuries).

What Injuries Can You Claim For?

Various types of injuries sustained at work can be claim for, including:

Physical injuries like broken bones, burns, or lacerations.
Back injuries after excessive manual handling.
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) from poor ergonomics.
Psychological injuries such as stress or trauma caused by unsafe working conditions.

You may also be able to claim for the worsening of a pre-existing condition or if you were partly responsible for the accident (this is known as contributory negligence). You can also still make a claim if your employer has gone out of business.

What Should I Do After an Injury at Work?

If you’ve been injured at work, there are several steps you should take immediately:

1. Get Medical Treatment

Your health is the top priority. Seek medical attention as soon as possible—even if your injuries seem minor initially. Medical records will also serve as crucial evidence in any compensation claim.

2. Report the Incident

Make sure the accident is recorded in your employer’s accident book. If your employer refuses or don’t have one available, report it in writing via email so there’s an official record. We can help you to do so if you haven’t done this already.

Depending on the type of accident, the employer is legally bound to report it via RIDDOR to the Incident Contact Centre of the HSE. As your employer is responsible for reporting to the HSE, you should always check whether this has been done.

3. Gather Evidence

Collect evidence such as:

Photographs of the scene where the accident occurred.
Witness statements from colleagues who saw what happened.
Copies of medical reports detailing your injuries.

4. Confirm Sick Pay

Not all employees will receive full pay if they can’t work due to injury, and commonly your employer will put you on Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). Ensure that you’re receiving this or any contractual sick pay you’re entitled to while recovering. Remember, if you’ve been injured in a workplace accident that wasn’t your fault, you can claim compensation to supplement your sick pay and cover your losses.

5. Attend Medical Appointments

If you’re still receiving outpatient treatments like physiotherapy or consultant check-ups after returning to work, make sure you’re allowed time off for these appointments.

6. Seek Legal Advice

Contact our personal injury solicitors who specialises in workplace accidents. They will assess whether you have grounds for a compensation claim and guide you through the process.

Claiming No Win No Fee Compensation

If you’ve been injured due to employer negligence, it’s within your legal rights to make a personal injury claim. A successful claim ensures that you’re not left financially burdened by an accident that wasn’t your fault. Compensation can cover:

Medical expenses (including ongoing treatments).
Lost wages due to time off work.
Pain and suffering caused by physical or psychological injuries.

Most personal injury claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis:

No Upfront Costs: You won’t need to pay any legal fees unless your case is successful.
Success Fee: If successful, legal fees will be deducted from the compensation awarded—this fee is agreed upon before starting the case.

This arrangement makes it financially risk-free for workers seeking justice after being injured on the job.

Employer Pressure – Threats Are Against the Law

A common concern among injured workers is how making a claim will affect their relationship with their employer, and their job security. Some employers may try to pressure staff into not making claims by threatening job loss or other consequences.

Know Your Rights:

It is illegal for an employer to fire you simply because you’ve made—or are considering making—a personal injury claim.
If you’re dismissed after making a claim, this could constitute unfair dismissal.
Similarly, if you’re forced out due to pressure from management not to pursue a claim (constructive dismissal), legal action may follow.

If you’re facing threats from your employer regarding a potential claim, seek legal advice immediately.

By understanding these rights and following the appropriate steps after an accident at work, you’ll be better equipped to protect yourself both medically and financially, while ensuring that negligent employers are held accountable for failing in their duty of care.

Clearly, the decision as to whether or not to pursue a claim rests with the injured employee. If the injuries are minor and there are minimal financial losses, it may not be worth claiming. However, where the injuries are more serious and an inability to work follows, exercising your legal right to make a claim for compensation is the only option for most people.

It’s usually really quick for us to find out if you have a valid claim, call us on 01225 430285, or .

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Comments & Questions

Read on for questions and advice about claiming, plus work injury claim examples...

Hi,

I work in Tescos warehouse and I was hit by my employee with a machine truck. It caused a dent in my leg. When I reported the incident the first aiders decided to put an ice pack on my leg then take pictures of my leg half hour later when the swelling had gone down. However I have the pictures of the initial injury. They decided to send me home since I wasn’t able to work anymore for that day. Tesco’s have said I will only be paid for hours I worked that day so I won’t be receiving the full payment? Could I claim on that? Also I wasn’t able to work the next day as the swelling continued. Furthermore I’ve addressed the payment issue with my manager but he’s chosen to ignore that and thought was appropriate to ask me if i can come to work the next day knowing full well what happened the day before.

Your only route to recovering the lost income would be by making a claim for personal injury compensation. In this matter, the initial description of the incident would lead us to think that you have a valid claim that should be pursued. If you would like to take this further, please use the ‘start a claim’ page of our website to get in touch.

Hello, my husband got injured at work. He’s working in a factory with lots of chemicals and last night one of the substance splashed in his left eye even though he was wearing all the protective equipment. He only had 2 months at this job so he’s a new person. The thing is he’s been sent to hospital because his eye was red and itchy, so he gets treatment for few days and the doctor recommended 2 days off from work, it is everything written down on the sick note. However, after two hours when he saw the doctor he came back to work and his manager was waiting for him outside of the building and he didn’t even left him inside by saying this is your last day at this job because he splashed that chemical in his eye, and apparently his job is not up to standard, but he is new as well as other people there. I don’t think this is the right way to act as a manager and he made him to feel so sad and useless as we had a baby and he lost his job because of their negligence. Can you please advise me what to do please! Thank you!

Under UK law, as long as your Husband was properly trained and provided with all appropriate personal protective equipment, he would have no claim for compensation for the chemical burn to his eye.

The other issue you mention with regards to termination of employment would need to be addressed to a Employment Law specialist.

Thank you, I thought he will be able to get some compensation because is not his fault and even though he was wearing everything correctly it could probably be an issue with the personal protective clothing? Still a bit confused.

If you would like to discuss this matter in more detail with us, please use the contact us option on our website. One of our team will then call you to discuss the situation in detail.

Hi I injured my tendon in my wrist while working for a company through an agency, I received a course in workplace safety manual handling, however this is a national course anyone can take and not specific to the company. I received no induction day I don’t know where fire exist/assembly points are if they even exist. I was giving no training for the actual job wich just required manualy handling up to 50kg all day. I was never told where the first aiders or accident book was or how to use it. When I got injured it was recorded in the book by my supervisor but not singed by me as I couldn’t use my hand. Further more this is an agency so since I can’t lift with my right hand I have been told I am no longer required. I was giving ppe however when I stated that the boots were a bit loose I was told thats how they are supposed to be (I now know they are supposed to be tightly fitted and the ankle shouldn’t rise 1 inch). I didn’t want to make a claim but I won’t be getting paid for the days I have had off so far and I am no longer required by the company although I am through qn agency and pretty sure they can sack you whenever without a reason required. Please let me know what is available to me what rights I have and how to make claims.

As a temporary agency worker, you have the same legal right to make a claim for accident at work compensation as any full-time contracted employee.

With regards to the description you have provided, I think you should make a claim against the employer (not the agency, but the employer) as there would appear to be breaches of health and safety protocol and employer negligence.

I have repetitive strain injury from lifting appliances by myself. All the boxes said team lift. I had to take time off to heal but it wasnt enough. They wouldnt hire qualified help and wouldnt give me light duty. To make matters worse I was forced to use pto days when I was trying to recover.

Under UK Health and Safety at Work laws, an employer must not place an employee at undue risk of injury. If your employer was refusing to minimise the risks of injury to you and giving you no option other than to lift heavy items alone, they are in breach of safe working regulations and you would have a strong prospect of succeeding with a claim for compensation against them.

I have been working in a company for about 7 years. Approximately two months ago I was injured at work and suffered a broken my leg. I have been on sick leave for more than two months and I am still not fully fit.

My company paid me only 15 days of my full salary and 30 days at 50% of my basic salary, but the other days that I have been off work for, they will not pay. Can I get any kind of helpful information? Can I claim accident at work compensation for this?

Whether or not you can claim accident at work compensation will depend on the cause of your injuries and whether employer negligence played a part in the incident.

Can I ask my company for their finding of my accident and the witness reports as well?

You can ask the employer for a copy of the accident and witness reports, but you may find that they will not provide them. They are not obliged to release them to you. However, if you pursue a claim for compensation it will be possible for your Solicitor to obtain release of the accident and witness reports.

I was injured at work and took a claim out against them as felt they were negligent, then ended up getting made redundant. Can they keep my redundancy money back from me cause I made a claim against them?

Under UK law, redundancy and personal injury compensation are separate matters and employers must follow the correct due process in both cases. If you have been made redundant, whatever redundancy package that you are entitled to must be provided. The employer cannot withhold any because you have exercised a legal right to claim compensation.

I’ve almost severed my finger and had it sewn back on and there may be long term damage. My employer is pressuring me not to claim telling me that everyone will lose their job and the factory will close down, what shall i do?

Your employer should not be placing any pressure on you not to make a claim for compensation. Regardless of their concerns, you have a permanent injury that will affect your dexterity and ability to perform many tasks – this could affect you for the rest of your life and possibly limit your earning capability. Severe finger lacerations are serious and you need to consider the impact on your long term future ahead of any other matter. Your claim would be made against your employers insurance and should not cause the business to close or jobs to be lost. It is important to note that compensation claims for severe injuries to the finger can lead to high value compensation settlements. This is because of the importance of the fingers when it comes to grip strength, dexterity, close control skills and fine movements.

Remember, you only have a limited time in which you can pursue a claim for compensation and whilst you may feel sympathy for your employer, your own rights and needs must come first.

I would very much like to speak with you about your accident in order to be able to advise you as to whether or not the cause of your injury is something that would enable you to make a claim against the employer. It is important that you know where you stand legally before you consider the employer. If they have been negligent with regards to health and safety and caused this injury to you, you really should pursue your legal right and make a claim for compensation.

In March 2017 I injured my back at work. We were getting a heavy roll of carpet in through a living room window as it was too big to bring through the front door. As the company I work for doesn’t have the necessary straps for the manual handling of such rolls we did the best we could. The roll slipped and I took the full weight, side on and ruptured my L5/S1 disc. I immediately called my employer and let him know. After an MRI scan and several consultations I received treatment (nerve block and epidural injection) for my prolapsed disc. I went back to work and fast forward to August this year, the disc above did the same. Back to the Gp’s, another MRI and I’m taking Tramadol and Gabapentin painkillers and still in a lot of pain all the time, I’ve told my employer that I can no longer lay flooring as the constant heavy lifting and bending over will cause further injury but am happy to work off the tools as a manager/foreman. He says he can’t find me another role other than fitting and continually asks if I’ll go out fitting. He’s said he’ll have to let me go but hasn’t indicated when that’ll be and also said he’ll cut my wages until I do go. There is no HR department other than him. I’ve worked for him for 17 years and I’m being told to wait at home and he’ll be in touch and I’ve waited over a week recently for a call. I’m being frozen out. I’m still waiting for my P60 from April and haven’t had a payslip in 2 years. There is no accident book or H&S literature in the office. It seems to me he’s breaking law after law here but I’m no expert. After a consultant appointment today I told my employer that the injury would not get better but only worse and that I would have to manage my back for the rest of my life. My employer immediately asked if I would fit an entrance mat as if he hadn’t heard what I’d just told him. I’m extremely worried and don’t know what to do or who to turn to.

Given your situation and the severity and permanency of the injuries you have suffered to your back as a result of employer negligence (lack of correct training, lifting equipment, support and accident book), you should immediately pursue a claim against this employer.

There is a risk that he may not have the correct insurance cover in place, but that should not stop you pursuing your claim and it would not stop our Solicitors investigating this for you and possibly pursuing him as personally liable if the relevant cover were not in place. You must remember that your ability to work and earn income for the remainder of your working life is now in jeopardy given this employers negligence, so making a claim with us on a No Win No Fee basis is not only something you can do without having to risk your own finances, but it is morally right and if successful would enable you to obtain compensation and loss of income.

Our article on slipped disc compensation will give you more info and an idea of settlement values.

I have been a contract cleaner for eleven years and have suffered several repetitive strain injuries in the past and have told my employer this. Due to the nature of the job we were expected to carry around heavy buckets with water in them, carry Hoovers up and down stairs and carry around heavy rubbish bags. On several occasion I asked for equipment to help make the job easier but was laughed at. This happened with my previous employer as I have been TUPED over in the last few months. Unfortunately I have now got a muscular shoulder injury and some time away from work without any sick pay, and cannot see me returning to the job in the foreseeable future. I have already told my new employer that the work load is getting too heavy and feel that I am being blamed for my injury. Can you help me as I feel very upset by the lack of help from my new employer. They are a contract cleaning company.

To be able to help you, we need to know why the employer is liable for your injuries? What training have you had? What equipment does your employer provide to you to minimise the risk of injury? Our article on repetitive strain injury claims may also be of help to you.

I was recently diagnosed with tendonitis in both arms and placed on modified work which didn’t happen. Then my doctor pulled me from work for a month hoping rest would help, but it did not. So I am back to work on modified hours and work as my arms are extremely painful. I originally did not claim wsib. Since being back my boss is making me feel uncomfortable – a lack of communication with him. What do I do?

In the UK, if a Doctor has written advice to an employer, they are obliged to follow that in the first instance and must not cause further worsening of the injury knowingly. Commonly, employees suffering with an ongoing injury, such as tendonitis, would see an Occupational Health expert who could assess their working environment and tasks before making recommendations as to how the employer could support the employee to continue to work, but with some modifications to the working area or role.

Hi I closed a work door on my finger and squashed it was also fractured I had to leave work two hours early to go to the hospital my work didn’t pay me for the 2 hours I missed of work if it’s an accident at work should they not pay me?

Regardless of who is at fault for an accident at work, there is no legal requirement for an employer to pay an employee if they are unable to work as a result of that accident. The only financial obligation towards an employee an employer faces after an accident at work is to provide Statutory Sickness Pay (SSP). Only in cases where an employee has paid sickness absence rights contained within their own contract of employment can they expect to be paid during any absence from work.

In your case, if the injury to your finger rests with the negligence of the employer and not due to your own mistake, you could seek to pursue a claim for compensation against the employers insurance cover. If successful, not only would you receive compensation for the fractured finger but you could also recover any lost income – even if it were only 2 hours pay.

I work in warehouse and approximately 3 months ago I had a injury to my thumb. At the time was packing bags of coffee which fall into a rotating table. While reaching for a bag my thumb was pulled in between the guard and the rotating table. I had to yank my thumb out and since then have had problems using my thumb. I continued to work for the rest of the week continually informing my employer that the pain not going away but only felt worse. Eventually I informed them I couldn’t take any more and went of sick. I have seen doctors a number of times, had an x-ray and an ultrasound. Use of my thumb is limited at this stage and some of the simplest of tasks are a challenge. This is mainly down to the pain associated with trying to use my thumb, more frustrating is the fact that I have not had a pain free day since the incident. Although this is my left thumb and I am right handed, until now I had no realisation as to how often I make use of my weaker hand. I am now awaiting an appointment with MICAS at the end of the month.
To date my employer has continued to pay me, now I have been called in to attend a long-term absentee meeting. My stress levels have increased as the concern over if the injury will heal, as well as concern over losing my job or even the possibility of reduced wages.

I would like to know what my rights are in a case like this. Thank you.

Your rights in this matter fall in to two strict categories – personal injury compensation and employment law.

We specialise in personal injury law and can advise you in full as to whether or not you can make a claim and if so, what you can seek to recover. Our article on thumb injury claims might be of interest to you.

The employment law issue would requires specialist advice – either from a Union or an employment law expert.

We would like to speak further with you regarding the accident and your work with this employer. We’re particularly interested in what training and guidance the employer has provided re the use of the machinery.

Our initial view is that you have a valid claim that should be pursued, but it is only by speaking with you on the phone that we can advise you properly.

I work in a factory with heavy machinery, whilst using a piece of machinery my hand got caught and I ended up with a fractured wrist I logged this in the accident book and the machine was found to be at fault and fixed within 24 hours…..do I have grounds for a claim?

There are certainly very good grounds to make a claim for compensation in the circumstances. The fact that a fault was found with the machine AFTER you were injured could indicate that the machine was not correctly serviced or maintained. As such, you would likely succeed should you pursue a claim for compensation.

Can my employer who I am making a claim against for injury stop me from attending court to give evidence?

If you are required to attend a hearing, no employer can refuse you the right to attend. It may be that they request that you use unpaid leave or your annual leave allowance to attend, but they cannot prevent you from seeking justice.

My friend is claiming and is with an agency but was told he was going to get a contract. But prior to that he had an accident and ended up in A+E for well over 6 hours. As he was unsure on how long he was going to be at that facility he decided to claim as many co-employees had suggested. Now he is feeling a lot of pressure from one manager in particular. He has not only said it would be in his best interest that the claim didn’t go forward but has given him one night to write a statement for the company’s insurance. He is at a loss.

Your friend’s manager is acting illegally if they are trying to coerce the claimant in to dropping their claim. Your friend has a legal right to make a claim for compensation if the cause of his injuries was down to employer negligence or through no fault of his own.

Your friend should immediately report this Manager to the senior management team of the employer and also to the agency that have placed him with this firm.

What are the rights to claim for an injury that occurred while the woman is pregnant?

The right to claim compensation apply under UK law whenever injury is caused by negligence or a failure to fulfil statutory duties. Therefore, in this case whether or not there is a valid claim will depend on the nature of the injury that has been sustained and how the injury was caused.

I had an accident at work. The supervisor put it in writing that it was their fault. I actually saw the paperwork. When I requested a copy of the report I only received a partial report. Is there any way that I can get the entire report by my lawyer executing it?

The employer doesn’t have to provide you with a full copy, but if you have a Solicitor acting in this matter they can request a copy and should receive one.

I had an accident at work 2 years ago this month, resulted In me being off for 2 weeks as I did not get sick pay from my work as I had only been employed by the company for 9 months.. This ended up with me having an operation and now a lifelong injury. I had to return back to work the first time with crutches and still had to walk about and do work supporting.

What was the cause of your accident? If you could explain what happened, we’ll be able to advise you as to whether or not you can claim compensation and recover the lost income you incurred.

I was required to perform repetitive tasks at work for over a month. I told my boss about pain I was feeling, but ultimately was still directed to keep working there (for what ended up being several more weeks). I now have seen my doctor and may be injured, and only now have been taken off those tasks.

Any advice on this? I tried venting my frustrations with my boss (why wasn’t this handled better, more rotation etc), it didn’t go well…

If your Doctor diagnoses your injuries as being caused by a repetitive strain at your place of work, you should seek to pursue a claim against your employer. The employer does have an obligation to listen to any ‘complaints’ or warnings of injury by employees and take appropriate action to minimise any risks to health. In this case, it seems that the employer has failed to do so.