This article offers information about how construction accident solicitors could help you. Were you involved in an accident at work that was the result of negligence? If so, you could be owed compensation.
As well as this, in the sections below we discuss how compensation claims are calculated and how a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor could assist you with your claim today.
Construction accident solicitors guide
Please get in touch if you would like a no-obligation assessment of the value of your claim. It’s free and there’s no obligation to proceed unless you’re happy to. You can:
- Use the link at the top of the page
- Email or write to us using our online form
- Use our ‘live support’ option below to see how workplace accident solicitors could help you
Select A Section:
- What Is A Construction Accident?
- Establishing The Criteria For A Personal Injury Claim
- When Could I Use Construction Accident Solicitors?
- What Evidence Could Construction Accident Solicitors Gather For My Claim?
- Determining Compensation Amounts For An Injury At Work Claim
- Finding No Win No Fee Construction Accident Solicitors
What Is A Construction Accident?
Any type of injury acquired on a building site or industrial setting is something that may constitute a construction site injury. This could include slips trips and falls as well as accidents with moving objects like machinery or dangerous substances.
In order for you to claim, you need to prove that your injuries were caused by negligence. This means that your employer needs to have breached the duty of care they owed you, leading to injury.
Employers have a duty of care to reasonably safeguard employees from potential and avoidable harm as described in the Health and Safety At Work etc Act 1974. If your employer could have prevented the accident by upholding the duty of care that they owed you, speak to our advisors; you could be eligible to claim.
Construction Accident Statistics
Key statistics indicate that during the period 2020 to March 2021 in the construction industry there were:
- 39 fatal injuries, 50% of which were falls from a height
- 61,000 non-fatal injuries to workers each year (these are the average figures over the three-year period
2018 and 2021 according to the Labour Force Survey)
Employers reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 that 19% of non-fatal injuries resulted from a fall from a height. 26% related to slips and trips.
These figures have come from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
For more information on how construction accident solicitors could help you, speak with a member of our team today.
Establishing The Criteria For A Personal Injury Claim
Making a personal injury claim for a construction site accident requires evidence. It should demonstrate how an employer or site operator failed to correctly apply health and safety standards on the site and you were injured as a consequence. The three main criteria to establish are:
- Who actually had a duty of care
- How it was breached
- Whether you suffered direct injuries as a result.
Also, there is a three-year time limit to making a personal injury claim. This period can start from either the date of the accident or the date you became aware that negligence led to your injuries.
In some cases, however, this time limit can vary. Speak with one of our advisors for more information and to be connected with one of the construction accident solicitors from our panel.
When Could I Use Construction Accident Solicitors?
Accidents on a construction site could occur if your employer doesn’t take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure your safety. You could work with a construction accident solicitor to help you gather the relevant evidence to prove that negligence led to your injuries and you were injured as a result.
In order to claim compensation following a construction accident caused by negligence, you must have been injured. If you were involved in an accident because of a breach of duty of care but you didn’t sustain any injuries, you would not be able to claim.
Examples of Construction Accidents
Below, we’ve included some examples of how construction accidents can occur:
- Slips, trips and falls. These could occur on the same level, or from a height, and could be caused by a wide range of factors. For example, you could slip if a spill was not signposted or cleaned up within an appropriate timescale.
- Accidents with machinery. If machinery malfunctions and your employer knew (or should have known) that the fault was present, you may be able to claim if you’re injured.
- Lack of training. Some duties on construction sites might require training. For example, you might need training to use a piece of equipment or for Making a personal injury claim.
The exact circumstances of your accident on a construction site may be different; however, if it happened because of a breach of duty of care, you could still claim. Speak to our team for free legal advice; they could connect you with one of the construction accident solicitors from our panel to work on your claim.
What Evidence Could Construction Accident Solicitors Gather For My Claim?
Strong evidence is a vital part of a construction personal injury claim. So with this in mind, it can be helpful to assemble as much of the following as you can to support a claim of negligent workplace practices as the cause of your injury:
- Witness contact details so that a statement can be taken
- A copy of the accident report
- CCTV footage
- Photographic evidence of your injuries
An independent medical assessment is a vital way of proving how much your injuries have affected you and that they are consistent with your accident. This can be arranged as part of your claim.
The specialist will then provide a detailed report of your injuries and prognosis. This impartial assessment can go a long way to supporting your claim and can help assess how much your claim could be worth. Speak to our team to learn more; you could be connected with one of the construction accident solicitors from our panel.
Determining Compensation Amounts For An Injury At Work Claim
When you make a compensation claim, the settlement you receive might be made up of two different “heads” of claim. General damages focus on the physical injuries and compare yours with those listed in a publication called the Judicial College Guidelines. This contains guideline compensation brackets based on previous awards.
The table below gives an example:
| Injury type | severity level | Judicial College Guidelines bracket award | supporting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Very severe (a) | £264,650 to £379,100 | Complete reliance on 24 hour care |
| Neck | Severe (a) (i) | In the region of £139,210 | Severe pain and incomplete paralysis |
| Back | Severe (a) (i) | £85,470 to £151,070 | Spinal cord damage, severe pain and partial paralysis |
| Shoulder | Severe (a) | £18,020 to £45,070 | Brachial plexus nerve damage causing significant disability |
| Pelvis | Severe (a) (i) | £73,580 to £122,860 | Pain to an intolerable degree and need for spinal fusion |
| Leg | Severe (b) (ii) | £51,460 to £85,600 | Risk of deformity and arthritis with the need for mobility aids for life |
| Knee | Severe (a) (i) | £65,440 to £90,290 | Considerable pain and need for lengthy treatment |
| Foot | Serious (e) | £23,460 to £36,790 | Traumatic arthritis and risk of fusion surgery |
| Hand | Total/effective loss of one hand (c) | £90,250 to £102,890 | Where crush injuries require surgical amputation or the hand is damaged to a point where it is little more than useless |
| Psychological harm | Severe (a) | £51,460 to £108,620 | Issues in all areas of life, poor prognosis for recovery |
It’s important to note that these are guideline amounts; you are not guaranteed to receive this amount of compensation.
How do Construction Accident Solicitors Calculate Special Damages?
Special damages focus on the monetary costs and losses you’ve incurred because of your injury.
To prove these losses, you could provide proof such as:
- Bills and receipts
- Bank statements
- Medical bills
- Wage slips that show loss of earnings
It may also be possible to calculate predicted loss of earnings and future medical expenses. As you can only make one claim, it’s important that you include all the relevant costs in your claim.
Construction accident solicitors may be able to help you gather evidence for your claim. Speak with an advisor for more information.
Could I Add A Care Claim?
If you have required care because of your injuries, you could claim the cost of this back. This applies whether you’ve received professional care or gracious care from loved ones.
For more information on the special damages that you could receive as part of your claim, speak with a member of our team today. They could connect you with one of the construction accident solicitors from our panel provided that you have a valid case.
Finding No Win No Fee Construction Accident Solicitors
Construction accident solicitors can offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that they could start work on your claim today at no upfront cost.
Under a No Win No Fee agreement, you don’t have to pay anything in the event that your claim is unsuccessful. If it is a success, then your solicitor will deduct a legally capped success fee from your compensation.
Find out more by:
- Contacting us on the link at the top of this page
- Writing to us using our contact form
- Or access immediate help using the ‘live support’ link to the bottom-right on this screen
More Resources About Construction Accident Claims
To learn more about the process of making a personal injury claim, please use the resources below:
- Safety advice and topics from the HSE
- Essential health and safety advice for contractors
- Further construction law guidance
We also have a bunch of guides on accident at work claims which you can read below:
- Accident At Work Claims – Everything You Need To Know
- Factory Accident Claims Explained
- Fatal Accident Claims Guide
- How To Claim For An Accident At Work
- Building Site Accident Compensation Claims
- Eye Injuries At Work – How To Claim Compensation
- Compensation Awards For Brain Damage After Work Accidents
- Making A Workplace Accident Claim
- Claiming Compensation For Hand Injuries At Work
- Can I Make A Fall From A Height Claim?
- What Is A Collarbone Break At Work Worth In Compensation?
- Struck By A Moving Object At Work – Can I Claim?
- How To Get Compensation For A Head Injury At Work
- What To Do If You Suffer An Injury In A Workplace Accident
- Can I Claim For A Work Accident That Left Me Unable To Work?
- How To Make A Manual Handling Injury Claim
- Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents – How To Claim Compensation
- I’m Unable To Walk After An Accident At Work, How Do I Claim?
- I Had An Accident At Work, How Long Do I Have To Claim?
- I Had An Accident At Work, What Are My Rights?
- I Had An Accident At Work, What Do I Need to Do?
- I Had An Accident At Work, Can My Employer Sack Me?
- How Can You Prevent An Accident At The Workplace
- How To Report An Accident At Work
- Can I Claim For An Accident At Work?
- Employee Personal Injury Claims Guide
- Am I Eligible To Make A Work Injury Claim?
- Forklift Accident At Work – How To Make A Claim
- I Had A Knee Injury At Work, Can I Claim Compensation?
- Get Compensation For A Finger Injury At Work
- Making No Win No Fee Accident At Work Claims
For more guidance on working with construction accident solicitors, speak with a member of our team today.
Written by Wat
Publisher Sto