I hurt myself at work: What should I do next?

Being involved in an accident at your workplace can leave a mark on your life, both physically and psychologically. It can make you unable to work while you recover, or you might not be able to return to the workplace for many months if the injuries are severe. While a workplace can never be 100 % safe, there are some safety guidelines your employers should follow so that all the workers will not get hurt. However, if your employer fails to do so, and you get hurt because of this, you might be able to claim compensation.

Because a workplace injury can put you in a difficult situation, you should know that there is at least something that can make this event more bearable, which is the fact that you can receive some compensation for the harm done. In this article, we will discuss more about your rights at work, and when you can claim compensation after a work injury.

What are my rights after hurting myself at work?

You have rights as an injured employee, whether you hurt yourself at the workplace or developed a work-related medical condition. Here are your rights if you hurt yourself at work:

• The right to seek medical treatment. If you are hurt at work, you must know that you have the right to receive medical treatment, and your employer should not prevent you from doing so under any circumstance. If your employer does that, you must know they act unlawfully. The company where you work might have designated first aid officers who will help you if you suffer an injury at work. Still, you can seek further medical attention from your own GP or a local hospital. Keep in mind that you should seek medical help even if you don't have visible injuries, as you might have internal bleeding, and your condition can worsen if you wait.
• The right to attend medical appointments. Even if you have returned to work after the accident happened, you need to know that you can attend the medical appointments you must take to recover properly. This includes check-ups with consultants and specialists and attending physiotherapy sessions. Your employer can't prevent you from doing this, as they would be in breach of the law if that happened.
• The right to take enough time off to recover. If you are hurt at work, you can take whatever time you need so that you will recover well. Your employer can't pressure you to return too early after being hurt. Furthermore, if you are not "fit for work," you might also pose a danger to other people, as you will not be able to perform your duties as you should.
• The right to request lighter duties. When you return to work, you can request lighter duties. If you work in an environment that requires climbing stairs or carrying and lifting heavy things, your boss should accommodate you by offering lighter duties.
• The right to seek compensation. If you have hurt yourself at work because the employer didn't offer safe working conditions, you have the possibility to claim compensation for the pain, distress and suffering you went through. No employer can prevent you from doing so. You can find more information at https://www.how-to-sue.co.uk.

How can my personal injury claim be valid?

If you hurt yourself at work, you should follow the procedures described by your employer while also gathering evidence to prove that you didn't do something to contribute to the injuries you sustained at work. Remember that the more proof you collect, the stronger your personal injury claim will get. To be valid, an accident at work claim needs to prove that the injuries you suffered happened because of an employer or fellow colleague's negligence.

Also, when you file an accident at work claim, you need to make sure that the accident happened in the last three years, as this is the set time that applies to a personal injury claim. If you wait longer than that, you will not be able to claim compensation anymore.

What are the responsibilities of my employer after I hurt myself at work?

Under the law, employers must provide a safe workplace for their workers. Safety measures need to be set to reduce the risk of dangers and hazards that can happen in a workplace. Your employers could be responsible for your injury if the following data explains why you got hurt.

• They didn't train you sufficiently on how to carry the jobs you were asked to perform in the workplace.
• You weren't trained properly to use specific machinery, equipment or tools.
• You didn't go through an "induction" into the workplace environment, like accident management protocols.
• You didn't receive the safety equipment and industry-standard personal protection to carry out the job securely.
• The employer failed to keep tools, equipment and machinery in an acceptable working condition.
• There were no designated first aid officers, and the workplace was not properly staffed.

How can I prove my employer's negligence if I hurt myself at work?

If you were hurt at work, you need to prove that the accident was caused by an employer's negligence or an error of judgment from one of your colleagues. You must also demonstrate that you didn't contribute to the accident, such as ignoring the safety measures or acting rashly.

Here are good examples of evidence that will prove to be helpful in your personal injury claim:

• A record of the injuries you sustained.
• A medical report that will present the workplace injuries you suffered.
• Witness statements.
• CCTV footage of the accident in which you sustained injuries.
• Photos of your injuries.

How much compensation can I receive?

Regarding accident at work claims, you need to know that each case is treated unique, as personal details must be taken into account. You could receive compensation for "general damages," representing everything that affected you directly. On top of that, you could also receive reimbursement for "special damages," which are the expenses you needed to cope with as a result of the injury you suffered, which might imply the loss of earnings, the costs of therapists and treatments, and any other expenses that happened because of the injury, including medical and travel costs.

We hope the article offers all the details you need to know in case you are or will be the victim of a workplace accident.