Checklist: Things to do After an Accident at Work

An accident at work can be hugely unsettling, with long-lasting impacts on your health and also your relationship with your employer.

When dealing with the fall-out of an accident at work that wasn’t your fault, it is important to make sure a number of actions take place which will be of help to you further down the line.

Report accident to colleagues

To ensure it is not just one individual’s opinion against that of the company they work for, inform colleagues of the accident, or ask those who witnessed it to write down their version of events. By being able to depend on more descriptions of the circumstances surrounding the event, it is less likely that your employer will be able to dispute what happened if they should contest matters.

Report to your line manager

You should follow the guidelines of your company in respect of an accident at work. This may well include informing your line manager and seeking advice on what needs to be done in terms of next steps and action points. By informing the relevant individuals, there is little room for ambiguity and uncertainty about the chain of events.

Ensure it’s recorded in the accident book

Every organisation is legally obliged to have an accident book to note accidents and near misses as part of the health and safety at work efforts they must undertake to ensure all employees carry out their work as safely as possible, mitigating the prospect of a workplace accident.

By recording your incident, you are putting down in black and white the circumstances of the accident and relevant details including date, time and location.

Take photos and video as evidence for your claim

If possible, take photos of the accident location to highlight how the incident may have unfolded; potential causes may be identified by the pictures and videos. By adding to your evidence base, it provides a more compelling case should you come up against a particularly reticent employer who is reluctant to admit fault.

Make a diary

Make notes on your condition in the period after the accident. It is often difficult to remember specifics, in terms of dates and ailments, as they can change and become more severe. By keeping a diary of these details, as well as noting any treatment received and who it was delivered by (was it a GP? Physiotherapist? Specialist?), you will create a more holistic view of the impact of the accident which will be good supporting evidence for any claim.

Speak to a dedicated solicitor

If you wish to make a claim for an accident at work, it is best to ring a solicitor who specialises in these claim types. Call the team at Winns and they will be able to support you throughout the claims journey, providing all the necessary support in terms of legal and physical recovery from your accident to help you get back to a sense of normality as quickly as possible.

Why choose Winns?

As a claims specialist, we have decades of experience in successfully claiming compensation for our clients after they’ve had a non-fault accident at work. In addition, as a Solicitors Regulation Authority regulated law firm, we hold the highest legal standards in terms of conduct.

Working on a no win no fee agreement, our clients have no upfront costs to pay and no surprise additional legal fees. Instead, they are told from the very beginning the percentage that will be deducted from their compensation award for our services and that won’t change.

If the claim isn’t successful, providing you have cooperated and been honest throughout, you won’t have a penny to pay.

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