Injured in an accident at work?
You may be owed compensation.
Free, no-obligation case assessment from qualified UK solicitors — on a no win, no fee basis. Plain English, no hard sell, and a straight answer on whether your claim is worth pursuing.
How were you injured at work?
Pick the closest match — we'll refine the details later.
WorkClaim UK helps employees injured in UK workplace accidents understand their right to compensation. Claims are handled on a no win, no fee basis by qualified solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Most claims must start within three years of the accident.
Which workers can claim for an accident at work?
Workplace injuries don't just happen on building sites. We help employees, agency workers and the self-employed across every industry understand whether their accident gives rise to a claim.
What accidents at work can I claim for?
Slip, Trip & Fall
Wet floors, trailing cables, uneven surfaces and other foreseeable hazards.
Manual Handling
Lifting, pushing or carrying loads without proper training or equipment.
Back Injury
Acute and long-term back damage caused by unsafe working conditions.
Fall From Height
Ladders, scaffolds, platforms and roofs without adequate fall protection.
Construction Accident
Site injuries involving plant, machinery, materials or other trades.
Serious & Life-Changing
Spinal, head, amputation and severe burn injuries with long-term needs.
The same law covers far more than the categories above. We also handle farm and agricultural accidents, factory and manufacturing injuries, warehouse and racking accidents, forklift accidents, delivery driver injuries, head injuries, burns, scalds and chemical injuries, repetitive strain and vibration injuries, office accidents, NHS and healthcare worker injuries and assaults at work. Claims in Scotland follow a different procedure, raised in the All-Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court rather than the English county court.
Can I claim compensation for an accident at work?
Yes, if your employer breached its duty of care and that breach caused your injury. You must also bring the claim within the three-year limit under the Limitation Act 1980.
Under section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. In a civil claim you must prove three things in negligence: that the employer owed you a duty of care (every employer does), that it fell below the standard a reasonable employer would meet, and that this caused your injury and a recognised loss.
Breaches of regulations such as the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 are used as evidence of what a reasonable employer should have done. For breaches on or after 1 October 2013 they no longer give a freestanding right to sue, because section 47 of the 1974 Act was amended by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013, so the claim is brought in negligence.
Your employer does not pay personally. By law (Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969) almost every employer must hold at least £5 million of employers' liability insurance, and the insurer meets the claim. If your employer has gone into administration or been dissolved, the insurer can often still be pursued — see our expert answer on insolvent employers.
| Accident type | Main regulation used as the standard | Typical employer failure |
|---|---|---|
| Slip, trip or fall | Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, reg 12 | Spillage left, uneven floor, cable across a walkway |
| Manual handling | Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, reg 4 | No risk assessment, no training, no lifting aids |
| Machinery accident | Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) | Missing guard, no maintenance, no training |
| Fall from height | Work at Height Regulations 2005 | No edge protection, unsafe ladder, no planning |
| Repetitive strain | Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 | No risk assessment of repetitive tasks, no breaks |
Why might I have a claim for an accident at work?
Employer duty of care
UK law places a clear, non-delegable duty on your employer to keep you reasonably safe. When that duty is breached and you're hurt, the law provides a route to compensation.
Evidence matters
Accident book entries, photographs, witness statements and medical records all strengthen a claim. We'll show you exactly what to gather — and what to avoid.
No win, no fee
Most workplace injury claims are funded by a conditional fee agreement. There is nothing to pay upfront, and nothing to pay if your case doesn't succeed.
How does no win, no fee work on a workplace injury claim?
No upfront costs
You pay nothing to start your claim and nothing as it progresses. There are no hidden charges and no commitment until you decide to proceed.
We handle the claim
Your solicitor manages all correspondence with the employer's insurer, gathers evidence, instructs medical experts and negotiates settlement on your behalf.
You keep most of your compensation
If you win, a success fee (capped at 25% of your general damages and past losses) is deducted. If you lose — provided you've kept to the agreement — you pay nothing at all.
How long do I have to make an accident at work claim?
The Limitation Act gives most injured workers three years from the date of the accident — or from the date they first knew their injury was work-related — to start a claim. Evidence and witness memory fade quickly. The earlier you act, the stronger your case.
Read the full time limits guideHow do I start an accident at work claim?
Call 01228 272 395 or use the free checker. A solicitor assesses your case at no cost and tells you whether it can be taken on a no win, no fee basis.
- Report the accident to your employer and make sure it is entered in the accident book.
- Photograph the hazard, your injury and any footwear or equipment involved.
- Take the names and contact details of anyone who saw the accident.
- See a doctor or attend A&E and keep all medical records and receipts.
- Call 01228 272 395 or use the online checker for a free, no-obligation assessment.
- Read the agreement carefully before signing. You keep cancellation rights.
- Your solicitor sends a letter of claim under the Pre-Action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims, obtains a medical report and negotiates with the insurer.
More detail: the claims process, the evidence guide and expert answers to complex questions.
Will I lose my job if I claim?
In almost every case, no. Most UK employers are required by law to hold employer's liability insurance precisely so that injured workers can be compensated without the business itself bearing the cost. Claims are handled by the insurer, not by your line manager.
Dismissing or victimising you for making a genuine claim would expose your employer to a separate — and serious — claim for detriment or unfair dismissal. Many people carry on working for the same employer while their claim is dealt with.
Read more on claiming against your employerAccident at work claim questions, answered.
- How long do I have to make a claim?
- In most cases you have three years from the date of the accident, or three years from the date you first knew your injury was linked to work. Different rules apply for under-18s and certain industrial diseases.
- Will I have to go to court?
- The vast majority of UK accident at work claims settle without ever reaching court. A trial is only used as a last resort if liability or value is genuinely disputed.
- Can I claim if I was partly at fault?
- Yes. Under contributory negligence, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility, but you can still recover damages for the rest.
- Do I need to tell my employer I'm making a claim?
- Your solicitor notifies your employer's insurer by letter of claim, usually through the Claims Portal for claims valued at £1,000 to £25,000 under the Employers' Liability protocol. Your employer is informed because it must notify its insurer, and it cannot lawfully penalise you for claiming.
- Can I claim if I was self-employed or an agency worker?
- Often, yes. Courts look at the reality of the working relationship rather than the label, and agency workers can often claim against the host company, the agency, or both. A self-employed worker may claim against the site occupier or principal contractor.
- What evidence do I need?
- The accident book entry, photographs, witness details and medical records carry the most weight. See the evidence guide for the full list.
- What does no win, no fee actually cost me?
- Nothing upfront. If your claim succeeds, a success fee of up to 25% of your general damages and past losses is deducted. If it fails, you pay nothing — provided you keep to the agreement.
Ready to find out if you have a claim?
Tell us briefly what happened and a qualified solicitor will come back to you as soon as possible.
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- SRA-regulated solicitors
- Prompt reply
Important: The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Whether you have a valid claim depends on the specific facts and evidence in your case. No outcome is guaranteed. Time limits apply — most claims must be started within three years of the accident or date of knowledge. All cases are handled subject to a written conditional fee agreement.