If you suffer a personal injury because of another person’s negligence, you can file a lawsuit for financial compensation. However, you will need to prove that the other entity or person is responsible for your injuries. The process of filing such claim after a road accident is clear to many people. How do you determine if you have a valid claim after a work accident? Here’s how to determine if you are eligible for such a claim.
When to make the Claim
Your employer is responsible for your safety in the workplace. Their responsibility includes installing safety measures, training employees on how to handle all equipment, eliminating hazards and ensuring that all machines are in good condition. Hence, you can make a claim if you sustain an injury while using a poorly maintained equipment.
If you slip or fall, get an injury from a falling object or are exposed to toxic substances, you may have a valid claim. You can also make a claim for improper training, employee negligence, industrial injuries, and ignoring safety standards among other reasons. You have three years from the time of the injury or from the time you realise the injury resulted from a workplace accident to make a claim. The same time limit applies to fatalities after a work accident.
Compensation
The first major step to filing a work accident claim is to hire a licensed personal injury solicitor. The competence of the solicitor influences the outcome of your case. A good injury lawyer will advise you every step of the court process and ensure that you get the highest compensation possible.
The compensation will depend on the severity of the injury and the time you took off work because of the injury. Inform your injury lawyer of any other persons affected by the injury. For instance, the injury could have affected your family income and that of your caregiver. Part of the information you get from experienced law firms is an estimate of the compensation for different types of injuries.
Injuries that may qualify for a claim
We have indicated some of the factors at your workplace that could lead to an injury. Some of the common injuries at work include head, spinal, spinal cord, and brain injuries. You can also suffer a burn, amputations, or fatal injuries. You can make a claim for a loss of sight after exposure to toxic substances or any other reason.
If you have any of these injuries from work, you need to talk to a good lawyer immediately. Sometimes it takes a while for the injuries to show. For instance, it may take weeks or months for you to realise that your loss of sight or spinal injuries resulted from an incident at work. If you hire a reputable firm like Roper James, who are specifically experienced with workplace injury niches, the lawyer in charge of your case will make a strong work accident claim.
Conclusion
If you are unsure about a work accident claim, talk to a competent lawyer. Your suspicion could be right. Your employer should adhere to safety and health regulations like those outlined on Healthy Working Lives to ensure that each employee is safe at work. Do not wait too long to make a claim because as we have indicated above, the law has a time limit on when you can make a claim.
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