Dangerous Machinery At Work – How To Claim For Injuries

By Lewis Hendrix. Last Updated 3rd January 2023. Have you been injured because of dangerous machinery at work? Perhaps someone you know was involved in a fatal accident due to a machinery incident? No matter what has happened, if the incident was not the injured person’s fault, they could be eligible for a payout.

Here at Accident Claims UK, we have years of experience when it comes to dangerous machinery at work injury claims, and we can help you get the maximum money available if you have suffered an injury from dangerous equipment or machinery You can call us on 0800 073 8801. But first, read on to discover more.

Select a section

  1. Causes of dangerous machinery at work accidents
  2. Conveyor belt accident claims
  3. Log splitter injury claims
  4. Claiming for missing or defective safety guards
  5. Do you have a claim for an accident caused due to dangerous machinery?
  6. Can you claim if you were injured due to a machine as a member of the public?
  7. Gathering evidence for your claim
  8. Determining how severe your injuries are
  9. The long lasting consequences of injuries due to dangerous machinery
  10. What damages can I claim for when making a dangerous machinery at work injury claim?
  11. Injuries At Work Compensation
  12. Dangerous machinery at work no win no fee injury claims
  13. Why choose Accident Claims UK To Help With A Dangerous Machinery At Work Claim
  14. Contact our team today about dangerous machinery at work
  15. Useful links relating to dangerous machinery at work

Causes of dangerous machinery at work accidents

There are many different machinery hazards in the working environment, and so there are many ways that defective work equipment incidents can take place. Here are some common machinery hazards examples:

  • Coming into contact with a machine
  • Ejector incidents
  • Impact accidents
  • Entrapment
  • Faulty equipment
  • Dangerous vehicles

Conveyor belt accident claims

If you use conveyor belts in your role at work, you are expected to be given the correct training. Moreover, the equipment should be safe to use. You need to know what to do if the belt malfunctions too. Therefore, organisations that are responsible for workers utilising conveyor belts must:

– Make certain that there is no exposure to dangerous parts. Covers or guards must be used where needed.

– Provide sufficient training to operators.

If this has not occurred and you have been injured, you will be entitled to compensation.

Log splitter injury claims

In 2011, the HSE called the safety of firewood processing machines into question. At the time, a number of log splitters did not comply with regulations that were in place. Your employer could be held accountable if the machines you were using were not up to safety standards and you were then injured. There is generally a three-year time limit on accident claims, but if your employer still uses unsafe machinery, let them know. For free advice on claiming for injuries caused by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment, please get in touch today.

Claiming for missing or defective safety guards

dangerous machinery at work

Dangerous machinery at work

All equipment should undergo extensive testing. However, there are incidents whereby items fail us.

If you have been injured because of a safety guard that was not maintained properly, or because there was no safety guard altogether, you could claim. Employers are expected to do the following:

  • Prioritise training, risk assessment, maintenance, and repairs
  • Make sure that machinery is stopped before workers can get into designated danger zones
  • Guard against the risk of injuries due to debris thrown from the machinery
  • Ensure dangerous components have fixed guards. Dangerous components include the likes of sharp edges and rotating blades

Do you have a claim for an accident caused due to dangerous machinery?

It is your employer’s responsibility to make sure all equipment is well-maintained and safe to use. They should also make sure the staff receive the required training.

As per the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974, employers have a duty to protect your wellbeing. Therefore, they need to make certain that:

  • Machines are used correctly and safely
  • Machines are fit for purpose and safe
  • Safety measures are put in place and enforced
  • Their duties include the following:
  • Supplying the correct protective equipment and clothing
  • Training all staff
  • Carrying out risk assessments
  • Prioritising the completion of essential repairs
  • Performing regular machinery maintenance

If you have been injured by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment, you could claim compensation if the accident wasn’t your fault. That means you could claim for any suffering caused by the accident as well as the financial impact too. This may include care costs, lost income or medical expense.

Can you claim if you were injured due to a machine as a member of the public?

Yes, although these incidents might not be common, you can still claim as a member of the public. An example of this could be if you were injured due to a forklift that spilt its load or was left unguarded.

Gathering evidence for your claim

When it comes to making a claim for personal injury compensation, you need to arm yourself with one of the best accident lawyers to give yourself the best chance of a successful case.

However, there are steps you can take yourself to strengthen your case to give yourself the highest chance of securing the full amount of compensation you deserve. So, let’s take a look at some tips for building a strong case…

  • Contact details– Firstly, you should get the contact details of the person that caused the incident. This includes their name, telephone number and the details of their insurer. Aside from this, if anyone witnessed the incident, you should try and get their contact information as well, as their statement can really help to strengthen your case.
  • Make a note of what happened– When you get a second, it is a good idea to sit down and write what happened in as much detail as possible. You never know what could be important, and this ensures you do not forget anything vital later down the line.
  • Keep proof of expenses– When you make a personal injury claim, you will be able to claim for any out of pocket expenses you have experienced as a direct result of your injuries, including counselling expenses, travel costs, loss of earnings, medical costs and such like. You will need proof if you are to claim for these, so don’t throw away your receipts and any other documents that will back up your case.
  • Report the incident– In some cases, it is vital to report your case. If you have been involved in a workplace accident, you need to inform your employer. This is because all employers are required, by law, to have an accident book, and the incident needs to be recorded in this. This also serves as an official record of what happened to you.
  • Take photographs– You can strengthen your case by taking photographs of your injuries if they are visible. Not only this but if there is any visible damage at the scene, for example, you can see how the machinery was dangerous, then you should take photos of this.

If you’d like us to assess your claim for injuries caused by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment, please contact an advisor today.

Determining how severe your injuries are

The severity of your injuries will be carefully considered if you have suffered in the workplace because of an incident involving a lack of machinery safety. Not only does this relate to your physical injuries, but also any psychological injuries that you have sustained too. If your injuries will take longer to recover than someone else’s, you will naturally receive a larger payout than them.

The long-lasting consequences of injuries due to dangerous machinery

The long-term effect of injuries caused by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment can differ from person-to-person. Some people will make a quick recovery. However, there are a lot of people that will experience the consequences of the incident for the rest of their life. Some people will be able to return to work, others will never be able to work again. This will all be taken into consideration when determining the payout you will receive.

What damages can I claim for when making a dangerous machinery at work injury claim?

You are probably aware of the fact that you could be compensated for your injuries, receiving a payout that could help you through the recovery process. But, did you know that you could claim for special damages as well?

So, what are special damages? This is compensation for any out of pocket expenses you have been subject to as a result of your suffering. You could claim for these so long as you have proof in the form of receipts and any other relevant documents. To give you a better example of what special damages are, let’s take a look at some examples.

  • Medical expenses – Needless to say, if you have been injured, there is a very high chance that you are going to face medical costs in some form. This could be anything from treatment expenses to the cost of your prescriptions.
  • Counselling costs – Unfortunately, the injuries that arise from accidents are not always physical. Some people experience mental anguish, especially when the incident has been particularly dramatic. If you have had to seek counselling to help you through this period, you will be able to claim as a special damage.
  • Loss of earnings – If you have been left unable to work during the recovery phase, you may be covered by sick pay, but this is not the case for everyone, especially those that are self-employed. You will be able to claim for loss of income.
  • Childcare expenses – Have you had to hire a child-minder to look after your children? If so, make sure they provide you with an invoice so you can claim for this.

It is vital to note that when claiming for all of these damages that there’s a personal injury claims time limit. This is a three-year limit, which begins from the date of the accident/injury, so it really is worth claiming sooner rather than later. For free advice on claiming compensation for your financial losses, please get in touch.

Injuries At Work Compensation

If you’ve been injured by dangerous machines due to negligence, you could potentially be eligible to claim injuries at work compensation. When you claim damages following machine accidents, you may do so for the pain, suffering and loss of amenity caused by your injuries (general damages), and potentially also the financial loss or damage caused by your injuries (special damages).

Below are some examples of special damages you might claim for:

  • Loss of earnings caused by taking time off work to recover from your injuries
  • Prescription fees if you require medication to alleviate symptoms of your injuries
  • The cost of adaptations to your home that may be necessary because of your condition I.e. handrails

It’s important that you keep hold of any evidence of special damages, for example:

  • Payslips or invoices
  • Receipts
  • Bank statements

You might be wondering what general damages you could receive following a machine accident at work. To give you an idea, we’ve taken compensation ranges from the 16th edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This is the latest edition of the JCG, published in April 2022. This publication can be used by legal professionals to help value claims, as it features figures based on award settlements from previous court cases.

Edit
Injuries Compensation Amounts Notes
Loss of Both Arms £240,790 to £300,000 The injury may leave you feeling helpless.
Amputation of Both Feet £169,400 to £201,490 Losing a useful ankle joint increases the award within this bracket.
Total or Effective Loss of Both Hands £140,660 to £201,490 Both hands are rendered useless.
Severe Other Arm Injuries £96,160 to £130,930 A serious brachial plexus injury may be involved.
Very Severe Foot Injuries £83,960 to £109,650 There is significant permanent disability.
Severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder £59,860 to £100,670

 

 You are unable to work or function at the same level before your injury.
Very Severe Scarring Facial Disfigurement £29,780 to £97,330 The psychological reaction could be severe.
Serious Damage to Both Hands £55,820 to £84,570 Function would be significantly lost.
Serious Hand Injuries £29,000 to £61,910 The hand is reduced to 50 per cent function.
Amputation of All Toes £36,520 to £56,080 The amputation may be traumatic and affect your mobility.

The figures shown should not be taken as guaranteed, as your final award figure will be based on your own circumstances and would take into consideration both general and special damages. To find out a more accurate value of your claim, speak to our advisors for free legal advice.

No Win No Fee dangerous machinery at work injury claims

You may have heard the term No Win No Fee before, as it is something that has become very popular over the last few years, and by the time you have finished reading this section you will fully understand why. Nevertheless, despite the popularity of this service, there are a lot of people that do not fully understand what No Win No Fee means. In short, it simply means that you will only pay legal fees if your case is a success. If the solicitor in question fails to secure compensation for you, you will not have to pay the legal fees. All of our solicitors work to a No Win No Fee payment structure here at Accident Claims UK.

There are many benefits associated with going down this route, and the most obvious is, of course, the reduction of financial risk. If you do not go for a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor, there is always the chance that you will spend extortionate sums of money on legal fees, only for your case to be unsuccessful, meaning you will be massively out of pocket. This is something you don’t need to worry about when going for a No Win No Fee lawyer.

The nature of this payment structure leads to other benefits as well. For instance, you can expect much better service when going down this route, as the lawyer in question is going to do everything they can do to ensure the case is a success, as they certainly will not want to miss out on the legal fees. Not only this, but you can be sure that the lawyer will only take on your case if they genuinely think there is a chance of it winning – they won’t waste your time.

Why choose Accident Claims UK to help with dangerous machinery at work claims?

We are going to reveal all of the reasons why our accident lawyers will give you the best chance of claiming compensation when contrasted with those working for other companies.

No Win No Fee– There is only one place to begin and this is with the fact that all of our accident lawyers work on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that you will not need to pay any legal fees if your case is not a success. This reduces the risk significantly. If you were to go for the services of a solicitor working for another company, you could end up spending huge sums of money, only to discover that the solicitor has not been successful in securing compensation. This is a risk that a lot of people cannot afford to take, however, you need not worry when using the services of one of our solicitors.

Better quality– You can be assured of a high-quality service when using an Accident Claims UK personal injury lawyer. This is not something we simply expect you to believe. When you consider the fact that our panel’s earnings are performance-related and based on the outcome of your case, you can see that they are going to do all they can to secure compensation for you. Can you be sure that this will happen if you go for someone that has already received their payment and thus the outcome does not matter to them?

Peace of mind– If you are still feeling unsure, all you have to do is take a look at the reviews on our site. You will be able to see what previous customers have had to say about working with our solicitors and we are sure this will put your mind at ease.

If you have any further questions about our team of lawyers, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Contact our team today about dangerous machinery at work

At Accident Claims UK, we are only ever a phone call away if you would like to begin your claim or you are searching for more information about claiming for injuries caused by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment. If you have questions, no matter whether you would like a work equipment risk assessment example or a machine hazards list, just give us a call.

The number you need is 0800 073 8801. This line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are other ways to get in touch too, as you can discover via our contact page. We also have a live chat facility on our website in the bottom left-hand corner or you can request a free call back on our homepage.

What your solicitor will do to help with claims for injuries caused by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment

As we have shown, proving how you were injured by dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment can be a difficult task. Without the right evidence, your employer might deny liability for either the accident, your injuries or both. If that happens, it will be highly unlikely that you will be compensated fairly, if at all.

We believe that the best chance of being compensated for dangerous machinery, plant or work equipment injuries is to employ a specialist personal injury solicitor. That’s where we come in. We have a team of specialists with up to 30-years experience handling claims on behalf of our clients. For each case that they take on they always strive to achieve the maximum level of compensation possible. What’s more, they aim to make the claims process a lot easier for the client.

Throughout the claim, your solicitor will keep you up to date with any progress. They will also answer any queries or explain any technical legal jargon that crops up. If you would like more details about making a dangerous machinery at work claim, please reach out to our specialists today.

Useful links relating to dangerous machinery at work

Below, you can find links to some more of our guides on accident at work claims:

Thank you for reading our guide to dangerous machinery at work.