Workplace accident claims and your rights

There are jobs which have an element of danger about them and there is only a certain amount which can be done to limit this potential danger. In such cases it is the employer’s responsibility to make the employee aware of the dangers they face and make sure they are comfortable with this before exposing them to the risks. Whether a job is clearly dangerous or not though, there are guidelines laid out for employers to make sure a workplace is as safe a place as possible for employees.

Employees in all positions should be aware of what rights they have if they were to be victim of an accident whilst at work and also what they should do if an accident should occur. Whilst at work you should always follow the correct health and safety procedures when carrying out tasks because if you don’t you automatically give up your right to make a claim as the accident will be seen as your own fault.

You are entitled to statutory sick pay should you be injured from a workplace accident and this is usually the best time to arrange for a claim to be made. A claim doesn’t have to be made immediately though so if you previously thought you weren’t entitled to claim but have since found that you were, if your accident occurred within the last three years, you can still make a claim.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to claim for an accident at work as you are suffering through no fault of your own. Your employer should accept your decision and not hold it against you in any way. Once you are able to return to work you should be allowed to if you want to regardless of if your claim has been completed or not. Your employer should not try to stop you from returning to work either.

Upon returning to work after making a claim the treatment you receive should remain the same as it was previously. Employers should not discriminate against you for making a claim and they should not need to as they are insured to cover for such instances. If you do face discrimination as a result of a workplace accident claim, you should seek further legal advice regarding the matter.

Have you had an accident at work? Speak to an expert today.