
If you have been injured at work and it was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Marley Solicitors has handled accident at work claims for over 20 years, acting for employees, agency staff, contractors and the self-employed across the UK on a no win, no fee basis.
You normally have three years from the date of your accident to bring a work injury claim. There is no cost to find out where you stand – we will tell you honestly whether we think your claim is likely to succeed before you commit to anything.
![]() | Reviewed by Lesley Anne Delaney, Principal Solicitor and Director, Marley Solicitors Lesley was admitted as a solicitor in March 2008 and has practised in personal injury litigation for over 18 years. She is a Director and Owner of Marley Solicitors Ltd, and serves as the firm’s Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) and Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration (COFA). SRA ID 422379 | Verify on the Law Society register | Marley Solicitors Ltd is authorised and regulated by the SRA (No. 648368) | Last reviewed: October 2026 |
Am I eligible to make an accident at work claim?
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, every UK employer has a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. In practice that means providing adequate training, safe equipment, correct protective equipment and a safe working environment.
If your employer fell short of those duties and you were injured as a result, you are likely to have a valid claim. You will generally be eligible if:
- the accident happened within the last three years
- your employer’s negligence caused or contributed to your injury
- you suffered an injury or illness as a result
You can still claim if you were partly responsible. This is known as contributory negligence – your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of the responsibility, but the claim itself remains valid where your employer also failed in their duties.
What types of workplace injury can you claim for?
We handle work injury claims arising from:
- Slips, trips and falls in the workplace
- Manual handling and lifting injuries
- Falls from height
- Injuries from falling objects
- Repetitive strain injury
- Vehicle collisions at work, including forklift incidents
- Injuries caused by faulty or poorly maintained machinery
- Burns and scalds
- Exposure to toxic substances or fumes
- Industrial deafness from prolonged noise exposure
- Work-related stress, anxiety and depression
Where an injury is life-changing, our serious injury team handles the claim alongside rehabilitation and interim payments.
How common are accidents at work in the UK?
Workplace injury is far from rare. According to the Health and Safety Executive’s most recent annual statistics, covering 2024/25:
- An estimated 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury at work (self-reported, Labour Force Survey)
- 59,219 non-fatal injuries to employees were formally reported by employers under RIDDOR
- An estimated 1.9 million workers suffered from work-related ill health
- 964,000 reported stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work
- 40.1 million working days were lost to work-related injury and ill health
- 124 workers were killed at work
The most common causes of non-fatal injury were slips, trips and falls on the same level (30%), handling, lifting or carrying (17%), being struck by a moving object (10%), acts of violence (10%) and falls from height (8%).
The gap between the 680,000 self-reported injuries and the 59,219 reported by employers is worth noting. RIDDOR only requires employers to report deaths, specified injuries, injuries causing more than seven days’ incapacity and certain dangerous occurrences – so the smaller figure is expected. But it also means a great many workplace injuries never appear in any official record, which is why getting your accident into the accident book matters.
What to do if you have been injured at work
- Report the accident. Tell your manager or supervisor straight away. If you are unable to, ask a colleague to report it on your behalf.
- Make sure it goes in the accident book. Every workplace with ten or more employees must keep one. Make sure the entry is accurate before you sign it, and keep a copy.
- Seek medical attention. Even if the injury seems minor. Symptoms can develop later, and medical records are the strongest evidence in any claim.
- Gather evidence while it is fresh. Photographs of the scene and your injuries, names of witnesses, and any correspondence with your employer.
- Check whether it is reportable to the HSE. Under RIDDOR 2013, employers must report deaths, specified injuries, injuries causing more than seven days’ incapacity, and certain dangerous occurrences. If yours falls into one of these categories there should be an official HSE record, which can be valuable evidence.
- Speak to a solicitor. The earlier we are involved, the easier evidence is to preserve.
How much compensation can you claim for an accident at work?
Compensation is made up of two parts.
General damages cover the injury itself – the pain, suffering and loss of amenity it has caused. These are assessed against the Judicial College Guidelines, which set out brackets by injury type and severity.
Special damages cover your financial losses, including:
- Loss of earnings, including future loss and pension impact
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
- Care provided by professionals or by family and friends
- Travel to medical appointments
- Damaged personal belongings
- Home adaptations or specialist equipment
- Treatment for psychological injury
In our experience, most workplace injury claims we settle fall between £1,500 and £25,000, with more serious injury cases exceeding that range. Every case turns on its own facts, and the figure for any individual claim depends on the severity of the injury, the length of recovery and the financial losses involved.
How long does an accident at work claim take?
Straightforward claims where the employer admits liability early can settle in a matter of months. More complex cases – serious injuries, disputed liability, or injuries where the long-term prognosis is not yet clear – take longer, because settling before the full effect of an injury is known risks under-settling.
Time limits for work injury claims
In most cases you have three years from the date of the accident, or from the date you first became aware that your injury was work-related. There are exceptions:
- Claimants under 18 – the three years run from their 18th birthday
- Those without mental capacity – no time limit applies while they lack capacity
- Industrial disease – time runs from the date of knowledge, which may be years after exposure
- Fatal accidents – three years from the date of death, or from the post-mortem findings
Evidence is easier to preserve early, so it is worth getting advice well before the deadline approaches.
No win, no fee explained
We handle accident at work claims under a conditional fee agreement. If your claim does not succeed, you pay us nothing. If it succeeds, a success fee is deducted from your compensation, capped at a percentage of your damages. We set out the cap and what it means for you in writing before you sign.
Can my employer dismiss me for making a claim?
No. Your employer will be informed of the claim, but under the Employment Rights Act 1996 you are protected against unfair dismissal and against being treated detrimentally for asserting your statutory rights. If an employer did retaliate, that would give rise to a separate employment claim.
In practice, claims are met by the employer’s liability insurer rather than by the employer directly – every UK employer is required to hold employers’ liability insurance for this purpose.
How we handle your claim
- Initial conversation. Free, no obligation. We tell you whether we think the claim will succeed.
- Gathering evidence. Accident book entry, witness details, HSE records, medical notes.
- Independent medical assessment. Arranged by us, at no cost to you.
- Negotiation with the insurer. Most claims settle without court proceedings.
- Court, only if necessary. If liability is disputed, we will represent you.
Client testimonial – Accident at work claim
“In 2024 I suffered a nasty head laceration at work that wasn’t my fault but was hesitant about making a claim. Being put off by the big name corporate injury lawyers you see on tv and their flashy advertising I searched for an independent option in my area and found Marley Solicitors. The initial phone consultation I had with Yasmin Ishrat was great, she was professional but extremely friendly and understanding of my case, all my hesitations were put to rest during the call and I knew that making an injury claim was the right choice.
The rest of the process was stress free, Yasmin kept me updated and always responded immediately to any queries, I barely had to do anything at all.
My claim took just over 4 months and I received £1500 which I’m happy with. My first and hopefully last time having to make an injury claim, but I would definitely recommend Marley Solicitors to anyone and confidently use their services again if needed. Many thanks to everyone there who helped.”
– Julian
Accident at work claim FAQs
Can I still claim compensation if I contributed to the accident?
The short answer is, yes. This is called contributory negligence. In cases such as these, the compensation amount may be reduced based on the extent of your responsibility, but, you can still receive compensation for the employer’s failure to meet safety standards or provide the appropriate training you should have had. A solicitor will assess your case and help determine your eligibility.
Can I claim if I have already left the job?
Yes. Your right to claim is not tied to still being employed there. What matters is that the accident happened while you were working for them, that their negligence played a part, and that you are still within the three-year time limit.
Leaving can make practical steps slightly harder – you may no longer have easy access to the accident book entry, internal reports or colleagues who witnessed what happened. We can request those records on your behalf, so it is worth speaking to us even if you left some time ago.
It makes no difference whether you resigned, were made redundant, or were dismissed. If you believe you were dismissed because you intended to claim, tell us, as that may give rise to a separate employment claim.
Can I claim if the accident was caused by a colleague?
Yes, and the claim is not made against your colleague personally. Under the principle of vicarious liability, an employer is legally responsible for the acts of their employees carried out in the course of their employment. So if a co-worker’s mistake caused your injury, the claim is brought against your employer and met by their insurer.
This is one of the most common worries we hear, and it is worth being clear about: your colleague will not be asked to pay your compensation and will not be personally sued. They may be asked to give a factual account of what happened, in the same way any witness would.
There is a separate question of whether the employer’s own systems contributed – inadequate training, unrealistic workloads or poor supervision often sit behind what looks at first like simple human error.
Can agency workers make an accident at work claim?
Yes. Agency and temporary workers are protected by the same health and safety law as permanent staff, and the fact that you were placed by an agency does not reduce anyone’s duty of care towards you.
Responsibility can sit with the agency, with the business where you were working, or with both. In practice, the host business controls the site, the equipment and the day-to-day work, so it usually carries the main duty for your physical safety – while the agency has duties around checking the placement is suitable and that you have been given the right information.
Working out who is liable is our job, not yours. Tell us who placed you and where you were working, and we will identify the correct party and their insurer.
What if my employer has gone out of business?
You may well still be able to claim. Every UK employer is legally required to hold employers’ liability insurance, and it is the insurer, not the business itself, that pays compensation. If the policy was in place at the time of your accident, the claim can usually still proceed even if the company has since closed.
If the company has been formally dissolved, it can be restored to the Companies House register so that a claim can be brought against it. Where you do not know who the insurer was, the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office keeps a searchable database of policies that can help identify the right one.
These claims take more groundwork than a straightforward case, so the sooner you get advice the better.
Will I have to pay tax on my compensation?
Personal injury compensation is not normally treated as taxable income in the UK, so a straightforward settlement for your injury and financial losses is generally received in full.
There are situations where tax can become relevant – for example, income or interest later generated by investing a large settlement. The other point worth raising early is that a lump sum can affect entitlement to means-tested benefits; where that is a concern, a personal injury trust can sometimes be used to protect it.
We will flag anything relevant to your circumstances as your claim progresses and recommend independent financial advice where it is needed. We are solicitors rather than tax or financial advisers, so for anything beyond the general position we will point you to the right specialist.
What is the time limit for making a workplace injury claim?
In most cases you will have three years from the date of the injury or from when you first realised the injury was related to work. In certain situations, such as cases of occupational diseases or illnesses, the time limit can be extended. It’s recommended to begin the process as early as possible to make sure you don’t miss the deadline, our solicitors are happy to help at every step.
Do I need to go to court to make a claim?
Not necessarily, most of the claims that we deal with can be settled without the need for any court intervention. If your employer accepts liability for your workplace injury, the matter is often resolved through a negotiation. However, if your case goes to court, we will support you every step of the way and will be happy to represent you in court if required.
Will my employer find out if I make a claim?
Yes, your employer will always be informed about the claim you are making. However, they cannot legally punish or discriminate against you for doing so. Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, employees are protected against unfair dismissal and detriment for asserting their statutory rights, which includes making a workplace injury claim. Retaliating against you for claiming would be unlawful, and you would have grounds for a separate employment claim on top of your personal injury case. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible and ensure your job security is fully protected throughout.
Can I make a claim if I’m self-employed or on a zero-hours contract?
Yes, you are still able to make a claim if you’re self-employed or on a zero-hours contract. Even though you may not have the same employment rights as full-time workers, you can still claim compensation if your injury was caused by negligence on the part of the employer or a third party. Marley Solicitors can help you understand your rights and options based on your specific work status.
Can I claim for stress or mental health issues caused by my job?
Yes, you are absolutely able to claim compensation for mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, or depression if your job has contributed to any of these conditions.
When you are looking to claim for mental health issues, you will require solid evidence, this includes medical records or proof that your employer failed to provide adequate support or a safe working environment. Our solicitors are happy to help you gather the necessary documentation to support your claim.
What kind of evidence will I need to support my claim?
The more evidence you are able to provide, the stronger your claim will be. Useful evidence includes medical records, accident book entries, photographs of the accident site or injury, witness statements, and any correspondence with your employer. If you don’t have all the evidence that you need, don’t worry, we can help you to gather everything needed to make sure you can build a solid case.
How much will making a claim cost me?
At Marley Solicitors, we operate on a no win, no fee basis, this means that there are no upfront costs to you. Should your claim be unsuccessful, you won’t owe us anything. If your work injury claim is successful, a percentage of the compensation you receive will cover our fees, but this will always be discussed with you in advance, so there will never be any surprises.
Use our online personal injury claim calculator
Although a personal injury calculator can be extremely useful, be aware that it won’t be as precise as an evaluation by a professional solicitor. We are able to provide accurate accident at work pay-out calculation for free and will work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Speak to an accident at work solicitor
Tell us what happened and we will tell you where you stand. Initial advice is free and there is no obligation to proceed. Call us on 01772 282600 or send us your details and we will call you back.
Sources
Health and Safety Executive, Workplace health and safety statistics 2024/25 (published 20 November 2025)
Health and Safety Executive, Non-fatal injuries at work in Great Britain
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
Employment Rights Act 1996
Judicial College, Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases
Page reviewed by Lesley Anne Delaney, Principal Solicitor and Director, Marley Solicitors – October 2026. Next review: when HSE publishes updated statistics.



