Industrial accident compensation claims

What is meant by an ‘industrial accident'?

Some jobs carry more risk than others. This is especially true of careers in construction, warehouse management and factories. If you were injured at work because of an employer's negligence, you may be entitled to industrial accident compensation. 

Industrial injuries can include industrial deafness, chemical injuries, asbestos, vibration white finger and carbon monoxide poisoning. We understand that these types of injuries can have a lasting effect on your health and ability to work. In the worst cases, some workplace accidents even lead to fatality.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports on accidents that have taken place in workplaces across the UK. According to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) in 2023/24, 604,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury. This led to a loss of 4.1 million working days. Some of the most frequent injuries reported were:

• Slips, trips or falls (31%)
• Handling, lifting or carrying (17%)
• Being struck by a moving object (10%)

With industrial jobs requiring significant manual labour, workers in these roles are more susceptible to work accidents. The physical demands of the job, combined with the use of heavy machinery and tools, increases the likelihood of injury in these environments.

For example, accidents in the construction industry are frequent. The LFS reports that 47,000 construction workers sustained non-fatal injuries averaged over the period 2021/22 to 2023/24. Meanwhile, there were 51 fatal injuries to workers in the construction industry in that period.

Musculoskeletal disorders are a risk in industrial workplaces, largely due to repetitive actions such as lifting and bending, and the physical strain of manually carrying heavy loads. These tasks put continuous pressure on the muscles, joints and tendons, increasing the risk of injury.

Why make an industrial accident claim?

Making an industrial accident claim can help with your recovery and cover financial expenses caused by your injury. Your claim could result in a safer working environment for both you and your colleagues, as it may highlight issues that weren't previously apparent or acted on.

If you're unsure whether you can make a claim, speak to us on . We'll answer any questions you may have, but will never pressure you into starting a claim - that's your decision.

Who is responsible for protecting workers against industrial accidents at work?

While we are all responsible for keeping ourselves safe from injuries at work, sometimes this is out of our control. Exposure to an industrial accident at work may be increased because of negligence in the workplace that wasn't your fault. 

By law, businesses have a responsibility to make sure you're kept as safe as possible at work and to report serious incidents under RIDDOR − Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

This means it is the employer's responsibility to ensure measures are in place and safety guidelines are practised, maintained and constantly reviewed. 

If you have suffered an industrial accident at work because your employer failed in their responsibility or was negligent, they could be liable to pay industrial accident compensation.

Do I have to leave my job if I make an industrial accident claim?

Understandably, many people think that bringing an industrial accident claim against an employer will mean they can't work for them anymore. This is untrue. 

There are strict laws in place to make sure that if you make a claim against your employer for an accident at work, you cannot be treated differently or dismissed for doing so. 

You may be worried that claiming against your employer may put their business at risk due to court costs. However, businesses must be covered by Employers' Liability insurance, so it's likely the company you work for has a safeguard for this situation.

How much industrial accident compensation will I receive?

Because no two cases are the same, we can't tell you exactly how much you could receive before starting your claim. But to get a guideline figure, you can try our free compensation calculator.

No sum of money can take away what you've been through, but we can help to make sure you and your family aren't left out of pocket because of your industrial accident. 

As a result of your injury, you may have been forced to take time off work. We understand that this puts you under financial pressure, which isn't fair while you're recovering - getting back on your feet can be hard enough as it is.

Our panel of specialist industrial accident solicitors and legal teams will consider all the expenses of your injury when making your claim. They'll also consider the impact it has had on your social life, hobbies and family.

For free support and advice on whether you have an industrial accident at work claim, get in touch with us on  or online via our live chat. We won't pressure you into moving forward if you don't want to.

How do I make an industrial accident claim?

We know you've been through a traumatic and potentially life-altering experience, which is why we aim to make the industrial injury compensation claims process as simple and stress-free as possible. All you need to do is call us on  or fill in our online claim form.

We'll discuss what happened at your own pace and let you know if you could make a claim. Then, if you decide to proceed or not, it's your decision - no pressure.

Is there an industrial accident claim time limit?

Yes, there is a claim time limit for industrial accidents. Typically, claims are required to have either been settled within three years or for court proceedings to have been started. In other words, the sooner you start the claim process, the better. 

However, there are exceptions to this rule.

• Mental capacity:There are no time restrictions for claims made on behalf of someone who is unable to manage their own case due to a lack of mental capacity, this is assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, if the claimant recovers their capacity at any point after the incident, even temporarily, the usual three-year timeframe will start from that date.
• Fatal claims: If you are making a claim on behalf of someone who was fatally injured, you have a three-year window to settle a claim or start court proceedings. This starts from either the date of their death or the date it was determined that an accident or illness caused it.
• Claims on behalf of children: As their parent or guardian, you can claim at any point before a child's 18th birthday. However, once they turn 18, they have until the age of 21 to either settle their claim or start claim

Can I make a no win no fee industrial injury and accident claim?

The majority of our industrial accident compensation claims are made on a no win no fee basis.

If you go down this route, a no-upfront-cost insurance policy will be taken out when you begin your claim. It's there to protect you from costs and expenses during your compensation claim - these might include court fees, legal expenses and medical reports.

If your claim isn't successful and you've followed all the terms and conditions of your agreement, you won't face any legal fees or expenses. A successful case will result in a fixed percentage of your compensation amount being paid to your legal team as a fee. Rest assured, all fees will be agreed upon before you start the claims process.

Why choose National Accident Helpline for your industrial accident claim?

If you've been injured at work due to no fault of your own and your employer has been negligent, there are standards in place that hold them accountable. Although industrial accident compensation can't reverse what's happened, it can help you move forward. Here's why you can rely on us:

• We've provided an understanding and professional service for over years_since years.
• We're authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, meaning we meet the professional standards you'd expect.
• Every solicitor in our nationwide panel is registered with The Law Society in England and Wales or the Law Society of Scotland.
• You can browse through thousands of positive reviews which have contributed to our 'Excellent' rating on Trustpilot.