Scaffolding accident claims
It's easy to think of accidents as an occupational hazard when your job involves working high up on temporary structures, but this simply isn't true. You deserve the security of knowing that you're safe while you work and the fact remains: many scaffolding accidents are avoidable.
The national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK (NASC) reported in 2016 that scaffolding incidents were decreasing.
Although working on scaffolding may have dangers, your employer is responsible for making your working environment as safe as possible. The very reason scaffolding exists is to ensure workmen can make repairs or modifications to a building safely, and with relative ease.
If your accident happened while you were employed to work on scaffolding, or in a construction environment, then we may be able to help you. Contact us for free on and find out if you have a compensation claim today.
We've helped thousands of people just like you start a no win no fee claim for an accident at work. Here's what a few of those people had to say about us.
Paul Scott had to visit A&E after his accident
I won around £2,500 which helped with my loss of earnings, but the most important thing to me was making sure the company improved their procedures
Scaffolding accidents outside the workplace
Not all accidents involving scaffolding happen to people who are at work. Sometimes innocent bystanders, residents or pedestrians can be affected by falling debris, collapsing structures and all manner of mishaps.
If you've suffered an injury as a member of the public because of a scaffolding accident, then you may be able to claim compensation from the company responsible for the scaffolding.
Of course, being injured by faulty scaffolding or because equipment has been used irresponsibly is an upsetting experience that can impact not just on your physical health but also impact your state of mind. Using our 25 years' experience we can help you make a no win no fee claim for the compensation that will help you on your road to recovery.
Contact us today on to tell us about your experience. We'll advise you where we can, and let you know if we think you're eligible for compensation.
Can you claim if you didn't fall?
There are plenty of misconceptions around scaffolding accidents, and whether you have to fall from a height or not. The answer is, if your accident was the result of somebody else's negligence, then you can claim compensation, regardless of how far you fell.
In fact, the NASC reported that, in 2015, slips, trips and falls were the most common injury type for scaffolding workers and site operatives.
If your employer has failed to keep your working environment safe, or has demanded you work in unsuitable weather conditions, such as rain, snow or high winds, and this has led to your injury, then we may be able to help you claim.
Contact us today on to discuss your accident. You're under no obligation to claim, but we can chat about your experience, and give as much advice as we can.
Types of scaffolding accidents
If you've experienced any of the types of scaffolding accidents listed below, then it's likely your employer has failed to keep you or the public safe. However, as accidents are often complicated, we recommend giving us a call for free on to find out whether you could make a claim.
Scaffolding collapse
Collapses can lead to some of the most serious injuries for those working on or around the structure, and even to nearby members of the public.
There are a number of reasons that scaffolding can collapse, but each of the below is avoidable:
- Failure to erect or attach scaffolding correctly
- The overloading of weight on scaffolding structures
- Defective scaffolding equipment, such as standards, ledgers, transforms or planking
Falling from height
Falls from a height may not be the most common injury type for scaffolding workers or site operatives, but they still make up a significant proportion of accidents, and can have tragic consequences.
Falls when working on scaffolding are often the result of poor fall protection, such as missing hand rails, faulty transport to the top of the building and and overlooked safety measures.
Whatever the cause of your fall, if it was not your fault, and you've suffered an injury as a result, then we can help you get back on your feet.
Slips, trips or falls on scaffolding
Slips, trips and falls were the most common injury in 2015 for scaffolding workers.
The risk of losing your footing increases hugely if the following factors are present:
- Poor weather conditions that you are forced or pressured into working through
- Raised, uneven or badly laid flooring
- Scaffolding or construction materials left in walkways and thoroughfares
Naturally, falling in such an unforgiving environment can result in serious injuries, such as broken bones, and sometimes they can even lead to other types of scaffolding accidents, like falling off scaffolding onto the ground below.
If you've suffered a slip or trip while working on scaffolding under any of the above conditions, we can help.
Your employer is responsible for making all aspects of your working environment as safe as possible, and should be held accountable for their negligence.
Lack of safety training and equipment
Your employer is responsible for making sure you are correctly trained to do your job in a safe way. Of course, there are some careers where this is more important than others, and construction is high on that list.
The Government requires your employer to ensure that no person engages in any work activity at height unless they are competent to do so, under The Work at Height Regulations 2005 Act.
Sadly there are some employers out there who don't value the importance of training, and either only cover the bare bones, or sometimes skip over it altogether - instantly increasing the risk of accidents across the entire workforce.
If the training you've received for working on scaffolding has been poor, insufficient or non-existent, and you've suffered an accident as a result, then you may be able to claim compensation.
Your compensation could help with the financial impact your injury may have had on your life, contributing to a speedier recovery or covering the expenses of daily life while you're unable to work.
Your employer is also responsible for making sure you have the correct safety equipment to do your job, also known as personal protective equipment (PPE). Asking people to work without a helmet, a harness or other PPE is a clear disregard of health and safety measures in construction and any resulting injuries should be compensated.
If your employer has failed to provide the right safety equipment or training for your role, and you've suffered an injury, then you may be able to claim.
Recovering from your scaffolding injury
When you claim with us, you'll be invited for a free medical assessment with one of our registered doctors.
These are helpful for both of us. They give you the opportunity to find out how your injury has affected you, and how long your recovery will be. From our perspective, a doctor's analysis of your injuries can help your solicitor make a success of your claim.
We also work with expert physiotherapists. If we think you'd benefit from seeing one, we'll put you in touch for free to help you get fit and healthy again. The costs will be covered as part of your claim, as we believe you shouldn't be paying a penny towards your own recovery, especially when it's not your fault.
Will my claim affect my employer?
One of the biggest causes for anxiety when thinking about claiming compensation from an employer is that it will impact them, or your career, negatively.
By law your employer is required to have insurance. This insurance covers them financially when accidents happen in their workplace. This means there is no direct financial impact on your employer, as their insurance company covers the costs of any claim. The money won't be coming directly from their pocket, so you don't have to worry about negatively impacting the business.
In most cases, claiming can have a really positive impact on your employer's working environment. Highlighting a workplace hazard by making a claim can inspire an employer to change ill-advised working practices or implement new safety procedures to make their workplace safer for other employees. In effect, you could be preventing countless future accidents by helping to spark change.
You can find out more about making a claim against your employer here, including who pays for your compensation and how this will affect your job.
Looking for more personal injury advice?
The world of personal injury claims can feel large and confusing, which is why we offer a friendly, free telephone service staffed by legally trained advisors. You can call us for advice about your accident, and for guidance on how to make a compensation claim.
During your call with us, we'll ask you about your experience, injuries and pain. Be ready to give us as many details as you have, but don't worry if you don't have exact dates, we may be able to process your claim regardless.
If we think you have a claim during your call with us, we'll let you know. At that point, we'll ask you if you're happy to speak to one of our specialist solicitor firms, who have experience working with claims just like yours. You're welcome to say no, as there's no obligation to speak to a solicitor.
Our calls are confidential, so anything you tell us will be kept safe and not passed on to anybody without your permission. If you're ready to get advice, or start your claim, you can contact us on .
Or enter your details into one of our forms. We'll aim to call you back within 30 minutes during regular opening hours.