Last Updated on April 23, 2026 by tanya

How To Start A Commercial Diver Injury Claim

 

About Our Legal Expert: This content is produced under the oversight of Michael Jefferies, First Personal Injury Director, who brings over 30 years of legal experience.

Written by Tanya Waterworth, Digital Content Writer

 

What Does Compensation Cover For a Commercial Diver Injury?

How to start a commercial injury diver claim is the first step if you’ve been injured while working as a commercial diver. Whether you’ve been inspecting underwater pipelines, welding offshore rigs or salvaging a wreckage, you face daily hazards. So, if you’ve been injured due to poor safety measures, faulty equipment or employer negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

Our team at First Personal Injury work with experienced lawyers who can assess your case and advise if you have a valid claim in a free, initial consultation.

 

Risks of Commercial Diving

Anyone who has worked as a commercial diver, knows they operate in environments that are inherently dangerous. Despite strict safety regulations under the Diving at Work Regulations 1997, accidents still occur. Common causes of diving injuries may include:

 

Faulty or poorly maintained equipment

Inadequate training or supervision

Unsafe decompression procedures

Working excessive hours without proper rest

Poor communication or emergency planning

 

Injuries can range from decompression sickness (“the bends”) and hypothermia to serious trauma or long-term disability. When these injuries stem from a breach of safety rules or employer negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.

 

When Can You Make a Commercial Diver Injury Claim?

You can make a personal injury claim if your injury happened while you were working and someone else was at fault. In most cases this means your employer failed to protect your health and safety.

To succeed, your solicitor will need to show three key elements:

 

Your employer owed you a duty of care. Under the law, all employers have a legal responsibility to provide a safe working environment.

 

They breached that duty. For example, if they failed to maintain your diving equipment or didn’t provide proper decompression schedules.

 

You suffered injury as a direct result of that breach. The injury must be linked to the employer’s negligence or a failure in safety procedures.

 

If all three apply, you likely have a valid claim for compensation.

 

When Is It Employer Negligence?

Employer negligence occurs when an employer fails to meet their legal obligations to protect employees. For commercial divers, negligence may involve any of the following:

1. Lack of Proper Equipment Maintenance

Diving gear such as helmets, air supply systems, and communication equipment must be inspected and maintained regularly. If equipment failure causes your injury, your employer could be held responsible for not ensuring it was safe to use.

 

2. Insufficient Training or Certification

Every diver must be properly qualified and medically fit to dive. Employers must also ensure that supervisors and support staff are competent. Allowing an unqualified person to dive or supervise can amount to negligence.

 

3. Ignoring Health and Safety Protocols

The Diving at Work Regulations 1997 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 outline strict requirements for planning, risk assessment, and emergency procedures. If your employer skips any of these steps, they could be found negligent.

 

4. Pushing Divers Beyond Safe Limits

Divers are often under pressure to meet deadlines, but extending dive times, shortening decompression stops, or ignoring fatigue can have serious health consequences. Employers who put profit before safety may end up facing the law.

 

5. Failure to Provide Medical Support

If your employer fails to provide access to emergency decompression facilities, oxygen treatment, or a standby diver in case of an emergency, that’s a breach of duty.

 

In short, any situation where your employer compromises safety standards to save time or money could lead to a valid negligence claim.

 

How to Start a Commercial Diver Injury Claim

1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Your health comes first. Get medical treatment straight away and make sure your injury is properly documented. Medical records serve as key evidence for your claim.

 

2. Report the Accident

Report the incident to your employer or supervisor and ensure it’s recorded in the accident log. If you’re offshore, this might also need to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

 

3. Gather Evidence

Keep copies of any dive logs, maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, or correspondence that supports your case. If possible, note down what safety measures were – or weren’t – in place.

 

4. Contact a Specialist Solicitor

We partner with lawyers who are experienced in work injury claims and negligence. They can advise whether your employer, a third-party contractor, or an equipment manufacturer may be liable. They also offer No Win, No Fee agreements which means no upfront costs for you. Further, you only pay legal fees if your claim is successful.

 

 

How Is Compensation Calculated?

Compensation for a commercial diver injury typically includes two main parts:

General Damages

This covers the pain, suffering, and loss of amenity caused by your injury. The amount depends on:

 

The severity and type of injury

How long it takes you to recover

Whether you suffer any long-term effects

 

For example:

• Minor decompression sickness might attract a few thousand pounds.
• Serious spinal or brain injuries could result in awards exceeding £100,000.

 Special Damages

These compensate for your financial losses, such as:

 

• Lost earnings (including overtime and bonuses)
• Future loss of income if you can’t return to diving
• Medical and rehabilitation costs
• Travel expenses to hospital or therapy
• Equipment or home adaptations

 

If your injury prevents you from continuing your diving career, you may also claim for loss of future earning potential, which can significantly increase your total compensation.

 

Time Limits for Making a Claim

In most cases, you have three years from the date of the accident – or from when you realised your injury was work-related – to start your claim. However, if the incident occurred offshore or abroad, different rules may apply. It’s best to get legal advice as soon as possible to protect your right to claim.

 

Why Legal Expertise Matters

Commercial diving injury claims are complex. A specialist solicitor will know how to gather technical evidence, interpret diving logs, and navigate the strict HSE regulations that apply to offshore work.

By choosing an experienced diving injury solicitor, you can focus on recovery while they handle the paperwork, negotiations, and legal process on your behalf.

 

Get In Touch Today

Suffering an injury while working as a commercial diver can change your life in an instant. Whether it’s decompression sickness, equipment failure, or unsafe work conditions, you may be entitled to make a claim if negligence played a role.

Act quickly, gather evidence, and get expert legal advice to secure the financial stability you need to recover – we’re here to help you through the whole process and claim the compensation you deserve.

📞 Call us now on 0333 358 2345 📧 Or contact us online and we’ll call you back at a time that suits you for your free, no-obligation consultation.