Responsibility of the Employer

While a fall from height accident is theoretically possible in any industry, certain industries like construction, building and engineering have a higher occurrence of these sorts of accidents due to the nature of the job. Where possible, employers should provide alternatives to using ladders, such as the use of platforms and scaffolding which can often be more secure.

Employers have a duty of care to protect their employees from suffering harm. The most effective way to ensure the health and safety of employees is to abide by health and safety regulations.

Employers must also ensure that there is the provision of adequate training to staff so that staff are aware of such regulations and know how to effectively implement and abide by safety measures. There should also be regular risk assessments and protective equipment, such as hard hats, should be provided where necessary. If an employer has failed to take these protective measures and an accident has occurred, the employee may be able to make a claim in response.

Types of Falls from Heights Claims

There are many different types of falls that someone could suffer when working from height, such as:

• Lack of protective equipment e.g. harnesses or barriers
• Falling downstairs or steps
• Falling off ladders
• Scaffolding that has not been correctly or safely constructed and secured
• Use of unsafe surfaces like skylights or fragile roofs
• Falls from machinery
• Falls from any unguarded holes or drops

Amount of Compensation

All personal injury cases are unique and so the amount of compensation that is awarded in each case is also unique. Compensation is understood by looking at two specific factors: general damages and special damages.

GENERAL DAMAGES

The pain and suffering that your injuries have caused are main factors that are used to determine how much general damage compensation you are owed. This will usually be determined by undergoing a medical examination, from which a report is created that highlights the length of time the injuries will take to heal as well as their severity. Our compensation calculator will give you an indication of how much general damage compensation you might be entitled to based upon your injuries.

SPECIAL DAMAGES

In addition to receiving compensation for your injuries, you may be able to reclaim any financial losses that you might have suffered as a result of your injuries. Compensation for financial losses is known as special damages compensation. This can include losses such as loss of earnings due to not being able to return to work, the cost of treatment as well as travel to treatment. It is important that you keep any receipts or evidence of additional losses in order for these to be reclaimed.

With the exception of children, there is a three-year time limit on making a personal injury claim. This time limit begins from the date that the accident initially occurred. Therefore, you should contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible to assess your case.

If you have been injured due to a fall from height at work that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. You may be entitled to compensation for a range of compensation claims under accident claims. Our experts will help assess your potential claim going forwards and provide you with proficient advice. Contact First Personal Injury to discuss your potential compensation claim today by ringing 0333 358 2345 or by filling out the online claims form.