Personal injury advice from
Thompsons Solicitors
Office Accident Claims
If you suffer a personal injury as the result of an office accident, or any other accident at work caused by the negligence of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation. Our lawyers are experts in all areas of personal injury and we can provide you with the specialist advice and assistance you need.
Contact The Legal Line on 0800 0328511, or by completing a claim enquiry form online, for cost-free, confidential accident claim advice.
Office Accidents
Office Safety
Making a Personal Injury Claim
Office Accident Compensation
Our Personal Injury Lawyers
Successful Office Accident Claims
Office Accidents
When compared with some other workplaces, such as building sites and factories, offices are relatively low-risk environments. Accidents can happen however, even serious accidents, particularly if employees are not provided with a safe workplace or safe methods of working.
Some of the main causes of accidents in offices are:
• Faulty equipment – Office injuries can occur if faulty equipment is provided by an employer. This may include chairs, desks, headsets, kitchen appliances, filing cabinets etc.
• Tripping hazards – Wires trailing from electrical equipment, files, boxes and damaged or poorly maintained carpets and floor coverings are all common causes of tripping accidents in offices.
• Slips and falls – Spillages, leaks and wet floors during cleaning can cause slipping accidents, particularly on tiled or marble floors, and care must be taken when using stepladders and step stools to prevent falls. Inadequate lighting on stairwells is also a known cause of falls.
• Manual handling – Training and safe procedures for lifting and manual handling of heavy or awkward objects can prevent injuries. In an office environment this may include boxes of files or computer equipment, for example.
• Carbon monoxide poisoning – If boilers and heaters are not correctly fitted and maintained they can emit harmful levels of carbon monoxide, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Car park hazards – Employers are responsible for ensuring that the workplace, including outdoor areas of their premises, are in a safe condition. Potholes, damaged paving and untreated ice can cause accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles.
• Broken and sharp objects – Damaged or poorly constructed items in an office can cause wounds.
Obviously some office accidents are simply unfortunate mishaps that could not be prevented or predicted. If this is the case then it is unlikely a personal injury claim will be possible. Other office accidents however are caused by the negligence of an employer, or a colleague, and under these circumstances the injured party may be entitled to compensation.
The list above is not exhaustive, so if you have suffered an accident and would like some guidance about whether a compensation claim may be possible, contact us for confidential advice.
Office Safety
There are certain health and safety precautions that can be taken by employers and employees alike to reduce the risk of office accidents as far as possible.
Offices should be kept clean, tidy and free from clutter as a matter of course, with enough space for occupants to work comfortably and safely. In particular, no obstructions should be left in walkways, doorways or exits and cables and wires secured out of the way. Shelves and cabinets should not be overfilled and all items should be safely stored to prevent them from falling and causing injury.
Employers should ensure that risk assessments are carried out for any tasks undertaken and that employees receive any necessary training to allow them to carry out their work safely.
All office facilities provided for employees should be in a safe condition, well lit and well ventilated. A good system of inspection and repair, and a system of reporting any broken, damaged or defective items, will help to keep the office environment safe. Regular portable appliance testing (PAT) should also be carried out.
When cleaning or maintenance work is in progress, signs should be clearly displayed to make staff and visitors aware of any hazard.
Employees themselves also have a duty to exercise care whilst working to avoid causing injury to their colleagues.
If you are involved in an office accident and you believe someone else was to blame, you should obtain legal advice from a specialist solicitor at the earliest opportunity as you may be entitled to make an injury claim.
Making a Personal Injury Claim
It is always advisable to seek prompt legal advice if you have suffered any type of accident at work or work-related illness and believe that you may be entitled to make a claim. In every case, medical evidence will be required. Detailed expert evidence is often also required in industrial disease cases to show that the condition suffered by a claimant was caused by exposure to a particular substance.
In any personal injury claim it is necessary to show that the person you are making a claim against owed you a duty of care, that they breached that duty of care (were negligent), and that the injury you sustained was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of that negligence. Your lawyer will be able to collate all of the information about your case and advise you on the best way in which to proceed.
If an office accident does occur, you should try to record as much information as you can, taking photographs where possible. If applicable, try to ensure that your accident is also recorded in any accident book. Remember to keep details of any medical treatment and receipts for any injury related expenses, as these may be useful in your claim.
Office Accident Compensation
There are two elements to a compensation award. The first, called general damages, is for the pain and suffering you may have gone through and any loss of amenity (e.g. an inability to look after your garden, do DIY or walk the dog). The award for loss of amenity can be for a short period after an office accident or for ever if that is what the medical evidence supports.
The second element, in respect of your losses and expenses, is known as special damages and aims to put you back in a position financially as if your office accident had never occurred. It is important to keep receipts for any expenditure you have related to the accident so that these can be reclaimed.
In serious cases, where a person may no longer be able to continue their employment, this can be taken into account. Costs for care, equipment, transport and housing modifications can also be factored into the calculations. A court can also make a financial award to recognise that an injured worker's prospects on the open labour market may be limited.
Our Personal Injury Lawyers
Our specialist personal injury lawyers recognise the importance of providing an efficient, sympathetic service to our clients and we can provide expert claim advice in respect of accidents in offices and all other types of work related injury or illness.
We have decades of experience in providing the best possible legal services to victims of workplace accidents and can offer you the benefit of this experience on a cost-free basis.
Successful Office Accident Claims
For details of some of the many cases in which we have secured compensation for the innocent victims of avoidable office accidents, visit our personal injury news and client stories sections, or follow the links below:
Office Worker Awarded Damages for Tripping Accident
Injury at Work Caused by Defective Office Equipment
Trip at Work Results in Knee Injury
Employee Suffers Personal Injury Due to Dangerous Workplace
Outbreak of Q Fever Caused by Unsafe Workplace Renovations
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