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Accident At Work Solicitors — Scotland
Employers in Scotland are legally required to provide a safe working environment and comply with health and safety regulations to ensure the safety of their employees. When they fail to meet this duty, it can cause serious workplace injuries, entitling you to make an accident at work compensation claim. At Watermans, our accident at work solicitors can guide you through this process step by step, so you always know where you stand.
Keeping You Fully Informed
"Watermans were ultimate professionals throughout the entire process. Cassandra worked on my case and was a pleasure to work with, she kept me fully informed and was completely honest throughout to manage expectations. Can’t thank the team enough!"
Z Higgins, Personal Injury Claim
The Short of It
If the accident at work wasn't your fault,
you may be able to pursue compensation without financial strain.
Workplace accidents can leave you with life-changing injuries,
and you may experience loss of earnings and rising medical costs.
Our work accident lawyers manage the legal process,
including evidence and insurer contact.
Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need
and providing straightforward specialist legal advice. It should be that simple.
The Long of It
Accidents at Work
Accidents at Work Claims
Every employee has a right to safe working conditions. This includes:
- A safe work environment,
- Adequate training and proper equipment
- Proper supervision from a health and safety executive
When employers neglect these basic conditions, it could cause several accidents at work. Workplace accidents can have devastating effects, from significant disability to brain injury.
Under Scots Law, you do not need to prove that your employer intended harm. Personal injury claims may arise where reasonable care was not taken to protect you at work. This is commonly referred to as the employer’s negligence.
Causes & Types of Work Accidents
Leading Causes of Accidents at Work
There are various causes for an accident at work. Here are some of the most common examples our accident at work solicitors have encountered:
- Dangerous working environments or unsafe working conditions
- Lack of sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Inadequate risk assessments or proper training
- Unsafe manual handling procedures
- Slips, trips and falls caused by spillages or obstructions
- Poorly enforced health and safety procedures
- Manufacturing faults and defective equipment that have not been serviced or replaced
- Inadequate planning around known risks and failure to follow dangerous occurrences regulations
Different Types of Workplace Accidents
We’ve listed the most common types of workplace injuries, including some you may not realise could qualify for compensation claims.
- Crush injuries: Often caused by faulty machinery or heavy equipment accidents
- Leg and knee injuries: Common in construction, warehousing or jobs with heavy lifting
- Brain or head injuries: Resulting from falls, falling objects, or faulty equipment
- Arm, wrist and hand injuries: Including fractures, lacerations and repetitive strain injuries
- Shoulder injuries: From lifting, carrying or repetitive overhead tasks
- Broken and fractured bones: Caused by slips, trips, falls or machinery accidents
- Industrial diseases: Such as cancer, asbestos-related illnesses, chemical poisoning and more
- Repetitive strain injuries: From repetitive tasks like typing, assembly line work, or manual labour
- Burns: From exposure to chemicals, hot equipment, or fire hazards.
- Muscle damage and soft tissue injuries: From overexertion or unsafe manual handling
- Loss of sight or hearing: Caused by inadequate protection from noise, debris or chemicals
Each injury sustained is assessed individually, using independent medical records to understand both short- and long-term impact.
Making a Claim
How Do I Make a Claim With Work Accident Solicitors?
It can be challenging to know where to start with claiming compensation for work accidents. If there is proof of negligence or signs of faulty work equipment, our accident at work lawyers will assist you in claiming against your employer to help protect your financial future.
Here’s how the process works:
- Free initial consultations: We’ll listen to your story, assess the circumstances, and give you clear advice on whether you have a valid claim.
- Gathering evidence: Our team collects medical reports, witness statements and any supporting evidence. We may also consult independent medical experts to assess the full impact of your injury.
- Building your case: We calculate the compensation you’re entitled to, considering the pain and suffering, lost earnings, rehabilitation costs and long-term care needs.
- Negotiation with insurers: Most claims are settled through negotiation. We deal directly with the at-fault party and their insurers to secure the best possible outcome. If a settlement cannot be reached, we’re prepared to take your case to court.
- Settlement and support: Once your claim is resolved, we ensure you receive your compensation quickly. Where possible, we’ll also arrange interim payments to cover urgent medical or financial needs during the process.
Even if you are a trade union member, you are not expected to contact witnesses, challenge your employer, or manage insurers yourself. That is our role as your legal support.
Contact us to speak directly with accident at work solicitors who handle everything for you, from evidence to insurers, with clear advice and no unnecessary complexity.
How Much Compensation?
How Much Compensation Can I Claim For An Accident At Work?
There is no fixed compensation amount. Each compensation will depend on:
- The nature and severity of the accident,
- The medical evidence provided
- Recovery time and long-term impact
- The effect on earnings and daily life
For example, the compensation award for a minor hand fracture would be much lower than it would be for a serious brain injury claim or a spinal cord injury.
You may claim compensation for a variety of things, including:
- Medical expenses: Covers private rehabilitation, hospital treatment and ongoing therapy.
- Loss of earnings: Recovery of past earnings and compensation for reduced future earning capacity.
- Home and lifestyle adaptations: Including ramps, stairlifts or accessible vehicles if required.
- Pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life: Reflecting the physical and emotional toll of your accident.
- Fatal accident claims: If a loved one has died in a workplace accident, family members can claim.
- Specialist care and support: Funding for carers or long-term assistance.
If you were receiving statutory sick pay, this does not prevent a claim. Loss of earnings can still be considered as part of work compensation.
Why Watermans?
Why Should I Choose Watermans to Pursue My Work Accident Claim?
At Watermans, we make legal services a breeze, so people can move forward in life. With offices in Dundee, Edinburgh, Dunfermline and Glasgow, we take the hassle from you and fight each case to secure the maximum level of compensation.
Our expert team is committed to making the claim process as straightforward as possible, with experience across specialist accident claims in the workplace.
Dedicated Personal Injury Solicitors In Scotland
We provide access to a range of additional services, such as physiotherapy and psychological treatment, to ensure you recover from your injury.
Alongside work accidents, our expertise in personal injury covers a wide range of areas, including:
- Public liability claims: Injuries in public areas caused by the property owner’s negligence.
- Road traffic accident claims: Collisions due to someone else’s negligence.
- Fatal and serious injury claims: Serious or life-threatening injury caused by someone else.
- Historical abuse cases: Includes elder and institutional abuse cases, leading to claims being made as a result of succumbing to injuries.
We represent thousands of personal injury cases throughout Scotland each year, securing millions of pounds in compensation for our clients. Our personal injury lawyers work on a no-win, no-fee basis, often referred to as a win-no-fee accident arrangement, so there’s no financial risk if your claim is unsuccessful.
FAQs About Workplace Accident Claims Solicitors
You can still claim against your employer, even if you were partly at fault for the accident.
In cases of contributory negligence, the liability is shared among all responsible parties. In this case, the amount you receive in workplace accident compensation will be adjusted according to the proportional blame on your part. For example, if you are found to be 40% responsible for causing the accident, the amount you may claim may be reduced accordingly.
To make a compensation claim, you must raise a court action within three years from the date that the accident happened. We recommend starting your claim as soon as possible.
Are there exceptions to the time limit for serious injury claims at work?
There are a few exceptions to the time limit for workplace accident claims:
- Lack of mental capacity: If you are unable to make the claim yourself, there is no time limit.
- Illness acquired at work: You have three years to claim from the diagnosis date or when you made the connection between the diagnosis and work. The time limit is not always clear in these cases, so seek urgent advice from an accident at work solicitor.
To get the best compensation settlement possible, our team will help you gather sufficient evidence to prove your case.
These include:
- Witness statements from those who saw the work injury happen
- Medical records from an independent medical assessment, with all the details of your work injury
- Proof that there were inadequate risk assessments in the workplace
- CCTV footage or photographs of negligence
- An Accident Book extract
To get the best compensation settlement possible, our team will help you gather sufficient evidence to prove your case.
These include:
- Witness statements from those who saw the work injury happen
- Medical records from an independent medical assessment, with all the details of your work injury
- Proof that there were inadequate risk assessments in the workplace
- CCTV footage or photographs of negligence
- An Accident Book extract
You can only make a successful claim if you have evidence that the workplace accident was the employer’s fault or due to the negligence of a fellow employee. It’s important to seek immediate medical attention after the accident to help support your claim.
Employers’ Liability Insurance protects your boss when you claim financial losses, and the insurance company will investigate work-related accident claims to determine whether negligence occurred. If they are successful and you do not have sufficient evidence to support your claim, you will, unfortunately, lose the case.
Many people worry about job security when considering a work accident claim. In practice, claims are usually handled through employers’ liability insurance, not directly against the employer personally. Dismissal or unfair treatment for pursuing a legitimate claim is unlawful under employment law.
You should report the accident as soon as possible, ideally in the workplace accident book, even if the injury seemed minor at the time. This creates an official record, which can be important if symptoms develop later or the injured person needs further treatment.
Reporting an incident can also help clarify the circumstances of workplace accidents and claims, particularly where there are questions around how the accident occurred. A Scottish workplace injury lawyer can also explain how these situations are approached in practice, including whether the matter is likely to be resolved without court proceedings.
For any further questions, feel free to complete an enquiry form. Our expert accident at work claim solicitors will get back to you as soon as possible.
Get in touch with us
Everything we do at Watermans is about getting you the resolution you need and making that process straightforward. Start the process by sending us your details below or calling us on 0131 555 7055
Our personal injury claims expert
“Making a claim for compensation can be such a daunting process for people, so I try to make it as straightforward and easy to understand as I can for them.”
Susanne McGraw, Head of Personal Injury