If you suffered in an injury in the office due to poor office safety, you may be entitled to compensation. A lot of people do not realise how dangerous an office can be, especially when compared to other more ‘high-risk’ workplaces such as construction sites and factories. Office accidents and injuries are actually very common and like any injury can cause lasting effects to your happiness and wellbeing. It is the duty of your employer to follow strict health and safety rules. These rules include providing employees with correct training and equipment to help you avoid injuries such as repetitive strain injury, as well as taking the appropriate actions to remove hazards that could cause slips, trips and falls.
Office compensation can help with your recovery
A lot of office injuries will cause you to take time off work while you are recovering. The compensation we aim to get you will take into account any lost earnings and any other costs that incurred due to your injury, such as medication and physiotherapy. Our solicitors will also consider your pain and suffering, the effects on mental health and the impact of your injury on your family and home life. By making a successful compensation claim for an office injury which was caused by someone else's negligence you can alleviate financial pressure and help yourself on the road to recovery.
Claiming against your employer for an office accident
It can be difficult and sometimes uncomfortable to make a claim against your employer. Often, people are friends with their colleagues and employers and think that by making a claim they are in some way personally attacking them. This shouldn’t be a worry however - your employer won't pay your compensation personally. All employers are required to take out “employer's liability insurance” to cover the costs of any claims made against them, so your compensation will always be paid by their insurance company.
It is also illegal for your employer to dismiss you or treat you differently because you made an office accident claim. If they were to fire you because you claimed compensation against them, this would be considered as “unfair dismissal” and is against the law. Making a claim for accidents at work can help highlight any safety issues in the office. It's likely changes will be made because of your claim, which could help to improve the safety of your workplace and prevent others from suffering in the future.
Types of office accident claims
Below are some common causes of accidents in office environment. Don’t worry if you haven't suffered from these types of injury, we may still be able to help you:
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls in offices are often caused by untidy electrical cables, as well as files and other obstacles being left around the office. Your employer should keep the floor clear from tripping hazards, should make sure wet floors are marked with a warning sign and the building you work in is properly maintained for your safety.
Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
Repetitive strain injury is caused by repetitive movements which cause pain in the muscles, nerves and tendons, and is a common office injury. To avoid repetitive strain injury, your employer should make sure your workstation is properly set up. This may include providing you with a comfortable chair, a working and adjustable monitor, as well as a proper keyboard and mouse.
Faulty equipment
Employers should make sure all equipment is maintained and safe for use, as faulty electrical equipment such as printers and computers can cause electric shocks.
Starting an office accident claim
It’s not always easy to know who is at fault for an injury which happened in an office. For this reason, we advise you to make a claim if:
• Your accident happened in the last three years
• It was someone else's fault
• You were injured as a result
We realise that some injuries (such as repetitive strain injury) occur over a long period of time. If this applies to you, then we'll take the date from when you first realised you'd been injured.
Please get in touch with our dedicated team of solicitors to find out more about making an office injury claim. Our experts will look at the specific circumstances of your accident and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Why choose us?
Our solicitors have vast experience in handling all types of personal injury claims, including office injury claims.
Contact us
If you have suffered an injury due to an accident in the office that was not your fault and would like to make a claim, please contact us on (03333 44 33 78 or email us here at: claims@callistoclaims.co.uk and we’ll get back to you.