If you were injured in an accident at work that left you with a broken wrist, you may be entitled to seek compensation for the pain, suffering and out of pocket expenses you incurred. However, there are specific criteria that must be met in order for you claim to be valid. To find out more about filing a broken wrist claim, please read on.

Proving Liability for a Broken Wrist in an Accident at Work

You would need to provide evidence that you sustained a broken wrist in the workplace through no fault of your own but rather through employer negligence. You may have been injured because a work colleague caused an accident, in which case, your employer could still be held liable because they are responsible for the actions of all employees in the workplace.

Even if you believe you may have been responsible for the accident happening and the injuries you sustained, you should still seek legal advice because it could be found that your employer was partly liable if not totally responsible for you sustaining a broken wrist at work.

What are the Main Causes of a Broken Wrist at Work?

You can injure or break your wrist in many ways while at work. One of the main causes of this type of workplace injury occurs through a slip, trip and fall. It could be that you slipped on a well-polished floor, a wet surface or you could have tripped over something that was not put away correctly. In all these instances, your first reaction is to break your fall using your hands which puts a tremendous amount of pressure on your wrists. The result can be a broken wrist.

Would My Broken Wrist Claim be Valid?

As previously mentioned, you would have to meet certain criteria for your broken wrist claim to be valid which entails gathering as much evidence surrounding the accident that left you injured. This includes the lead up to the accident occurring. Other proof that would be required is detailed below:

• That the accident occurred through no fault of your own
• That the injuries you sustained were through employer negligence
• That your injuries were caused by an error on the part of a work colleague
• That the accident at work that left you injured occurred in the last 3 years

If you can meet all of the above, you should discuss your claim with an accident at work lawyer who would provide essential advice on how best to proceed.

What Level of Compensation Would I Receive in a Broken Wrist Claim?

The amount you may be awarded in a successful broken wrist claim against a negligent employer would be calculated by factoring in several things. Personal injury claims are broken into 2 parts when it comes to compensation which are as follows:

• General damages are calculated on the severity of your injuries and how your life may have been impacted. This includes the amount of time you were off work, how your injuries affect your ability to work and to enjoy the things you did prior to suffering your injuries
• Special damages are calculated on the out of pocket expenses you had to cope with following an accident at work that left you with a broken nose. This includes all your travel and medical expenses as well as any other costs you had to pay out as a direct result of your injuries

As a rough guide, the amount of compensation you may be awarded in a successful broken wrist claim could be anything from £2,800 to over £47,000 depending on the severity of your injuries and how much they negatively impact your life. It is important to note that all claims are treated as unique and that no amount of compensation awarded is set in stone.

Who Pays the Compensation I am Awarded for a Broken Wrist Claim?

When it comes to who pays the amount you are awarded in a successful broken wrist claim, it would be your employer’s insurance providers who settle the compensation you receive. All employers must by law have valid liability insurance in place which covers accidents at work claims and any other personal injury claims that may be filed against them.

What Can I Include in My Broken Wrist Claim?

The compensation you would receive in a successful broken wrist claim would depend on how your injuries affect your ability to work, enjoy activities that you did before being injured and the extent of your injuries. All personal injury claims are treated as unique and calculating special damages is harder than establishing the amount of special damages you receive. The reason being that special damages are calculated on the actual expenses and costs you incurred as a direct result of your broken wrist whereas general damages are calculated on how much your injuries may affect your future life.

You should keep all receipts relating to travel expenses, medical costs and all other expenditures that you incurred as a direct result of having suffered a broken wrist in an accident at work. These would be needed when calculating the amount of compensation you would be awarded.

Should I Sue My Employer if I Suffer a Broken Wrist at Work?

Should you suffer a broken wrist in the workplace and you were not at fault for the accident, you have every right to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you had to endure both physical and psychological. You may find that your injuries prevent you from carrying out your job or taking part in activities you enjoyed prior to suffering an accident at work. This can put you under a lot of financial pressure and it may even lead to you suffering from depression and anxiety.

Seeking compensation from an employer can alleviate a lot of the financial pressure you may have to endure and being awarded a level of broken wrist compensation to suit your injury, can make life a lot easier for you. Providing you can prove employer negligence and that the accident at work that resulted in you suffering a broken wrist occurred in the last 3 years, you cannot be prevented from seeking legal advice and to then file for compensation for the injuries you sustained.

Employers must by law have liability insurance (EL) which covers accident at work claims that are filed against them by employees when they suffer injuries through no fault of their own. The insurance policy also covers work-related medical claims and injuries caused by work colleagues. As such, your case would be handled by your employer’s insurance providers who would also pay out the compensation you are awarded should your case be upheld either by a court or because the insurer chooses to settle “out of court”, with 95% of personal injury claims being settled in this way.

What are My Workers Rights if I Suffer a Broken Wrist at Work?

Employee rights are protected which includes when you are injured in an accident at work. This includes the following:

• Your right to seek compensation for any injuries you sustain while in the employment of someone else
• Your job is safe and you are treated fairly by your employer should you file a broken wrist claim against them

Are There Any Benefits to Working With a Solicitor on a Broken Wrist Claim?

Lawyers who specialise in accident at work claims have vast experience when it comes to dealing with insurance providers. They also have access to all the legal libraries which means when working on your claim, they can refer back to past cases. Personal injury claims can be long drawn out legal processes and insurance providers can be slow to respond to letters they receive. An experienced solicitor would know how to handle this type of situation which can help speed up what is often a slow process.

Working with a solicitor on a broken wrist claim also means that all the negotiations would be handled by the solicitor on your behalf. This ensures that you receive a level of compensation to suit your injuries and how the accident at work affected your health and well-being.

A solicitor would also be able to arrange specialist treatment, therapy and care should this be required, bearing in mind that a specialist medical report would also be invaluable when it comes to calculating how much your broken wrist affected your life and your ability to work. The solicitor would also ensure that you receive the right rehabilitation to help speed up your recovery.

Is There a Time Limit To Making a Broken Wrist Claim Against My Employer?

Employees who want to seek compensation from an employer have 3 years to file an accident at work claim, providing specific criteria have been met. This accident at work time limit has to be adhered to or you might lose out on the compensation you rightly deserve, even if you have strong evidence your boss was negligent and therefore liable for your injuries. The time limit for filing an accident at work claim is as follows:

• 3 years from the date of the accident at work that left you with a broken wrist
• 3 years from the date you were diagnosed with a medical condition that can be linked to your injuries
• 3 years from the date you turn 18 years of age, should the accident at work that left you with a broken wrist have occurred when you were under the age of 18

If you suffered a broken wrist at work and would like to know more about how to go about seeking compensation from your employer, you should discuss the circumstances surrounding the accident at work you were involved in, with a lawyer who specialises in work-related personal injury claims.

Can My Employer Fire Me For Filing a Broken Wrist Claim Against Them?

A boss cannot sack you because you were injured in an accident at work and you decide to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you had to endure. Your employer must have another “good and valid” reason for firing you and if they do not, you should contact an employment law solicitor because you may be able to not only file and accident at work claim against your employer, but an unfair dismissal and a detriment claim against them too.

Would a Solicitor Work on a No Win No Fee Basis on My Broken Wrist Claim?

Once an accident at work solicitor has determined that you have a strong case against a negligent employer, they would represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This would involve signing a contract known as a Conditional Fee Agreement which is often referred to as a CFA.

The agreement between a solicitor and you, sets out the Terms and Conditions of the contract and the “success fee” that is only payable to the solicitor when your claim is successful. The percentage you pay would then be deducted from the amount of compensation you are awarded. Should your broken wrist accident at work claim not be successful, you would not have to pay the “success fee” to the solicitor because you entered into the CFA with them.

All accidents at work must be officially reported as soon as possible whether the record is made internally in an accident report book or by other means and should be reported to RIDDOR if it is a legal requirement to do so. In some instances, your injuries may prevent you from reporting an incident yourself, in which case a work colleague or someone else should make sure an accident at work report is recorded on your behalf.

Following an accident at work that leaves you injured, it is important to seek first-aid followed by medical treatment from a qualified doctor. Having a medical report detailing the extent of injuries is crucial should you wish to claim compensation from a negligent employer, whether the incident that occurred was their fault or that of a work colleague. A medical report is also essential should you be entitled to claim any benefits which includes industrial injuries benefits.

Telling an Employer the Workplace is Unsafe

You have every right to discuss any concerns you have about safety in the workplace with your employer. You also have the right to speak to a trade union representative if you are a member of a trade union without fear of being treated detrimentally by an employer. All employees have the right to talk to a representative of the Health and Safety Executive if they believe their well-being and safety is being put at risk in the workplace. Another right you have is to not go to work if you feel you are in immediate danger and not return to your job until things are put right by an employer.

How To Fill Out an Accident Report Form Following an Accident at Work

A responsible employer would ensure that all accidents at work are recorded in an accident report book. The record of the incident or near miss, should encompass all the relevant details of the accident, the employees who were involved and the name of the company/business/organisation. This report is also useful because it keeps track of recurring incidents in the workplace which in turn provides valuable information on safety measures that need to be put in place.

The following procedure after an accident in the workplace should be followed if you are going to the aid of an injured work colleague:

• To ensure an area is safe before going in
• To administer first-aid
• To notify the management or person in charge as soon as possible

All of the above would ensure that the necessary accident investigation procedures can be set in place. When completing an accident report form, the following information is required:

• The contact details of the injured worker – this includes their full name, home address and telephone number, email address, date of birth and gender. On top of this, details of why they were in an area that left them injured. If another person fills out the accident report form on your behalf, they would need to include their contact details too
• Details of the accident and injury sustained – following an accident at work in which you suffered an injury, you would need to collect as much information pertaining to the incident together with the extent of your injuries and other damage that was caused in the accident. This has to include the date and time of the incident and where the accident happened. It is essential for this information to be “specific”, an example being on what floor or department the accident occurred

A complete detailed report of the injuries you sustained which must be recorded to ensure that you are provided with the correct treatment. This has to include the following:

• The type of injury you sustained – whether you suffered a broken or fractured bone, laceration, bruising or burn?
• What part of your body was injured?
• Did you need resuscitation or were you hospitalised?
• Were you take to hospital by ambulance?
• Were you ever unconscious?
• The number of days you were off work as a direct result of your injuries

The supportive evidence required is as follows:

• If a work colleague or other persons saw the accident, witness statements should be gathered which should include their contact details and if possible, a written statement of how the accident at work occurred
• Photos or CCTV footage of where the accident happened
• If available it is also useful to collect any Health and Safety Executive checks that were carried out in the past

Making a Record of the Accident

The following questions that you should ask yourself when making a record of the accident that left you injured, would help give an object picture of the circumstances surrounding the incident:

• How did the accident at work happen?
• Did you notice anything that was different than usual in your working conditions?
• Were you given the proper personal protective equipment?
• What job were you carrying out at the time of the incident and were you using any specific equipment to carry out the task?
• Offer an explanation of the events that led up to your accident at work

One of the main aims of an accident at work report, is to prevent further incidents that leave employees injured from happening. As such, the reason as to why an accident occurred is a main factor that needs to be addressed. A report could help identify whether the incident happened due to poor training, faulty equipment/machinery/ tools or because of human error.

Was Your Accident at Work a Reportable Incident?

Certain accidents at work must be reported to RIDDOR and should your employer fail to do so, they could be given a hefty fine by the enforcing authority. The procedure of reporting accidents in the workplace to RIDDOR is as follows:

• The person in charge whether an employer, manager or person who is in charge of the workplace should report an accident at work to RIDDOR. The report can be made online which would be sent directly to a dedicated database, a copy of which would be sent to the relevant person for their own records
• The report can also be made by telephone with the Incident Contact Centre being open from Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5 pm

Filling Out an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Claim Form

Should you be entitled to industrial injuries disablement benefit following an accident at work and need help filling out the relevant form, the Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement office provides all the assistance you need which includes completing the form for you. You would be asked to check over the information before signing the form.

What is the Criteria for Accident at Work Claims Made Through Unison?

In order to claim benefits through Unison, you must be a member and meet the following criteria:

• That you were a member of Unison for 4 weeks before being involved in an accident at work that left you injured
• That you are not in arrears in your contributions
• That you adhere to the time limit when claiming the benefit which is within 12 months of the date of the accident at work in which you suffered injuries
• That you were injured carrying out your normal tasks or when travelling to and from your place of work or to where you were carrying out union business

It is worth noting that Unison members are not entitled to further benefits during a calendar year having received the maximum amount in a single claim. It is also noteworthy that when filling out the form, all the questions must be answered in full. If any questions are not fully answered, it could delay payment of the claim. The information required is detailed below:

• Your member details – this information is required as proof of your Unison membership
• Details of the accident at work – this information is required to establish whether you are entitled to claim the benefit and must include, the date of the incident, the date you left work due to your injuries, the details of the accident and how your injuries were sustained, the date you returned to work, whether you would be away from work for 6 weeks or more in which case you must wait before sending in your benefit claim form in order to receive the maximum amount payable

You would also need to provide bank details for the benefit to be paid by BACS. Should you prefer to receive the benefit by cheque, it can take 5 days longer for an approved benefit to arrive.

Can an Employer Fire Me for Making an Accident at Work Claim?

You cannot be fired for making an accident at work claim against your employer and if you are, you should seek legal advice because your employer could be in breach of your employment rights. If this is the case, you could file an unfair dismissal claim against your employer and if they treat you detrimentally for seeking compensation, you may also be entitled to file a detriment claim, in which case an employment law solicitor would be able to assist you.

What are My Rights Following an Accident at Work?

You have specific rights if you are injured in an accident at work and you cannot be treated detrimentally for seeking compensation from an employer. Your job must be kept safe even if you file an accident at work claim against your employer. You cannot be fired for doing so and if you are, you could file an unfair dismissal claim against your employer too. With this said, the best course of action should you be fired for “no good” reason, is to seek legal advice from a solicitor who specialises not only in accident at work claims, but employment law too.

Getting Help From an Accident at Work Solicitor

Seeking legal advice following an accident at work can be expensive, but many solicitors offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis which means once a solicitor is satisfied that you have a strong claim against your employer because they were in breach of their duty to keep you safe in the workplace, they would begin representing you without having to ask for an upfront payment. Conditional Fee Agreements were set in place to help people who suffer injuries in the workplace or elsewhere, the opportunity of seeking accident at work injury compensation without worrying how they would pay a solicitor for the legal services they provide.

Once you have signed a CFA with a solicitor, the Terms and Conditions of the agreement are laid out together with details of the “success fee” which you would pay, but only on a successful accident at work claim. The amount payable is taken from the compensation you are awarded. You would not have to pay the solicitor if your case is unsuccessful  because the solicitor took on the risk of not being paid a fee when entering into a Conditional Fee Agreement with you. In short, working with a solicitor on a No Win No Fee basis when filing an accident at work claim takes all the worry of paying an upfront fee for legal representation off the table.