Reporting an Accident

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer an injury in an accident at work then we are here to help you get back to work. We can help you claim compensation for your injuries by offering a 100% Compensation - No Win No Fee service, meaning that you receive 100% of your compensation and pay absolutely nothing to claim.

Accidents at work are a relatively rare event but it is important that employers report all accidents and illness at work to the Health and Safety Executive. As a legal requirement an employer must report:

Work-related deaths
Major injuries
Over three day injuries
Work related diseases
Dangerous occurrences (or near misses)

It is important that this information is recorded to identify where and why risks arise and sometimes can be used in investigating an incident.

RIDDOR

RIDDOR is the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. Employers or a person who is self-employed have legal duties under RIDDOR that requires them to report and record work-related accidents by the quickest means possible.

What do I do?

If you have suffered an accident at work you are required to give notice of the accident to one of the following people:

your employer
any person designated by your employer for that purpose
or directly to RIDDOR if you are self-employed

An accident book or an equivalent electronic record must be must be readily accessible and maintained by any employer who employs ten or more people. Make sure you read the entry made of your accident very carefully and make sure that it is completely accurate before you sign. Your trained first aider should also write a report on your injury. The following details must be provided either orally or in writing:

your full name, address and occupation
the date, time and place where the accident happened
the cause and nature of the injury

After an accident employers should ask the injured to complete an accident questionnaire. This is to document the employees' story of how the accident at work happened including the injuries sustained.

Remember to follow medical treatment and then get specialist advice from our expert in work accidents as you might be able to claim injury compensation.

What does the employer do?

The employer or supervisor should take a description from the injured employee and witnesses of the accident and compile a short report which should be signed by them and the witnesses.

Employers need to report the accident to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR. Diseases and incidents must be reported to your Local Authority Environmental Health Department (non-industrial) or to the Department of Economic Development (industrial).

Another risk assessment should also then be completed to reassess the workplace and how the work should be done and any dangers involved. An employer must keep a record of these assessments. An investigation as to how the accident happened is also required by law.

You can make a claim if...

The accident happened less than 3 years ago*
The accident was not your fault
You have suffered injury, losses or expenses

* There are some exceptions to the 3 year rule. In the case of a child, a claim can be made any time up until the child reaches the age of 21. There are very few other exceptions.

So, if you have suffered an injury from an accident at work in the last three years, contact us to find out how we can help you claim the compensation you are legally entitled to.

Call our free phone helpline 0800 0688 500 to speak to an advisor in confidence.

Or fill in our easy online claim form for a free claim assessment with no obligation.