What Are My Rights For An Accident At Work Claim?

It is your right to have a safe working environment so that you can work unharmed. But let us say that it was an unfortunate day for you and you got injured at your workplace. Now, what are your rights? It is important to have to know your rights before making your accident at work claim. Otherwise, you may lose your amount of compensation. 

An accident at work can have a lot of severe consequences than just suffering from pain. You may lose your job, get disable and have to spend thousands of pounds on your treatment. Having these outcomes in mind, every worker takes all the precautionary measures to work safely. But that does not guarantee you to safeguard you at your workplace. There are a lot of ways in which you can get injured in your workplace. From stepping over the nails, slips trips and falls to inhaling poisonous gases, you are always at the risk of getting injured.

Having all these uncertainties in mind, you should know what are your rights that you should be provided at your workplace. Moreover, you should also be aware of what are your rights in case of getting injured at your workplace. So let us go step by step.

What Are My Employer’s Responsibilities?

There are a lot of responsibilities on account of your employer when it comes to your safety at the workplace. It is the job of your employer to ensure your safety and provide you with a safe working environment. Whatever the job is, it is the duty of the employer to take care of the health and safety of all the workers. Regardless of what type of job is, here are a few responsibilities of your employer about your health and safety.

• You must be provided proper training of the machinery you are working with.
• You should be provided with all kinds of safety equipment you need to work safely.
• The employer should provide you with safe working conditions.
• Your employer should carry out risk assessments. So that you know how to deal with an emergency situation if you have to face any.
• Proper inspection of the machinery should be done after regular time intervals. This will lower the risk of getting injured by operating defective machinery. 
• Your company should put warning signs at a dangerous place.
• It is the duty of the employer to ensure the safety of the health of the workers.

All of the employers are legally bound to provide their employer with all the above-mentioned safety measurements in England and Scotland.

Your Rights After Getting Injured at The Workplace

Despite taking all precautionary measures, there is no guarantee that you will not get involved in any workplace accident. So, in case you get into a car accident and the fault is not yours, you are entitled to get an accident at work claim. Here are a few things you can claim compensation for if you have been in a workplace accident.

• Pains and Sufferings: When you get into an accident you are going to get some injuries. Some may be minor while some cases may lead to severe injuries. Regardless of how minor or severe the injury is, you can claim compensation for your pains and sufferings.
• Medical Expenses: It is very important to get proper treatment for your injury. For that purpose, you may have to spend thousands of pounds in some cases. You can recover these expenses from your employer. These expenses can include medical tests, surgery, medicine, physiotherapy laboratory tests and so on.
• Travelling Expenses: To get your treatment, you have to use medical transportation. In this way, you will be entitled to recover all the travelling expenses associated with your medical treatment. Furthermore, it also includes the travelling expenses incurred while making your claim.
• Loss of Income: If you have a severe injury, you may not be able to work for some time. But that does not mean that you should not get paid during that time. It is your right to get compensation for loss of earnings as you got injured at your workplace. In this way, you will be getting money without even going to work.
• Work-Related Benefits: Before getting injured, chances are that you might be entitled to any kind of bonus, promotion or increase in the salary. But due to the injury, you missed this chance. In such a case, it is your right to get that work-related benefit and get duly compensated with it. 
• Loss of Amenity: Getting injured at the workplace not only gives you pains and sufferings but it also disrupts your routine life. You may not be able to participate in such activities that gave you pleasure. It can affect your mental health as well. It is called a loss of amenity. By law, your employer will be liable to provide compensation for the loss of amenity arisen by the workplace accident.

Will I Lose My Job For Making a Claim?

Have you been in a workplace accident but hesitant to make your claim because of the fear of losing your job? It is your right to get compensation for this injury. Do not keep yourself deprived of your due right. You cannot get sacked for making an accident at work claim. In case your employer terminates you for making a claim, you can file a case of unfair dismissal. In this way, you will be reinstated at your job.

Conclusion

Accident at work makes you eligible to claim your compensation if you are not at fault. The time limit to make your claim is usually three years from the place of the accident. So, if your employer does not fulfil the safety requirements and you get injured, you are eligible to make a claim. But in order to make most out of your claim, you should know about your rights for an accident at work claim. Having a lack of knowledge about your rights can cost you a lot and you may lose your amount of claim.