Following an accident at work, your statutory rights will not be the same as that of someone who is employed by a large company or even a limited business. Businesses have a duty of care and responsibility to protect their employees from accidents at work. If an accident does occur, they have ways of reporting this and, in more serious cases, seeking compensation for their injuries and time spent off work.
As someone who is self-employed, you have every right to expect the company you are working for to provide you with a safe working environment to be in and treat any injury to you like they would their other employees.
What can I claim in relation to my accident at work?
You can claim compensation as a self-employed person who is working for a business for the following reasons:
Not being provided with the correct equipment to perform your job
- Not being provided with the correct equipment to perform your job
- Incorrect or insufficient training prior to you starting your job
- Not being provided with adequate safety equipment, such as earplugs and hard hats if you are working on a site that requires them
- If the equipment you are using is defective, such as it not having the correct safety guards
What should I do if I become injured at work as a self-employed person?
As always, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention and report the injury to the site manager, no matter how large or small the injury might seem. Ask for a copy of the report along with any doctors or hospital notes if you are required to seek further assistance, as this acts as proof of your injury and will assist with making a claim should you wish to.
If you can, take photographs of the site of the incident along with your injuries and keep these to one side with your medical records and a copy of the injury written down in the workplace accident book. If there were any witnesses to your accident, ask them for their contact details in case they need to help support your claim.
Once your injuries have been dealt with by a medical professional and you are in a stable state, you should contact a personal injury solicitor to discuss your options with making a compensation claim. A professional personal injury solicitor will review your evidence and be able to best advise you about which course to take with your case.
What will a personal injury solicitor be able to assist with?
A personal injury solicitor will be able to piece together your evidence and form a strong claim, improving the chances of you receiving the compensation you deserve. Making a successful workplace injury claim without the support of a professional who understands the entirety of workplace law can be quite challenging and, in some cases, you might not receive the compensation that you are due because of a case that isn’t as strong as it could be.
Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors will use their extensive experience and knowledge to assist you with every stage of your claim and ensure that it is brought to justice.
How long do I have to make a self-employed injury claim?
In most instances, you will have three years from your injury date to make a claim. However, in mitigating circumstances, this time limit can be waived. These circumstances include if you are claiming for someone who lacks the mental capability to make their self-employed injury claim, whether this is due to trauma, injury, or otherwise.
If you’re unsure about how long you have left to make your claim, but would like to make a claim at some point, contact us today and we will assist you.
How much compensation could I be entitled to for my self-employed injury claim?
Due to the varying nature of workplace injuries, the amount of compensation you may receive can change dramatically from one case to the next.
The factors that are considered when determining your amount of awarded compensation include:
- Time taken off work for recovering
- Changes to your working abilities (such as affected mobility or injured limbs)
- Any alterations that must be made to your home or car in order for you to live comfortably following your injury
- Travel and accommodation expenses incurred
- Any future loss of income as a result
