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What Can You Make a Claim For? Knowing Your Rights

Contrary to popular belief, not all accidents result in a compensation claim. Identifying when claiming compensation is a viable option relies on numerous factors and the nature of the accident itself will play the biggest part in this evaluation.

In the workplace

A compensation claim that is a result of an accident in the workplace needs to meet a number of criteria in order to be legitimate. While your employer is responsible for taking measures that ensure the health and safety of employees and visitors, members of staff do also have some responsibility for their own safety.

Consequently, a successful compensation claim will depend on your ability to show that your employer had been negligent in some way leading up to your accident. For example, leaving floors wet or slippery without clearly marking them as such is a prime example of when you would be entitled to claim.

On the road

The most important distinction to make following a car accident is who is responsible. In most cases, when the blame rests with another driver they will be considered liable for the damages sustained.

If you were injured because of an accident that wasn’t your fault, you have the right to pursue a claim for compensation and should try and contact a legal representative as soon as possible. Any physical damage to your vehicle is typically covered by the insurance company but details of this damage will still need to be provided in any legal proceedings you undertake.

Establishing who was liable is incredibly important in court but can be difficult to prove. If you are able to take photos and gather witness statements after the accident then it’s a good idea to do so as this will provide impartial evidence which can be used in a court of law.

Slips and trips

In other areas of life, injuries caused by slips and trips are fairly common forms of accident. Determining whether you have a case for complaint here will depend on what you slipped on and whether there was appropriate warning signage in place.

Obstacles that shouldn’t have been in your way, such as broken flagstones, a wet floor or building materials, are someone else’s responsibility meaning the liability lies with them. If notification of these hazards were not sufficiently made then you have a case for compensation.

Overall, working out what your rights are in terms of making a claim usually involves working out who was liable and ensuring you are not personally responsible. If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it is well worth contacting a professional service that specialises in accident compensation claims. They can help you establish who is liable and pursue court action on your behalf if you want them to.