I fell off a ladder at work - can I claim?

If you have fallen off a ladder at work, you may be entitled to compensation if your employer is partly or fully responsible for the accident.

In this guide, our expert workplace accident solicitors will answer your frequently asked questions about ladder accident at work claims.

Read on to find out whether your employer is liable for your fall, how much compensation you could receive, and how to make a claim.

Alternatively, contact us today for free, no-obligation legal advice about your claim.

Is my employer liable for my fall?

Employers are required by law to provide a safe work environment. While working at height is sometimes necessary, falls from height are very dangerous and can cause serious injury. Companies must therefore put measures in place to protect any employees or contractors working at height.

If employers require their workers to use ladders, they must ensure that:

• The equipment provided is safe
• Workers are given sufficient training
• Risk assessments are carried out.

The employer’s duty of care requires them to put the proper safety measures in place. If they fail to do this, they can be held liable for any injury caused by a ladder accident.

Even if you were partly at fault for the ladder accident, you can still claim compensation if your employer is also responsible.

If you aren’t sure if your employer can be held responsible for your fall from a ladder, ask yourself the following questions:

Was the ladder safe?

Employers must provide their workers with ladders that are safe to use, ideally with safety grips on the steps and footings.

The condition of ladders should be routinely monitored by employers. If any faults are found, the ladder must be removed from circulation and repaired or replaced. This process must also be followed if a worker reports an issue with a ladder.

Providing workers with broken, unsecure, or worn ladders is unacceptable. Employers are liable if workers suffer an injury while using unsafe equipment.

If you have been injured while using a faulty ladder, you can make a claim for compensation.

Were you given sufficient health and safety training?

Workers should be given comprehensive health and safety training for working at height, including information about the use of ladders at work.

If your employer asks you to carry out a task which requires the use of a ladder, they must provide you with training beforehand. It doesn’t matter whether you will be working on ladders all day every day, or if it is a one-off task – your employer still needs to ensure you have had sufficient training.

If you have not been given proper training for using a ladder, and have subsequently fallen, you can make a claim for compensation.

It is also important that training is provided regularly – ideally on an annual basis. If the last time you received training was several years before your accident, you may be entitled to compensation.

Did your employer carry out a risk assessment?

Risk assessments for working on ladders should be carried out by your employer, and the safety recommendations should be adhered to.

For example, if the risk assessment recommends that there should always be another employee to supervise and support anyone using a ladder, then this procedure needs to be followed.

If your employer instructs you to disregard the recommendations of a risk assessment – or indeed, if they haven’t even carried out a risk assessment to begin with – then they can be found liable for any injuries sustained from a slip or fall.

What types of injuries can I claim for?

Falls from ladders can cause a range of injuries, including:

• Broken bones, torn ligaments and other musculoskeletal injuries
• Head injuries and brain injuries
• Back injuries and spinal injuries.

Many injuries caused by a falling off a ladder can have long-term effects.

If you have suffered from any type of injury following a ladder accident, you may be able to claim personal injury compensation.

How much compensation could I receive?

The amount of compensation varies from case to case, but here are some general rules:

• The more serious your injuries, the higher your potential compensation
• If you have suffered a loss of income, you can claim damages to cover this
• You can claim additional compensation for medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
• Your compensation may be reduced if you were partly at fault.

For a tailored estimate of how much compensation you could get, contact our specialist team of accident at work solicitors.

Is there a time limit to claim?

As with most personal injury claims, you will usually have three years to make a claim if you have been injured in a ladder accident at work.

The three years starts from the date of your accident, or from the date you first become aware of your injuries if they are not immediately apparent.

How can I claim compensation for a ladder accident at work?

To claim compensation for a ladder accident, you will need to contact a solicitor to handle your case.

For the best chance of winning your case and securing the highest amount of compensation possible, we recommend you take the following steps if you fall off a ladder at work:

• Seek medical attention immediately
• Report your accident to your workplace as soon as possible, and ensure it is logged in the accident book
• Ensure that the ladder is removed from use and is not repaired until an independent assessment has taken place to find any faults
• If possible, take photographs of anything you think contributed to the accident
• Collect the details of any witnesses. Your lawyers will be able to contact them for a witness statement which will support your case
• Ensure you choose a law firm with experience of winning accident at work claims.

At Thompsons, we have over 100 years’ experience of helping workers claim against their employers. Our expert accident at work are instructed by thousands of workers and trade unions each year. The Times has also named us as one of the best personal injury claims solicitors in the UK for four years in a row.

We only ever act for injured people, never employers or insurers – we know who’s side we’re on.

If you have been injured after falling from a ladder at work, contact our expert workplace accident lawyers today.

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