Columnist

Workplace accidents and your rights explained

Your employer, first and foremost, has a duty to provide you and your colleagues with a hazard-free working environment. You should not feel threatened or be in any possible danger while working.

If you are the victim of a workplace accident, it’s vital that you remember your rights and act accordingly. If it is revealed that you didn’t do the right thing at the right time, you may not be able to receive compensation for your injury. Read this article to find out what your rights are.

The right to claim

As soon as your injury occurs, it is vital that you record all possible evidence for your employer and legal representation for your compensation case. Take photographs, and if possible, get witness statements. Your employer must pay for immediate medical and transport costs.

Collecting evidence is crucial if you expect to make a compensation claim. It is always advisable to go with specialist legal representation, like First Personal Injury accident claims solicitors.

Sick pay rights

In most cases, if you have been injured at work, you will have the right to sick pay. The amount of sick pay you receive will depend on your company’s particular policy on sick pay and the nature of your injury.

Your company may sometimes pay more than the legal minimum, which is known as statutory sick pay.

The right to make impartial decisions

By no means should you feel pressured by your employer not to report the accident or injury and work out an out-of-court settlement. It is vital that you do the responsible thing and report the accident – if not for yourself, for the safety of your colleagues.

You have the right to seek out impartial advice from your union or anywhere else. Don’t feel pressurised into not reporting the accident to ‘preserve safety records’, or for any other reason your company may suggest.

Know your compensation rights

If for some reason your insurance provider is not paying your compensation, you should learn all about your worker’s compensation rights laws, and ensure that you’re armed with an able and experienced specialist solicitor, who deals in your type of cases.

Of course, if you’re not 100 per cent certain about your solicitor, don’t be afraid to shop around until you’ve found the right one for you; one who has the best combination of experience and affordability.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Will Hemner .