Scaffolding Accident Claims – How Much Compensation Can You Claim?

If you have been injured in a scaffolding accident as a result of somebody else’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a scaffolding accident claim for compensation. Whether you’re a scaffolder, another contractor on site, or a member of the public, we are here to help if you do decide to take action.

Initially, we’ll discuss your claim with you during a no-obligation consultation. You can ask questions and we’ll provide free legal advice about your chances. If the claim appears to have a realistic chance of success, we’ll connect you with of personal injury solicitor on our team. You won’t need to pay them any legal fees unless you’re compensated because all accepted scaffold accident claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.

To find out if you could claim compensation for a scaffolding accident, please call us today on 0800 6524 881. To find out more before contacting our team, please read on.

Am I Eligible To Make A Scaffolding Accident Claim?

Anybody injured in a scaffolding accident may be able to make a claim, depending on the circumstances. This includes scaffolders, contractors or subcontractors on site, and members of the public, such as passers-by or visitors who were hurt because the scaffolding was unsafe.

Generally, to make a successful scaffolding accident claim, you will need evidence to prove that:

• You were owed a duty of care by the defendant; and
• Negligence by the defendant caused a scaffolding accident; and
• You suffered an injury because of that accident.

Because of laws like the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (which apply to employers and contractors), a duty of care will usually exist if you’re working on scaffolding.

Can I Claim As A Member Of The Public Hurt In A Scaffolding Accident?

Yes, if you’re injured while passing by scaffolding (on a high street, outside a shop, or near a building site), you could be eligible to claim compensation.

For example, you could claim for injuries caused by:

• Exposed sharp edges on scaffolding poles.
• Being hit by objects thrown from scaffolding.
• Slipping on debris littered around the scaffolding.
• Being crushed by collapsing scaffolding.

Please feel free to call if you’ve suffered an injury following a scaffolding accident that was not your fault.

Common Causes Of Scaffolding Accident Claims

You might think that if you’re injured whilst working on scaffolding or in a fall from scaffolding, it’s just one of those things – or an occupational hazard. However, employers in construction have a duty of care to try and keep contractors, sub-contractors and other workers as safe as possible. If they neglect these responsibilities, avoidable scaffolding accidents are more likely to occur.

Some of the common types of accidents at work involving scaffolding and subsequent injuries to tradesmen and women that compensation could be claimed for include:

• Falls from scaffolding. A fall from tower scaffolding can lead to serious injuries. If the accident was because of your employer’s neglect, you could be eligible to make a claim. For instance, if you’ve fallen off a scaffold because of a faulty lift or missing safety rail, you might be eligible for compensation.
• Scaffolding collapse. Thankfully, it is quite rare for scaffolding to collapse, but it does happen. If you were injured after scaffolding collapsed because it was erected incorrectly, the scaffold was overloaded, or because of a defective plank or fitting, we could help you to claim.
• Poor safety training. If you’re working in a high-risk environment, your employer must give you proper training on how to do the job safely. If they fail to do so and that inadequate training leads to an accident in which you’re injured, you could be entitled to claim compensation.
• Lack of protective equipment. You could also claim if your employer failed to provide a safety helmet or harness, and this lack of PPE caused you to suffer a scaffolding injury.
• Slip, trip and falls. You should not be forced to work on slippery scaffolding during adverse weather conditions. Similarly, scaffolding planks should be laid correctly to reduce the risk of tripping. If you’ve suffered an injury after falling whilst working on scaffolding, please call today.
• Falling objects. Finally, you could claim if you were hit by something that fell or was dropped from scaffolding whilst working on a building site.

Even if you weren’t injured in any of the scaffolding accidents above, please contact our claims advisors to check your eligibility to claim compensation.

Common Injuries From Scaffolding Accidents

Some of the most common injury claims caused by scaffolding accidents that our solicitors deal with include:

Please call our advisors if you’ve any questions thus far.

Evidence To Support A Scaffolding Accident Claim

As mentioned earlier, you will need to provide as much evidence as possible to prove how your scaffolding accident happened and who was responsible. Your solicitor will use this evidence to try and present as strong a case as possible. For scaffolding accident claims, evidence that might help include:

• Accident reports. A copy of the report from the company’s accident book. Additionally, if your injury was reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a copy of that report could be obtained.
• Medical evidence. It’s important to get your injuries checked over at a hospital. Once you’ve been treated, copies of any X-rays and your medical notes could be requested to prove the extent of your injuries.
• Witness information. Ask anybody who saw the scaffold accident for their contact details. They may be asked by your solicitor for a witness statement to help draw a picture of what happened.
• Security camera recordings. If a tower scaffold accident was caught on camera, request a copy of any relevant footage. Act as quickly as possible to secure the footage, though, as it may be deleted within weeks.
• Photographs. You could also take photographs of the accident scene. Capturing the aftermath is often a good way of demonstrating how you were injured.
• Maintenance/inspection records. Records of maintenance and inspections of the scaffolding can help establish whether it was safe and properly maintained.

Please call today if you are struggling to secure evidence or would like a free consultation regarding your scaffolding injury claim.

How Much Compensation For A Scaffolding Accident Could I Claim?

There isn’t a set compensation amount you’d get for a scaffolding accident as every claim is unique. However, our personal injury solicitors always strive to secure as much compensation as possible. Although we can’t provide estimations without knowing what’s happened and how you’ve been affected, in general, you could claim compensation to cover:

• Physical injuries. Compensation for the injuries sustained and the pain caused by the accident.
• Loss of amenity. The impact your injuries have had on your social life, hobbies, and daily activities.
• Psychological harm. Any emotional or psychological distress caused by the accident or resulting from your injuries, such as anxiety or PTSD.
• Care costs. If somebody else needed to care for you during your recovery, you can claim for these costs.
• Private medical treatment. The cost of any necessary treatment, such as physiotherapy or surgery, that isn’t covered by the NHS.
• Loss of earnings. Compensation for wages lost while you were unable to work due to your injuries.
• Travel expenses. Costs associated with hospital visits or other medical appointments, such as fuel, public transport, or parking fees.
• Home adaptations. If your injuries result in permanent disability, you may be able to claim for the cost of making adaptations to your home to improve your quality of life.
• Future loss of earnings. If your injury affects your ability to work in the long term or diminishes your earning capacity, you can claim compensation for future income loss.

Please call us to check what compensation your scaffolding accident claim could include.

Scaffolding Accident Compensation Calculator

Our compensation calculator should give you some idea of potential compensation payouts for various personal injuries sustained in scaffold accidents. The figures provided are based on the latest guidelines from the Judicial College.

To ascertain the severity of your injuries, you’ll need a medical assessment as part of your scaffold accident claim. This will be conducted by an independent medical specialist. They will read your medical notes, examine your injuries and discuss their impact with you. Once they’ve finished, they’ll provide a prognosis for your solicitor and the defendant’s insurers.

Time Limits For Claiming Scaffolding Accident Compensation

You usually have three years to start a scaffolding accident compensation claim which, in most cases will run from the date of the accident. However, exceptions can sometimes apply, depending on the circumstances.

One such exception is where the injured party doesn’t have the mental capacity to deal with legal proceedings, the 3-year time limit won’t begin unless they regain capacity. In the meantime, a litigation friend can make the claim on their behalf.

Similarly, if a fall from height off scaffolding results in death, the family will usually have 3 years from the date of death to bring a claim, although a later date of knowledge (if the link between the death and negligence only became clear afterwards) may apply in some cases.

To give yourself the best chance of securing evidence to have a strong claim, we’d suggest that you begin the claims process without delay. If you work with one of our solicitors, they’ll work as efficiently as possible to try and ensure you’re compensated as quickly as possible.

Scaffold Accidents & Fatal Injuries

While we know that no amount of money will improve things if a family member or spouse has died in a scaffolding accident, compensation could help to cover the financial impact. Our solicitors could assist you in claiming a bereavement payment, compensation to cover funeral costs and also compensation if you were dependent financially on the deceased’s income.

We will try to help you as best we can and work at a pace that suits you. Please call today, and a compassionate advisor will review your claim with you for free.

Will Making A Claim Against My Employer Get Me Fired?

No, if you’re eligible to make a scaffold accident claim for a legitimate reason, it should not affect your employment. That’s simply because your employer shouldn’t discriminate or retaliate against you for making a valid claim.

Another point to consider is that most employers are required by law to have liability insurance to cover the cost of compensation claims made by their employees. This means that any compensation awarded for your injuries from a fall off a scaffold, for example, would be paid by the employer’s insurance company, rather than by the employer themselves.

If you are at all concerned about starting a claim against your employer, please consider speaking with one of our personal injury solicitors who will be happy to discuss this with you.

Do I Need A Solicitor To File A Scaffold Accident Claim?

No, you don’t need to employ a solicitor to make a scaffold accident claim. However, we firmly believe that having one of our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors handle your claim can significantly increase your chances of securing the full compensation you deserve. If your scaffolding accident claim is accepted, your appointed solicitor will typically:

• Help gather evidence to support your scaffold accident claim.
• Arrange an independent medical assessment to evaluate your injuries.
• Submit the claim and handle any questions or challenges, so you don’t have to.
• Keep you informed throughout the process on the progress of your case.
• Ensure your compensation properly covers your injuries and losses.

Before accepting any settlement offer, it will be fully discussed with you to ensure it’s fair and appropriate.

Starting The Scaffolding Accident Claims Process

The best way to find out whether you could start the scaffolding accident claims process is to call our advice line on 0800 6524 881 today.

If your claim is accepted by one of our specialist solicitors, they’ll represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. This basically means you’ll pay zero legal fees upfront and you won’t have to pay anything if the claim fails.

Please use our live chat service if you have any additional questions about making a scaffolding accident claim.