While construction site safety procedures have improved massively over the last few decades, on average there are 59,000 non-fatal injuries to construction workers each year in the UK. If you’ve been injured in a construction accident as a result of somebody else’s negligence, you could be eligible to claim compensation. This guide on construction accident claims will show you how the claims process works and how much compensation you might receive for your injuries.

We can explain your options in more detail as part of our no-obligation initial consultation. A specialist will go through everything with you and offer free legal advice. If there’s a reasonable chance you’ll receive a compensation payout, a personal injury solicitor from our team may decide to take your claim on. If they do, legal fees will only need to be paid if the case is won as all construction accident claims are managed on a No Win No Fee basis.

You can call us on 0800 6524 881 to discuss your claim or read on to find out more before contacting us.

Construction Injury Statistics

According to the Health and Safety Executive (PDF file), provisional figures from 2021/22 show that there were 30 fatal construction accidents in the UK. They involved:

• Falls from height – 51%.
• Being trapped by something that has collapsed or overturned – 14%.
• Being struck by a falling object -10%.
• Workers being hit by vehicles – 9%.
• Electrical discharge or contact with electricity – 6%.

In addition, the HSE says that the most common non-fatal construction accidents for the period were:

• Slips, trips and falls – 26%.
• Lifting, carrying and handling injuries – 18%.
• Falls from height – 19%.
• Struck by a falling object -12%.

This data was taken from accidents reported to the HSE under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013)

Am I Eligible To Make A Construction Accident Claim?

To be eligible to make a construction accident claim, you’ll generally need to meet the following criteria:

• The construction accident was caused by somebody else’s negligence; and
• You sustained an injury as a result; and
• The accident occurred, or your injury was diagnosed within the last three years.

It’s important to note that the eligibility criteria for personal injury claims can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. Therefore, please contact our team of claims advisors for a free assessment of your case.

Construction Site Operator Duty Of Care

Anybody who is responsible for a construction site has a legal duty of care to keep the site as safe as possible for workers, visitors and members of the public. Some of the relevant laws in construction accident claims include:

• Construction Design and Management Regulations 2015.
• Work at Height Regulations 2005.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) 1998.

These construction laws and others set out working regulations and safety procedures that must be adhered to in the construction industry. Failure to follow these rules could be classed as negligent and even lead to criminal charges in some cases.

Common Types Of Accidents In The Construction Industry

Anybody working on a construction site including builders, subcontractors, delivery drivers, crane operators and even self-employed workers is owed a duty of care by the site’s operator. Therefore, if their negligence led to an accident in which you were injured, you could be compensated. Some example scenarios that could lead to a construction accident claim include:

• Falling from poorly constructed scaffolding.
• Being hit by a vehicle that was not adhering to the site’s speed limits.
• If something was thrown to the floor and struck you on the way down.
• Where you were not provided with the necessary personal protective equipment by your employer.
• If risk assessments were not conducted before work began.
• Where you were not warned about any dangers or risks associated with the job.
• If your accident at work was caused by poorly maintained equipment or vehicles.

If you’ve been injured on a construction site, please call our team for free legal advice. We’ll review who might be to blame for your injuries and explain your options for free.

Construction Accidents Injuring Members Of The Public

While many construction sites are fenced off and inaccessible to members of the public, in some cases, building work needs to be carried out in public places. Where this is the case, site operators must take extra care to try and reduce the risk of accidents in public places.

Examples of when members of the public might be eligible to start a construction accident claim include:

• Trips, slips and falls caused by debris around the construction site.
• Injuries caused by falling objects.
• Being hit by a construction vehicle where a banksman (or traffic marshall) was not being used.
• Being exposed to dangerous fumes or chemicals from the construction site.

Whether your accident happened on the high street, at your place of work or even at your home, you could be compensated for any injuries caused by the site’s operator.

Common Injuries To Construction Workers

The list of potential construction injuries is too vast to list here but some of the more common ones that lead to construction accident claims include:

Even if we’ve not listed your injury here, please feel free to call for a free assessment of your claim.

Fatal Construction Accident Claims

As stated at the start of this guide, an estimated 30 construction workers died in accidents in 2021/22. If you’ve lost a loved one in a construction accident, we know that no level of compensation will cover your loss. However, you may wish to make a fatal accident claim if you were dependent on the deceased’s earnings or if you’ve incurred expenses such as funeral costs because of the accident.

If you’d like to speak with us about how to claim, please contact us today. A friendly member of our team will provide no-obligation advice without putting any pressure on you to proceed.

How Much Compensation Will I Get For A Construction Accident?

If you work with one of our solicitors, they’ll try to ensure that any settlement you receive for a construction accident claim covers all of your suffering. That means you could receive damages to cover:

• Your physical pain, discomfort and suffering.
• Mental injuries like flashbacks, distress and depression.
• Lost earnings.
• Medical expenses, care costs and travel costs.
• Replacement costs for items damaged in the construction accident.
• The cost of modifying your home if you’ve been left disabled by your injuries.
• Loss of enjoyment of your normal activities and hobbies.

If you contact our team, one of our claims advisors could advise you based on your specific circumstances on what you might be able to include in your claim in relation to general and special damages.

Construction Accident Compensation Calculator

The amount of compensation awarded for your injuries will vary depending on their severity. This will need to be independently assessed as part of the construction accident claims process so we can’t say exactly how much your claim could be worth until that’s happened. However, our compensation calculator below does provide some guideline figures for common injuries caused by construction accidents:

Evidence To Support A Construction Accident Claim

If you are involved in a construction accident, you should (where possible) do the following:

• Report the accident at work so that it’s recorded in an accident report book.
• Get the contact details of anybody who saw the accident in case witness statements are needed later on.
• Take photographs of the construction accident scene to try and capture the cause before it’s cleared away.
• Ask the site operator for copies of any CCTV footage of the accident.
• Visit A&E to have your injuries treated professionally. Medical records or x-rays could be used in any subsequent personal injury claim.

If you do make a construction accident claim, you’ll need to convince the defendant’s insurers about what happened, why the defendant was to blame and how you’ve been affected by your injuries. Therefore, taking the steps set out above could make that process a lot easier.

In addition, you should keep a note of any expenses linked to your injuries as they could be recouped as part of your claim.

Times Limits For Claiming Construction Accident Compensation

In most cases, you’ll have 3-years to claim compensation for a construction accident from the date you were injured. If you’re claiming on behalf of somebody who died in a construction accident, the 3-years will begin from the date they passed away.

In our experience, beginning your claim as soon as possible will make things easier. Firstly, your solicitor will have plenty of time to collect medical reports and evidence. Also, if your injuries are affecting you financially, you might be eligible for interim payments before the claim has been settled. These could help with lost earnings, care costs or medical expenses.

How Long Does A Construction Accident Claim Take?

The length of time it takes to settle a construction accident claim can vary depending on the circumstances of the case. Some claims can be settled relatively quickly, while others may take several years to settle.

In general, the length of time it takes to settle a claim can depend on factors such as:

• The severity of the injuries. If the injuries sustained in the construction accident are severe, it may take longer to settle the claim as there may be ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation required.
• The complexity of the case. If liability for the accident is disputed or there are multiple parties involved, the case may take longer to settle.
• The evidence available. The strength and quality of the evidence available can also impact the length of time it takes to settle a claim. Gathering and presenting evidence can take time and may require expert opinions or witness statements.
• Negotiation and court processes. Negotiations between the parties involved can also take time, and if the case goes to court, it can add additional time to the process.

It’s important to note that while some cases may be resolved quickly, it is not uncommon for construction accident claims to take several months or even years to settle. However, we’d advise contacting us to discuss the specific circumstances of your case with one of our experienced personal injury solicitors who can then advise you accordingly.

Starting The Construction Accident Claims Process

If you would like to discuss your options or have any questions about the construction accident claims process, please call 0800 6524 881 or use our free live chat service.

Remember, if your construction accident claim is taken on, you won’t pay legal fees upfront as our specialist solicitors work on a No Win No Fee basis.