Warehouse Accidents: Can I Make a Personal Injury Claim?
Warehouses can be busy and potentially hazardous workplaces. Forklifts, heavy machinery, falling objects, uneven surfaces and manual handling can all present risks to employees and visitors.
If you have been injured in a warehouse accident, you may be entitled to make a warehouse accident claim and recover compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
Our personal injury solicitors can advise you on your rights and whether you may have a claim.
What Causes Warehouse Accidents?
Warehouse accidents can happen for many different reasons. Common causes include:
- Forklift and vehicle accidents
- Slips, trips and falls
- Falling stock or objects
- Manual handling injuries
- Defective machinery or equipment
- Poorly maintained floors and walkways
- Inadequate training or supervision
- Lack of appropriate protective equipment
- Unsafe working practices
- Accidents involving loading bays or delivery vehicles
Employers have responsibilities to protect workers from reasonably foreseeable risks in the workplace. Where inadequate safety measures contribute to an injury, an employee may have grounds for a workplace accident claim.
Can I Claim Compensation for a Warehouse Accident?
You may be able to make a claim if your injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or a failure to take reasonable steps to keep the workplace safe.
For example, a claim may arise where an employer failed to provide adequate training, failed to maintain equipment properly or failed to address a known hazard.
However, every case is different. An accident occurring at work does not automatically mean that an employer is legally responsible.
Evidence will usually be important when establishing how the accident happened and whether there was a breach of duty.
Common Warehouse Injuries
Warehouse accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, including:
- Back and neck injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Sprains and soft-tissue injuries
- Crush injuries
- Head injuries
- Cuts and lacerations
- Shoulder injuries
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Serious or life-changing injuries
The severity of your injury can affect the amount of compensation that may be available.
What Should I Do After a Warehouse Accident?
If you have been injured at work, there are several practical steps you can take:
- Report the accident to your employer and ensure it is recorded.
- Seek medical attention, even if the injury initially appears minor.
- Keep evidence, including photographs of the accident location, equipment or hazard where possible.
- Record witness details if colleagues saw what happened.
- Keep records of your losses, such as travel expenses or lost earnings.
- Consider obtaining legal advice from a specialist workplace accident solicitor.
Do not assume that you cannot make a claim simply because you are still employed by the company. Employees are generally protected from being dismissed or treated unfairly simply for pursuing a legitimate workplace injury claim.
What Compensation Can I Claim?
If your warehouse accident claim is successful, compensation may potentially cover the injury itself as well as financial losses resulting from the accident.
Depending on the circumstances, this could include:
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Lost earnings
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Travel expenses
- Care and assistance
- Future financial losses
The amount of compensation will depend on the nature and severity of your injuries and the losses you have suffered.
How Long Do I Have to Make a Warehouse Accident Claim?
There is generally a three-year time limit for bringing a personal injury claim in England and Wales, although there are important exceptions, such as if the Claimant is lacking capacity or is under the age of 18.
The limitation period can depend on factors including when the injury occurred and the circumstances of the claimant. It is therefore important to seek legal advice as soon as reasonably possible.
Speak to a Warehouse Accident Solicitor
If you have been injured in a warehouse, distribution centre or other workplace, our warehouse accident solicitors can assess your circumstances and explain whether you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Step Legal today on 0800 195 6412 for free, confidential, no-strings attached advice about your potential warehouse accident claim.
