MACHINERY ACCIDENT CLAIMS

Machinery Accidents at Work – Injury Compensation Claim

There are in excess of 60,000 machinery accidents that cause serious injury recorded in the UK every year. The causes of a machinery accident are many and various with the most common reasons including contact with moving parts (particularly rotating shafts, cogs and rollers), electrical shocks or burns including contact with corrosive chemicals, injury by flying debris including swarf or turnings and emission of a harmful substance which is usually gaseous. Whatever the cause, machinery accidents have the potential to be fatal and very often they result in severe injuries including amputation, blindness and chest or lung problems. The victim of an employers failure to comply with legislation can take action in a machinery accident compensation claim and receive substantial damages for any personal injury caused by an employers negligence.

Machinery Accidents & Potential Criminal Proceedings

Both United Kingdom and European Union worker safety legislation addresses machinery accidents thoroughly and includes provisions covering dangerous and unguarded machinery. An employer is required to make sure that the machinery used by employees is safe and that they are trained to use them. Failure to follow the safety guidelines may mean more than just a machinery accident claim for personal injury compensation but can also mean the prospect of criminal proceedings against the directors or owners of the business particularly in the case of a fatal accident where charges of manslaughter can result in very substantial fines and/or a sentence of imprisonment.

Machinery Accident Compensation Claim

If you have been the victim of an accident caused by a lack of protective guards, flying debris, shock or burns, a technical defect of a machine or broken machinery then you are more likely to have a successful injury compensation claim against your employer. Likewise, if you were not properly trained in the dangers posed by a particular piece of machinery and suffered an injury as a result of your lack of knowledge; you may be in a position to file a compensation claim. On the other hand, if you received proper training in the use of a machine and it was in good working order at the time of your accident and the cause of the accident was due to a simple mistake by yourself then you may not be able to make a successful claim for compensation.

No Win No Fee Compensation Claims

If you are the victim of a machinery accident, make sure that the facts are recorded in the incident report book, which every company is obliged by law to keep and is also required to read, in order to verify the accuracy of each entry. Keep a written record of the personal details of any witnesses to the accident. Take photographs of any injuries immediately, as well as of the machinery involved, if possible and keep a full record of all subsequent events including the expenses you have accrued as a result of your injuries. Do not accept any offers of settlement from the employer, any individual, lawyer or insurance company prior to seeking the advice of a solicitor. Bear in mind that time limits apply and you should take qualified legal advice as soon as possible to help preserve your legal right to receive compensation for personal injury suffered as a result of the negligence by a third party.