By Cat Way. Last Updated March 2024. A conveyor belt accident in the workplace can lead to a range of injuries. However, not all workplace accidents can form the basis of a valid claim.
In this guide, we will explain how to claim for an accident at work and when you may be eligible to receive compensation. We will also discuss how these kinds of accidents can happen in the workplace, how compensation is calculated and the different areas of your claim. Following this, we will touch on how the guidance of a solicitor could benefit your case.
Conveyor belt accident claims guide
Our advisors can answer any questions you may have about the accident at work claims process. If you get in touch, they can offer free legal advice and an evaluation of your potential claim. To get started:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Start your claim online
- Use the live chat feature for immediate support
Browse Our Guide
- How To Claim For A Conveyor Belt Accident At Work
- How Can Accidents At Work Involving A Conveyor Belt Happen?
- Ways To Prove A Claim For An Accident At Work
- Compensation Examples For Conveyor Belt Accident Claims
- Get Help With Your Claim From A No Win No Fee Solicitor
- Find Out More About Conveyor Belt Accident At Work Claims
How To Claim For A Conveyor Belt Accident At Work
In order to form the basis of a valid claim for a conveyor belt accident at work, your case must meet the below criteria:
- Your employer must have owed you a duty of care
- They must breach this duty
- As a result of this breach, you are injured
Every employer owes their employees a duty of care as stated by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HASAWA). To fulfil this duty, they must take all reasonably practicable steps to keep their employees safe in the workplace. If they fail to do this, and you are injured, this is an example of negligence.
How Long Do I Have To Make A Conveyor Belt Accident At Work Claim?
You may be wondering how long you have to start a claim for a conveyor belt injury. Under the Limitation Act 1980, you will generally have three years to start a claim for an accident at work. However, this legislation does lay out some exceptions to this rule.
For those who were under the age of 18 when they were injured, the time limit is frozen. It reinstates on their 18th birthday, and runs until they turn 21. While the time limit is frozen, they may not begin a claim for themselves, but a litigation friend may start their claim on their behalf.
Similarly, the time limit is suspended indefinitely for those who lack the mental capacity to make a claim for themselves. Should they regain the appropriate capacity, then the time limit will reinstate on the date of their recovery. Otherwise, while the time limit remains frozen, a litigation friend may make a claim on their behalf.
Our team of advisors can offer more information on claims for conveyor belt accidents when you get in touch today.
How Can Accidents At Work Involving A Conveyor Belt Happen?
Conveyor belts can be used in warehouses, factories, and assembly plants, and a conveyor belt accident can have a range of different effects. But, as we have previously mentioned, your injuries must be caused by negligence if you intend to make a claim.
For example:
- If you have previously reported faults with the conveyor belt to your employer, but they have ignored your concerns and allowed you to continue working with it, this could lead to an accident in which you’re injured
- If your employer provides inadequate training or does not train you at all in how to safely work on a conveyor belt, this could result in an accident at work
- If the conveyor belt is not adequately checked or maintained, this could cause it to snap and hit you, resulting in injuries.
For more examples of how a conveyor belt accident could occur as a result of negligence, get in touch with our team of advisors today.
Ways To Prove A Claim For An Accident At Work
You may be wondering how you could prove your claim for a conveyor belt accident at work. Collecting evidence can be very beneficial to your claim and can be done by yourself or with the help of a solicitor. Evidence that could help support your claim can include:
- Medical records: Your medical records can provide proof of your injuries, their severity, and the treatment you received for them. You might also be asked to attend an independent medical assessment as part of the claims process.
- CCTV footage: Many workplaces are outfitted with CCTV systems. You could potentially request the footage of your accident to help support your claim.
- Accident book logs: If your workplace has ten or more employees, there must be an accident book. Logging your accident here creates a record of what happened and can be used to help support your claim later.
- Witness contact details: If you collect the contact details of potential witnesses, this could allow a professional to take their statements at a later date.
To learn how one of our solicitors could help you gather evidence and support your claim, contact our team today.
Compensation Examples For Conveyor Belt Accident Claims
If you successfully claim for a conveyor belt injury, your award could contain up to two heads of compensation. First, we’ll discuss general damages. This head of loss is awarded to all successful claimants and covers the harm you have suffered as a result of your injuries. This can include both physical and mental injuries, as well as the ways in which these injuries affect your quality of life.
When solicitors and legal professionals value general damages, they may refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). This document provides guideline compensation amounts for different injuries and illnesses. You can find some examples that could be relevant to conveyor belt injuries in the table below, but please note that these figures are not guaranteed.
JCG Examples
| Injury Type | Compensation Bracket | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moderately Severe Brain Injury (b) | £219,070 to £282,010 | There is a need for constant care due to a substantial dependence on others caused by very significant levels of disability. |
| Less Severe Brain Injury (d) | £15,320 to £43,060 | Even though there may not be a full restoration of all functions, the person will make a good recovery, and they will be able to take part in a normal working or social life. |
| Total Loss of Both Hands (a) | £140,660 to £201,490 | Extensive damage to both hands caused by serious injuries renders them both effectively useless. |
| Total or Effective Loss of One Hands (c) | £96,160 to £109,650 | Injuries in this bracket can include crush injuries that lead to surgical amputation, or injuries that result in all fingers and most of the palm to be amputated traumatically. |
| Serious Damage to Both Hands (b) | £55,820 to £84,570 | There is a significant loss of function, and a permanent cosmetic effect to both hands. |
| Serious Hand Injuries (e) | £29,000 to £61,910 | In this bracket, injuries will have reduced the hand to around 50% capacity. |
| Less Serious Hand Injury (g) | £14,450 to £29,000 | This bracket can contain crush injuries that cause a reduction in function but do not require future surgery. |
| Fracture of Index Finger (j) | £9,110 to £12,240 | In this bracket, the fracture will have healed rapidly, however there will still be some remaining impairment of function, pain, and risk of osteoarthritis. |
| Total Loss Of One Eye (d) | £54,830 to £65,710 | Consideration is given to cosmetic effect, as well as the age of the claimant and any psychological effects the loss has. |
| Digestive System Injuries (a) (iii) | £6,610 to £12,590 | This bracket includes instances of industrial laceration or penetrating stab wounds. |
The second head of compensation is special damages. This covers the financial losses you incur as a result of your injuries. For example, special damages may help you recoup the cost of:
- Travel
- Childcare
- Domestic help
- Lost earnings
- Prescriptions and other medications
These are just a few examples of what special damages could cover, but it’s important to note that you will need to be able to prove your losses in order to claim for them. To learn more, contact our team of advisors today, or read on.
Get Help With Your Claim From A No Win No Fee Solicitor
One of our No Win No Fee solicitors could help you make a conveyor belt accident claim by offering their legal services under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Usually, accessing services under a No Win No Fee contract such as this means you do not have to pay any upfront fees to your solicitor. Similarly, your solicitor will not typically require any ongoing fees as your case progresses.
Usually, the only fee that your solicitor will take is a success fee if you are awarded compensation. This fee is taken directly from your settlement. However, it has a legislative cap to ensure that you keep most of what you receive. There is generally nothing to pay to your solicitor if your claim does not succeed.
Contact Us
Our advisors are on hand to evaluate your claim and can potentially put you in contact with one of our solicitors. To learn more:
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Start your claim online
- Use the live chat feature for immediate support
Find Out More About Conveyor Belt Accident At Work Claims
To learn more about accident at work claims:
- Read our guide on the 10 things to know about accident at work claims to learn more about making an accident at work compensation claim.
- You might be wondering, ‘can I claim injury compensation if I have left the company?’ Our guide offers more information on claiming once you have left the company.
- You may be wondering if you can lose your job if you claim against your employer. Our guide answers this questions and offers more information on the personal injury claims process.
- I Was Injured In A Tiredness Or Fatigue Accident At Work, Can I Claim?
- Compensation Claims For Industrial Dermatitis
Or, to access more helpful resources follow the links below:
- NHS – When to call 999
- GOV – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- HSE – Workers’ Health and Safety
Contact our team today to see if you are entitled to make a conveyor belt accident claim.
