This guide will review how to make a claim for an accident at work caused by oil. It will discuss the eligibility requirements for making a personal injury claim following an accident of this nature as well as the steps you can take to strengthen your case.
How To Claim For An Accident At Work Caused By Oil
We are also going to look at the legislation that sets out an employer’s duty of care and the responsibilities they have to keep employees safe. Additionally, we will discuss how an accident involving oil could occur if an employer breaches this duty, as well as the injuries that could be sustained, such as burns.
The article will also provide an insight into the compensation you could receive after making a successful claim.
Finally, we will focus on the benefits of using a No Win No Fee solicitor to begin an accident at work claim.
If you want to learn more about claiming for an accident at work, contact our advisors today, they may be able to connect you with one of our solicitors. To get in touch, you can:
- Contact us online
- Call us on 0800 073 8804
- Message us using our live chat.
Select A Section
- When Could You Claim For An Accident At Work Caused By Oil?
- Causes Of Accidents At Work
- How To Prove Your Employer Was Negligent
- Calculating Compensation For An Accident At Work Caused By Oil
- Contact Us To Claim For Workplace Injury Compensation
- Learn More About Workplace Injury Claims
When Could You Claim For An Accident At Work Caused By Oil?
In order to be eligible to claim for an accident at work caused by oil, you must prove that there was negligence.
This is where you have been injured due to an employer’s failure to adhere to the duty of care placed on them by The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The duty of care means that an employer must take reasonable steps to maintain a safe workplace and prevent employee injury.
For this reason, the eligibility criteria for starting a personal injury claim following an accident at work are as follows:
- Firstly, you must prove that the employer owed you a duty of care.
- Secondly, you need to prove there was a breach of duty.
- Thirdly, you need to show that this breach caused your injury.
Work Injury Claim Time Limit
You must begin your claim within the personal injury claims time limit. In general, this time limit is three years from the date of the accident, outlined under the Limitation Act 1980. However, there are exceptions, such as:
- A claimant is unable to claim due to a lack of mental capacity. In this scenario, the time limit would be suspended indefinitely. If they regained their capacity, they will have three years to start their own claim from this date.
- Due to the claimant being under 18, they are not able to start their own claim. In this instance, the time limit is paused until the child turns 18. They will then have three years from their 18th birthday to start their own claim.
In both of these circumstances, a litigation friend could be appointed to act on the claimant’s behalf while the time limit is paused.
To find out more about whether you could be eligible to seek compensation and how long you have to do so, please get in touch on the number above.
Causes Of Accidents At Work
There are several ways an accident at work involving oil could occur. For example:
- An employee could slip or fall on an oil spill that wasn’t cleaned up correctly or signposted. As a result, they might sustain a broken wrist injury.
- An employee could sustain a burn injury on hot oil after not being provided with the correct and necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
It’s important to note that not all incidents of a workplace accident will form the basis of a valid claim. In order to seek personal injury compensation, you need to have suffered harm because your employer breached their duty of care.
To find out whether you are eligible, get in touch on the number above. Alternatively, continue reading to find out how you could prove negligence.
How To Prove Your Employer Was Negligent
In order to prove an accident at work claim, you must provide sufficient evidence to show negligence. Here is a list of examples of the evidence you can gather as part of the claims process:
- CCTV footage.
- A diary of symptoms and treatment.
- A copy of your medical records.
- The contact information of any witnesses so a statement can be taken at a later date.
- Request a copy of the incident report after filling out the accident book at work.
Although it is not a requirement to claim, it is can help to seek a solicitor’s help collating evidence for your claim.
Please feel free to contact us today. One of our advisors can answer any questions you have about the claims process and may put you through to one of our solicitors.
Calculating Compensation For An Accident At Work Caused By Oil
Following a successful claim, there are two heads that can make up compensation claims. General damages is the primary head of claim and will account for the pain and suffering that an injury has caused you; this will take into account the psychological and physical impact of your injuries.
Below, we have provided a compensation table. The figures have been taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a tool used to value general damages. The JCG documents injuries with varying severities accompanied by compensation guideline brackets. These should only be used as a guide because each settlement is unique.
Compensation Table
| Injury | Notes | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Scarring Affecting Other Parts Of The Body | Serious burn injuries with significant burns affecting 40% of the body or more. | Likely to exceed £104,830 |
| Scarring Affecting Other Parts Of The Body | Multiple laceration scars that can be noticed or one scar that is disfiguring affecting the legs, arms, hands, back or chest. | £7,830 to £22,730 |
| Scarring Affecting Other Parts Of The Body | A single scar that is noticeable or several scars that are superficial causing a minor cosmetic deficit. These affect the legs, arms or hands. | £2,370 to £7,830 |
| Very Severe Disfigurement To The Face | The cosmetic effect is very disfiguring and the person is severely impacted psychologically. | £29,780 to £97,330 |
| Less Severe Disfigurement To The Face | The disfigurement is substantial and the person has a significant psychological reaction. | £17,960 to £48,420 |
| Significant Disfigurement To The Face | The worst effects will have been reduced by surgery but there will still be some cosmetic disability and an improved psychological reaction. | £9,110 to £30,090 |
| Wrist Injuries | Function in the wrist is completely lost. | £47,620 to £59,860 |
| Shoulder Injuries | Serious: Shoulder dislocation and lower brachial plexus damage that causes shoulder and neck pain. | £12,770 to £19,200 |
Special Damages Awarded For Workplace Injury Claims
Special damages is the other head of claim and will compensate for the financial losses resulting from your injuries. Here is a list of potential losses you could claim back under special damages:
- Travel costs.
- The cost of medicine and other medical bills.
- Loss of income.
Please note that evidence will be needed to support your claim for special damages. For example, evidence for loss of earnings could include payslips and bank statements.
If you have any other questions about the compensation you could be awarded after making a successful claim, get in touch using the number above.
Contact Us To Claim For Workplace Injury Compensation
There are several benefits of starting your personal injury claim with a No Win No Fee solicitor. They can offer their services, such as helping you gather evidence and presenting your case in full, without requiring an upfront or ongoing fee.
If your claim succeeds, you will make a payment to your solicitor. This will be in the form of a success fee which is a percentage of your compensation and can cover part of the services they have provided. However, it is legally capped by The Conditional Fee Agreements Order 2013 and you won’t pay it if your claim fails.
If you would like to contact us to find out more about making a personal injury claim for an accident at work caused by oil, please use the details provided below. An advisor can assess whether you’re eligible to seek compensation and connect you with a solicitor from our panel if your claim is valid.
- Contact us online
- Call on 0800 073 8804
- Message via our live chat.
Learn More About Workplace Injury Claims
We have provided more of our guides below:
- Burn injury claims guide
- How much compensation for slipping on a wet floor could I claim?
- Fatal accident and wrongful death claims guide
We have provided more external resources below:
- Health and Safety Executive – Oily floors
- NHS – Burns and scalds
- NHS – First aid
Thank you for reading this guide on whether you could be eligible to start a personal injury claim for an accident at work caused by oil. If you have any other questions, please get in touch using the details provided above.
Written by Westwood
Edited by Mitchell
