Office Work Accident

Office Work Accident: How to claim compensation for injury at work in an office environment using the example of a cut and scar injury

Office work accident compensation claim: Solicitor sets what you should do immediately following an injury at work; the records you should keep; how to prove your employer is legally at fault; how to calculate compensation amounts for scarring injuries and how to determine whether make an accident claim using our free online specialist solicitor assistance.

Office Work Accident Question

Office work accident – what should I do?

I work in an office. A couple of weeks ago my desk was wobbly, so I complained to management and my desk was replaced with an older one, which I believe had been in storage.

Yesterday, as I rolled my chair under the desk – my leg caught on a piece of metal support which was very sharp and cut my leg along the thigh.

As it was the end of the day – I did not report the matter and went home. It was only at home I appreciated that the cut was long and quite deep.

I do not know if I have an office work accident claim or if I wish to claim against my employer.

What should I do?

Office Work Accident Solicitor Response

If there is an accident at work, whether a claim is to be considered or otherwise, that accident should be reported at work and a record made in the works accident book (contemporaneous entry – as soon as the accident occurs or as close as possible in time to the accident events). Typically, there will be a written description of the office work accident events that are checked and signed by the injured party – thus verifying the accuracy of the entry being made.

This serves a few functions:

  1. Employers are required by law to keep a record of office work accidents / all accidents at work.
  2. The report might highlight a danger that the employer is unaware of or may not have identified. This will allow the employer to remedy and further risk assess (potentially keeping others from being injured in the same way).
  3. If the injury is serious or the employee is off for 3 or more days as a result of the injury – the employer must make a RIDDOR report to the Health & Safety Executive.
  4. The workplace’s employment liability insurer will want to see proper accident book entries being made, which will avoid a dispute of cover if a claim is made.
  5. If a claim is to be considered the accident book entry is a vital record – invaluable evidence to show that the accident occurred in the manner described (the burden of proof to prove every aspect of the claim lies with the Claimant). Access to accident book entries can be obtained in disclosure as part of a claim.

In addition, you should consider the following steps:

1) Attend at hospital / GP as soon after the office work accident. Entries in medical notes will support the nature of the injury, the date and how the injury was incurred (the Claimant must prove every aspect of the case, including medical causation).

The Claimant is under a duty to mitigate the loss, so attending at the doctors for treatment is important (if a nasty cut there may be stitches necessary or certain creams available to avoid scarring).

2) Check to see if you have legal protection cover – this can be found on household contents insurance, some bank accounts (more typically ones that you pay a an annual fee for), some credit cards (some have legal cover that extend beyond the credit card purchases, but more unusual) or union membership (access to a union solicitor free of charge). 

Even if you are undecided whether to make an office work accident claim – you should still check as there is often a tight contractual time period to use such cover (sometimes a matter of months).

With such cover your will typically be able to have an insurance panel solicitor make your claim without any cost or any deductions from your compensation (there is the potential for deductions from compensation if a solicitor is instructed using a no win no fee). 

3) Keep a diary of your symptoms, e.g. initial pain from the cut, if there is scarring – whether the scarring is raised or indented, causes irritation, changes colour in hot or cold, psychological effect if visible, etc.)

4) There are a number of additional steps you should take following a work accident and further records to support a personal injury claim.

Proving Your Employer Is At Fault For Your Office Work Accident

There is a good chance that your employer will be liable for your cut injury office work accident due to defective work equipment which causes injury.

See our article proving a work accident claim for the general process your solicitor will follow to show your employer is at fault for office work accident claims.

How Much Compensation For A Cut Injury At Work With Scarring?

The amount of compensation you can claim will largely depend on the extent of your cut and any scarring you might experience.

See our scarring injury compensation amounts article for description of how this is calculated and examples office work accident compensation amounts.

Can you discuss your office work accident claim for free before deciding whether to go ahead?

“Yes” – you can discuss your options with our specialist solicitors either on the phone or online before deciding whether to make a office work accident claim.

See our free specialist solicitor help options and see what accident site users have said who have used our free legal help.