Falls from a height claims

Working at height is a feature of many industrial occupations but safety measures must be put in place to prevent the risk of an accident. If these fail then a serious injury or death will occur.

If a task has to be completed at a height then safety measures must be put in place to protect the employee. This may include safety barriers or a harness.

Another option is to look at ways of completing the task on the ground which will reduce any risks.

However, there are certain jobs which involve working above ground level which include construction work and painting and decorating. There is a high risk of an injury due to the fact that they involve working at a certain height which means health and safety guidelines must be implemented.

If you are employed in this or a similar capacity and have sustained an injury due to a fall then you may be able to claim compensation. This rests upon you being able to prove that your employer failed to provide sufficient safeguards for your protection.

Common types of falls

There are a wide range of accidents which involve a fall from a height but the most common ones include:

• Falling from a ladder or scaffolding
• Falling down a flight of stairs
• Falling through a roof
• Falling down steps

Accidents such as these take place in a variety of environments such as warehouses, factories, construction sites and offices.

Anyone who does these types of jobs understands that they carry a higher percentage of risk and accept these accordingly. This means taking personal responsibility for their actions and an awareness of how these may affect others.

If there are guidelines in place then it is important to follow these but if these are inadequate or not there at all then this increases the risk of an accident.

In those situations the employer is considered liable for compensation.

Effects of a fall from a height

Falling from a height is no laughing matter. Even a fall from a relatively low level can cause an injury and in some cases this can have long term effects.

A fall may result in time off work which ranges from a few days off to several months. A serious injury may force you to change jobs or stop working completely which then impacts upon you and your family.

This change in your circumstances means a loss of earnings plus pension rights which is stress for all concerned. It means a drop in your living standards and having to cope on a reduced income which causes a great deal of stress.

A chronic injury or disability changes your life forever. It means having to cope with an altered lifestyle which is difficult to come to terms with.

This is something your family also has to face and it is not easy.

Your injury may mean having to pay out for rehabilitation and/or specialist care and support, for example, 24 hour nursing care. You may require specialist aids, medication or alterations to your home.

Compensation can help. It will not turn the clock back but it can ease the stress caused by all of this by covering these expenses.

If you have to take taxis to hospital on a regular basis then it can pay for this or if you decide to go for private treatment. It can also be used to pay for specialist therapies such as physiotherapy or aids to make your life a bit easier.

Making a claim for compensation for a fall from a height

Search for a personal injury law firm that has people specially trained in claims of this sort. These types of claims require skill and expertise plus knowledge of the many complex issues involved.

So it is important that you find a lawyer or solicitor with experience in this type of claim.

He or she should handle your claim with sensitivity and understanding, and advise you accordingly. This means discussing each step of the claims process with you and keeping you updated.

Before this happens he or she will assess your claim to see if there is sufficient evidence to pursue it. If so, then you will be encouraged to make a claim.

Find out more about the claims process in our making a claim for compensation section.

Time limit for claiming compensation for a fall from a height

There are strict guidelines regarding personal injury claims which must be adhered to.

The time limit for a personal injury claim is 3 years from the date of the accident, but, this does vary in some types of claims. There are some claims which have a longer time limit due to the cause, e.g. industrial diseases such as asbestosis.

Your lawyer or solicitor will discuss the time limit for a personal injury claim with you.