If you've been injured while working in a factory and feel your employer was at fault, you could make a factory accident compensation claim.
We are a trusted claims management company helping people make personal injury claims for over 15 years.
Factory Accident Claims
If you’ve been injured while working in a factory due to someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a factory accident claim for compensation.
Factory injuries, such as muscle and nerve damage, fractures, crush injuries or traumatic brain injuries, can have a significant impact on your life, work and finances. A successful claim will reflect all your pain and suffering, as well as the related financial losses and expenses.
Our legal team has successfully secured compensation for factory workers following a range of workplace accidents caused by hazards such as machinery, manual handling, chemicals, or forklift trucks.
Call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back today to find out if you can make a factory injury claim and how much compensation you could be entitled to receive.
Key points about factory accident claims
- Eligibility: You may be able to claim if you were injured while working in a factory due to poor safety practices or faulty machinery.
- Employer Responsibilities: Employers must comply with workplace safety laws and provide training, supervision, and maintenance.
- Time Limit: You have 3 years from the date of the accident or diagnosis to start a claim.
- Compensation: May cover pain, suffering, lost wages, and future care or rehabilitation.
- No Win, No Fee: Your solicitor will act on a no win, no fee basis — you only pay a fee if your claim is successful.
Table of Contents
What is a factory accident compensation claim?
A factory accident claim is a type of workplace accident claim that can be made by factory workers who were injured at work. To have a valid claim, you must be able to prove that another party was at fault for the accident and that your injuries caused you pain, suffering and/or financial losses.
In the UK, manufacturing accounts for 15-22% of the entire country’s economy and around 18-27% of employment. The number of injuries in the manufacturing sector is also high, averaging 55,000 non-fatal and 17 fatal injuries per year, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
This guide explains how to make a claim, what evidence is needed and how much compensation for a factory accident you might be entitled to.
Can I make a factory accident claim?
Yes. If you suffered injuries due to an accident in a factory, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. This will usually only be possible as long as:
- Your accident happened in the last three years.
- Another party was responsible for your accident and injury.
- That party had a duty of care towards you.
Even if your employer was not directly at fault, you might still be able to claim compensation under vicarious liability. This means they may still be responsible if another worker’s negligence caused your accident.
What steps should an employer take to prevent accidents and injuries to factory workers?
The manufacturing sector is among the most dangerous workplaces, and employers must follow strict health and safety laws to reduce the risk of factory accidents. Their duties include:
- Provide proper training for your job.
- Maintain all equipment and machinery in good working order.
- Carry out regular risk assessments to identify hazards.
- Make sure you receive the proper manual handling instructions.
- Provide suitable PPE free of charge.
- Maintain good housekeeping to prevent slips and trips.
- Conduct periodic safety checks of electrical equipment.
- Make sure all hazardous substances are correctly stored, handled and disposed of.
Your employer’s duty of care and negligence will be established based on several main pieces of legislation that apply to the manufacturing sector:
- The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.
- The Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations.
- The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment (PUWER) Regulations 1998.
If you were injured in a factory setting due to a breach of any of these regulations, you might be entitled to start a factory accident claim.
How long do I have to claim for a factory accident?
Usually, you have three years from the date you were injured to claim for factory accidents, but there are a few exceptions:
- If your injury developed over time, the three years begin from the date it was diagnosed and linked to negligence (the date of knowledge).
- If you were under 18 at the time of injury, the 3-year time limit only begins on your 18th birthday, so you have until 21 to start a claim.
- The claim limitation period is suspended if the injured party lacks the mental capacity to handle a claim.
- You could make a fatal injury claim within 3 years after a loved one has passed away because of an industrial accident.
We advise you to get in touch as soon as possible with a solicitor, as this will help them gather the best evidence to support your claim and win compensation.
What should I do if I’m injured in a factory accident?
If you are injured in a work accident, you should take the following steps to support your recovery and any future claim as best as possible:
- Take photographs of the accident scene and contributing hazards.
- Take pictures of any visible injuries and your recovery process.
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries.
- Get the contact details of any witnesses to your accident.
- If the area is covered by security cameras, ask for the CCTV footage of your accident.
- Report the accident to your employer and make sure it is recorded in the accident book.
- Keep track of all financial losses and expenses related to your accident.
Do not hesitate to contact a personal injury solicitor if you are considering a factory injury compensation claim. They will offer you a free case review and guide you through the claims process.
How much is a factory accident compensation claim worth?
The amount of factory accident compensation you could receive will depend on the accident circumstances and the severity of your injuries. Your solicitor will assess the full impact on your life to calculate a suitable compensation award that will cover two types of damages:
Special damages or financial losses and expenses, such as:
- Private medical treatments.
- Travel and accommodation expenses.
- Lost earnings if you had to take time off work.
- Costs of private care.
- Modifications to your home or vehicle.
General damages for the injury itself and the impact it had on your life, including:
- Physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional and psychological distress.
- Reduced quality of life.
- Scarring and disfigurement.
- Loss of prospects and amenities.
The Judicial College, a department of the Ministry of Justice, issues guidelines that solicitors use when calculating compensation for injuries. According to the 18th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines and our free compensation calculator, you could receive the following awards, depending on your circumstances:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Brain Damage | Brain damage causing severe physical and cognitive disability, full-time nursing care and significantly reduced life expectancy | £373,000 - £534,000 |
| Amputation Of Arms | Amputation of one arm above the elbow | £145,000 - £173,000 |
| Foot Injuries | A very severe foot injury causing permanent severe pain or serious disability | £111,000 - £145,000 |
| Back Injuries | Back injuries causing chronic conditions and permanent disabilities | £51,000 - £92,000 |
| Scarring To The Face | Facial scarring causing substantial disfigurement and significant psychological impact | £24,000 - £64,000 |
| Deafness Or Tinnitus | Severe tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) | £39,000 - £60,000 |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | Serious partial sight loss in one eye | £31,000 - £52,000 |
| Knee Injuries | A moderate knee injury causing minor instability or weakness | £20,000 - £35,000 |
| Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders | Work-related upper limb disorder recovering fully within 3 years | £11,000 - £14,000 |
To find out how much factory accident compensation your claim could be worth, call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back for a free consultation with a legal adviser.
Can I make a no win no fee factory accident claim?
If you were injured in an accident at work and can proceed with a factory compensation claim, your solicitor will offer you a no win no fee service. This is the preferred way to claim personal injury compensation because:
- You can start the claims process without paying anything upfront.
- If your claim is unsuccessful, you do not have to pay your solicitor at all.
You will only have to pay a success fee to your solicitor if you win. They will explain this fee to you in detail before starting legal proceedings, but it cannot exceed 25% of your compensation for general damages and past financial losses.
What are the most common types of factory accident claims?
There are many causes of factory accidents, from lack of training to poorly maintained equipment. An experienced solicitor could help you make a factory accident claim on a no win no fee basis if your injury was caused by:
If you or a loved one suffered any kind of accident at work, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible to find out if you can claim factory accident compensation.
Can I still claim compensation if the factory accident was partly my fault?
Yes. Even if you were partially at fault for your factory accident and injuries, you could still make a compensation claim. For example, you may have ignored a warning sign or failed to wear your personal protective equipment (PPE).
If contributory negligence is established, your compensation award will be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered a leg injury valued at £20,000 and you are found to be 25% to blame, you would only be awarded £15,000.
Could I lose my job for making a factory accident claim?
If you’ve been injured at work, it’s natural to worry about how an accident at work claim against your employer might affect your job. You might fear they might dismiss you, treat you differently, or be affected by out-of-pocket costs.
Rest assured that your employer will not be affected by your claim. Employers must hold valid insurance to cover personal injury claims, and your compensation will be covered by their insurer.
Furthermore, under employment law, they cannot terminate your contract or treat you differently simply for your claim. If they act unlawfully, you can make a further claim at an employment tribunal under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
For a free consultation, call 0800 470 0472 or use our online claim form to request a call back. An experienced solicitor can let you know if you are eligible to make a factory accident compensation claim and answer any questions you may have.
