Accident at Work: What to Do Immediately: Complete UK Guide

Captain Claim
May 8
9 min read

Quick Answer

Seek medical attention - even if the injury seems minor
Report it to your employer and get it recorded in the Accident Book
Photograph the scene, hazards, and any equipment involved
Keep financial records of every cost caused by your injury
Speak to a specialist solicitor - free advice could protect your rights

What Should You Do After a Workplace Accident?

An accident at work can happen in seconds, but what you do in the hours and days afterwards can affect your health, your income, and your legal rights for months or years to come.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 604,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury at work in Great Britain in 2023/24, and that figure rose to approximately 680,000 in 2024/25. Despite this, many injured workers do not know their rights, or feel too worried to act on them.

UK law places clear duties on employers to keep their staff safe. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 is the primary piece of legislation that establishes your employer's duty of care, the legal obligation to take all reasonably practicable steps to protect your health, safety and welfare at work. When that duty is breached and someone is injured, the law gives that person the right to claim compensation.

Many injured workers delay taking action because they feel loyal to their employer, worry about their job, or assume the accident was somehow their own fault. In most cases, none of those concerns should stop you acting. This guide explains exactly what to do, and why each step matters.

What Duties Does Your Employer Have?

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, your employer is legally required to:

Carry out and regularly review risk assessments
Provide adequate training so you can do your job safely
Ensure all equipment and machinery is safe and properly maintained
Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where needed
Keep the workplace in a safe and tidy condition
Report certain injuries to the HSE under RIDDOR (See step 2 below)

If your employer has failed to meet any of these obligations and you have been injured as a result, this is likely to amount to negligence, and you may have grounds to claim.

Step 1: Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Your health always comes first.

Even if your injury seems minor, some of the most common workplace injurires, including whiplash, soft tissue damage, concussions, and back injuries, can worsen significantly without eaarly treatment.

What to do:

Call 999 in any emergency
Attend A&E if the injury requires urgent care
Visit your GP as soon as possible
Follow all medical advice, including follow-up appointments

Why this matters for your claim:

Medical records are among the most important pieces of evidence in any accident at work claim. They establish the nature and severity of your injuries, when your symptoms first appeared, and the likely long-term impact on your health and daily life.

Make sure that when you attend A&E or your GP, the cause of yur injury is accurately recorded in your notes. If you attend A&E, tell staff clearly that you were injured at work.

Failing to seek medical attention early, or ignoring advice to rest, can seriously weaken your claim, even if your employer was clearly at fault.

Step 2: Report the Accident to Your Employer

Under UK law, workplace accidents must be formally recorded. This is not optional.

You should report the accident:

Immediately if possible
Or as soon as reasonably practicable

Ask your employer to record the accident in the Accident Book. Under the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, most workplaces with ten or more employees are legally required to maintain one.

Make sure the record includes:

The date and time of the accident
The exact location where it happened
How the accident occurred
A description of your injuries
The names of any witnesses

Take photography of the entry once it has been completed. If you cannot photograph it, write down what it says, including the date you made the report.

If your employer refuses to record the accident, send a follow-up email to your line manager or HR department the same day, confirming what happened and when. Keep a copy. This creates a written record that is very difficult to dispte later.

What about RIDDOR?

The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) places a separate legal duty on employers to report certain workplace accidents to the HSE. RIDDOR reporting is required when, among other circumstances:

A worker is unable to perform their normal duties for more than seven consecutive days as a result of the accident
A worker suffers a specified serious injury (such as a fracture, amputation, or loss of sight)
A worker is killed

You do not need to wait for a RIDDOR report to be made before pursuing your claim, but if a report has been filed, it can be powerful supporting evidence.

Step 3: Preserve Evidence

The earlier you gather evidence, the stronger your position will be.

If you are physically able, do the following as soon as possible:

Photograph the accident scene from multiple angles
Photograph any defective equipment, machinery, or PPE
Photograph spillages, broken flooring, uneven surfaces, or other hazards
Keep any damaged clothing, do not wash or discard it
Collect the names and contact details of anyone who witnessed the accident

CCTV Footage: If cameras at your workplace may have captured the incident, request in writing, immediately, that the footage is preserved. Many systems automatically overwrite recordings within 24 to 72 hours. Under the UK GDPR, your employer has 30 days to respond to a subject access request for footage that includes you. Once it is gone, it cannot be recovered.

Step 4: Keep a Record of Every Financial Loss

A workplace accident claim can include compensation for more than just your injuries. You may also be entitled to recover financial losses, known legally as special damages.

Keep receipts and records for:

Lost earnings while you were unable to work
Reduced pay due to missed overtime or bonuses
Future loss of earnings if your injury affects your ability to work long term
Prescription and medication costs
Travel to and from medical appoinments
Physiotherapy, rehabilitation, or private treatment
Care provided by a family member or friend
Home adaptations required as a result of your injury

Statutory Sick Pay: If you are off work due to your injury, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from your employer. SSP is currently £123.25 per week (2026/27 rate). However, this rarely covers your full loss of income, which is precisely why recovering lost earnings through a compensation claim matters.

Compensation is not taxable. Any money you receive as personal injury compensation, including both general damages and special damages, is not subject to income tax or National Insurance in the UK.

Step 5: Speak to a Specialist Accident at Work Solicitor

Many injured workers delay getting legal advice, and it costs them.

Common reasons people hesitate:

Loyalty to their employer
Fear of losing their job
Thinking the accident was partly their fault
Assuming the process will be complicated or expensive

Here is the reality: most accident at work claims are handled by your employer's liability insurance, not directly by your employer. Under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, most employers are legally required to hold employers' liability insurance. Professional employers understand that this insurance exists precisely for these situations. Making a claim does not have to damage your working relationship.

Early legal advice ensures that key deadlines are identified and protected, evidence is gathered before it disappears, your rights are clearly explained from the outset, and insurers are handled by someone who understands their tactics.

How Much Compensation Could You Recieve?

Compensation in workplace accident claims falls into two categories:

General damages cover pain, suffering, and loss of amenity (the impact the injuries have on your ability to live life as you did before).

Special damages cover your actual financial losses, everything listed in Step 4 above.

A specialist solicitor will be able to give you a realistic estimate of your total claim once they understand the full picture of your injuries and losses.

What is the Claims Process?

Many people want to understand what actually happens after they instruct a solicitor. In broad terms, the process works as follows:

Free initial consultation
Your solicitor assesses whether you have a valid claim
Letter of claim
Your solicitor notifies your employer's insurer, setting out what happened and the compensation sought
Insurer response
The insurer has a set period to investigate and confrim whether they accept or dispute liability
Evidence and medical assessment
An independent medical expert assesses your injuries and produces a report
Negotiation
Your soliciotr negotiates a settlement with the insurer
Settlement or court
The majority of claims settle without going to court; if the insurer disputes liability or the amount, your soliciotr can issue proceedings

Straightforward claims often conclude within 6 to 12 months. More complex claims involving serious injuries or disputed liability can take longer. Your soliciotr should keep you informed at every stage.

Will Claiming Affect Your Job?

This is one of the most common concerns, and the answer is clear.

It is unlawful for an employer to dismiss you, demote you, or treat you unfairly for making a legitimate personal injury claim. The Employment Rights Act 1996 protects you from such retaliation.

If your employer takes adverse action against you because you exercised your legal rights, that conduct may amount to unfair dismissal or victimisation, which are separate legal claims you could pursue.

In practice, your claim will almost certainly be handled by your employer's liability insurer, not by your employer personally. The process is typically less confrontational than people expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim if the accident was partly my fault?

Yes. Even if you were partially responsible for what happened, you may still be entitled to compensation under the legal principle of contributory negligence. Liability can be split in any proportion, so if the accident was 75% your employer's fault and 25% yours, you would typically receive 75% of the compensation. Your employer's duty to provide a safe working environment remians, regardless.

What if the accident wasn't recorded in the Accident Book?

You can still make a claim. An Accident Book entry is helpful evidence, but it is not essential. Medical records, witness statement, photographs, and CCTV footage can all support your case. If the accident was not formally recorded at the time, notify your employer in writing as soon as possible and keep a copy of that communication.

How long do I have to make a claim?

In most cases, under the Limitation Act 1980, you have three years from the date of the accident to begin court proceedings. Missing the deadline will usually mean you lose the right to claim entirely.

If your injury developed gradually over time, such as a repetitive strain injury, industrial disease, or occupational deafness, the three year period typically runs from the date of knowledge: the date you first became aware the condition was linked to your work.

Exceptions apply for children (time runs from their 18th birthday) and those without mental capacity (time is suspended while capacity is absent).

Can I claim if i am self-employed or an agency worker?

Potentially, yes. Health and safety law protects not just employees but also self-employed contractors, agency workers, and temporary workers while they are on an employer's premises and carrying out work-related duties. They key question is whether a duty of care was owed to you and whether that duty was breached. If you are self-employed or work through an agency and have been injured at work, it is worth speaking to a solicitor to understand your position.

Can I claim for a psychological injury or mental health condition?

Yes. If you have developed a recognised psychological condition, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression, as a direct result of a workplace accident or your employer's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for that condition. The Judicial College Guidelines include specific brackets for psychological injuries. Medical evidence and, in most case, a formal diagnosis will be required to support such a claim.

Can I claim if my injury aggravated a pre-exisiting condition?

Yes. If you had a pre-exisiting condition and the workplace accident made it significantly worse, you may still be entitled to compensation. Your claim would relate to the additional harm caused by the accident, the extent to which the accident worsened your condition, rather than the underlying condition itself.

What if my employer disputes the claim?

If your employer's insurer disputes liability, your solicitor will gather and present evidence to challenge that position. This may include accident scene evidence, witness statements, medical records, and expert evidence. The majority of disputed claims still settled without going to court. If court proceedings do become necessary, your solicitor will handle this on your behalf.

How does a No Win No Fee agreement work?

Under a No Win No Fee agreement (formally known as a COnditional Fee Agreement or CFA), you pay nothing upfront and nothing if your claim is unsuccessful. If your claim succeeds, a pre-agreed percentage of your compensation, capped by law, covers legal costs. Your solicitor must explain the exact terms clearly before you agree to anything.

Ready to Talk to Captain Claim?

If you have suffered an accident at work, early advice can make a real difference to your claim, and your peace of mind.

Contact Captain Claim today for a free, no-obligation discussion. We will explain whether you have a valid claim, what it may be worth, how No Win No Fee works in practice, and what the next steps are to protect your rights.

Your recovery matters. Your rights matter. Captain Claim is here to help

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This guide is intended for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The law described applies to England and Wales. If you have been injured at work, please seek specialist legal advice specific to your circumstances.