By Mark Anderson. Last Updated 14th March 2024. Welcome to our guide, which covers compensation for a self-employed accident at work. As someone who is self-employed, you may be unsure as to what rights you have when it comes to personal injury claims for accidents at work. You may doubt whether you possess the same statutory rights as those in permanent employment. Who would be liable for an injury or illness that results from an act of negligence? While you may feel like you are not eligible to pursue a claim for compensation, this is not true.
Throughout this guide, we will explain how you may be able to make a claim for compensation if another party is at fault for your injury or illness. We will show how you could be afforded the same rights as those in regular employment, along with information about what circumstances you may find yourself ineligible to claim.
You may be worrying about what process to follow and what steps to take, which is understandable and is why our advisors are on hand to help evaluate the validity of your case in a free, no-obligation consultation. If after reading this guide you still have questions or queries about claiming compensation for a self-employed accident at work, call our friendly advisors on 0161 696 9685. Our lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a team of experts waiting to take your call.
Select A Section
- Can I Claim Compensation For A Self-Employed Accident At Work?
- What Effect Could An Accident At Work Have On Self-Employed Workers?
- How Could A Self-Employed Accident At Work Happen?
- What Compensation For A Self-Employed Accident At Work Could I Get?
- Steps To Take If You Are Self-Employed And Injured At Work
- How Legal Helpline Could Help If With A Self-Employed Work Accident Claim
- Helpful Resources On Accidents At Work
Can I Claim Compensation For A Self-Employed Accident At Work?
If you are looking to seek compensation for a self-employed accident at work, you must be able to demonstrate that you sustained injuries due to a third party breaching the duty of care they owed you.
When you are on the premises of another workplace, the party who controls that space owes you a duty of care. For example, if you are a self-employed electrician and are brought onto a building site to do work, the contractor in charge of this building site would owe you a duty of care. If they breached this duty, causing you to sustain harm, you might have an eligible personal injury claim.
Call on the number above to learn more about you’re eligibility to claim as someone who is self-employed and was injured at work.
What Effect Could An Accident At Work Have On Self-Employed Workers?
In some cases, a self-employed person could be left with long-term repercussions following a self-employed work accident, just like any workplace accident. The consequences of such an event could be detrimental to several areas in a person’s life. For example, a long-term injury could lead to financial loss, an extended absence from work or, in severe cases, termination of work entirely.
In a personal injury claim, these factors will be taken into consideration. This is where the importance of your medical assessment will come into play. Under this assessment, various aspects of your injury will be evaluated and a prognosis provided on your future condition. Instead of relying on an online personal injury claims calculator for a generalised estimation, please discuss your circumstances with an advisor from our panel, who could provide you with a more centralised total of your potential damages.
How Could A Self-Employed Accident At Work Happen?
There are several ways someone who is self-employed could be injured at work. For example:
- You are hired to carry out electric work in an office but because of wires and leads left trailing on the floor, you trip and fall and suffer a back injury.
- You are hired as a joiner to carry out work on a building site but are not provided with a hard hat. As a result, you are hit by a falling object and suffer a serious head injury.
Please keep in mind that in order to make a compensation claim, you need to prove third-party negligence occurred showing that a breach of duty caused your injuries.
To discuss your specific case and find out whether you’re eligible to claim compensation for a self-employed accident at work, call an advisor using the number above.
What Compensation For A Self-Employed Accident At Work Could I Get?
If you successfully claim compensation for a self-employed accident at work, you could be awarded a settlement comprising up to two heads of loss:
General damages: Awarding compensation to address the pain and suffering of your injuries. Medical evidence and a document called the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can help calculate the value of this head of your claim. The JCG contains guideline award brackets for different types of injuries.
Special damages: Awarding compensation to reimburse you for the financial losses incurred due to your injuries. This can include lost income, care costs, and medical bills. You should provide evidence of these losses in order to claim them back, such as wage slips and receipts.
Compensation Table
The figures in the table have been taken from the JCG, except for the first entry. Please use them as a guide only.
| Injury | Severity | Amount | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Serious Injuries with Financial Losses | Serious | Up to £500,000+ | Compensation for the effects of multiple serious injuries and the financial losses incurred, such as lost income, medical costs, and travel bills. |
| Leg Injury | Severe (i) | £96,250 to £135,920 | Although these may not involve amputation, an injury of this severity is considered to be of similar significance to a case of amputation. For example, this may include extensive degloving of the leg, gross shortening of the leg or fractures that do not unite and extensive bone grafting must be undertaken. |
| Severe (ii) | £54,830 to £87,890 | An injury of this level will require crutches or mobility aids for the remainder of the individual’s life due to permanent problems with mobility. In addition to this, the injury will include multiple fractures which take years to heal, require treatment of extensive levels and which give rise to serious deformity, limitation of movement and development of arthritis. | |
| Severe (iii) | £39,200 to £54,830 | A compound injury to the joint or ligament which results in serious instability, prolonged treatment and also non-weight-bearing which persists over a long period mobility. There will be a certainty that arthritis will ensue from this and extensive scarring will also be likely. | |
| Knee Injury | Severe (i) | £69,730 to £96,210 | A serious injury to the knee will cause disruption to the person’s joint and this will give rise to the development of osteoarthritis, gross ligamentous damage and other such symptoms which will lead to the inevitability of arthroplasty or arthrodesis. |
| Moderate (i) | £14,840 to £26,190 | Some examples of moderate knee injuries which will be considered for such a bracket include dislocation, torn cartilage or meniscus. As a result, the individual will experience minor instability, wasting, weakness and other such mild symptoms for future disability. | |
| Ankle Injury | Very Severe | £50,060 to £69,700 | There is a limited number of examples which fall into this bracket, many of which are unusual. These include transmalleolar fractures to the ankle which result in extensive soft-tissue damage and deformity of the ankle itself. In addition to this, there will be a high risk to future injury which will require amputation. |
| Severe | £31,310 to £50,060 | This type of injury will require an extensive period of treatment. This will incorporate the use of plaster, pins and/or plates which will lead to significant residual disability. For example, this could be through ankle stability or severe limited ability to walk. How much is awarded will depend on various features associated with arthrodesis, the presence of risk to osteoarthritis, regular sleep disturbance and other such symptoms. | |
| Moderate | £13,740 to £26,590 | These injuries will likely give rise to less serious disabilities, such as difficulty to walk on uneven ground, walk for a long period of time or generally stand. These repercussions will usually derive from fractures or ligamentous tears. | |
| Modest Injuries | Up to £13,740 | Although this bracket is less serious than those previously mentioned, the amount awarded will depend on whether a complete recovery is made and, in such cases where a recovery is not completed, what the likelihood may be for the ankle to give way. | |
| Achilles Tendon Injury | Most Serious | In the region of £38,430 | The most serious of Achilles tendon severance will give rise to a range of symptoms, such as restricted movement in the ankle, cramp and swelling. It will be necessary for the individual to cease active sports as a result. |
For more information on how much compensation you could be owed, please contact an advisor on the number above.
Steps To Take If You Are Self-Employed And Injured At Work
After an accident, your mind may be swamped with emotions and stressed thoughts. When you are able, it’s important to follow some simple steps to gather supporting evidence. These pieces of evidence will be used to strengthen your claim and may put you in better stead for a successful compensation claim. These steps include:
- Photograph The Scene: Following a self-employed work accident, you should take as many photographs of the accident itself as possible, including the cause.
- Gather Witness Contact Details: If anyone was in the vicinity and witnessed the incident, try and collect their contact details. It is important to note, however, that you should not gather a statement from the witnesses, as this is the responsibility of your personal injury lawyer.
- Seek Medical Attention: Even if you suffer a minor injury, you should seek medical attention to ensure a medical record of your suffering.
- Report The Accident: The incident should be reported to the relevant operating body to be logged in the work accident report book.
- Photograph Your Injuries: Alongside seeking treatment for your injuries, you should photograph them too.
This list is not exhaustive, and there may be extra steps that you could take after a self-employed accident at work to assist your solicitor in building your case.
How Long Do I Have To Claim If I Am Self-Employed And Injured At Work?
Your claim will need to be conducted within the relevant personal injury claims time limit. This time limit is 3 years from the date of the accident. However, some exceptions can be made, such as if the person was under 18 or the person lacked the mental capacity to start legal proceedings themselves.
Please speak with an advisor from our team to find out more about how long you have to claim compensation for a self-employed accident at work and any exceptions that might apply to your case.
How Legal Helpline Could Help With A Self-Employed Work Accident Claim
Our panel of No Win No Fee solicitors could help you claim compensation for a self-employed accident at work if your case meets the relevant eligibility criteria. They can offer their helpful services via a Conditional Fee Agreement which typically means you won’t have to pay any upfront costs or ongoing fees for the work they complete on your case. Also, if the claim fails, no fees will be taken for their services.
If your claim succeeds, your solicitor will deduct a success fee from your compensation as a percentage. This percentage has a legal cap ensuring you keep the majority of your settlement.
If you have any other questions about working with an experienced solicitor from our panel under No Win No Fee terms or about claiming compensation for a workplace accident, you can call on 0161 696 9685 to speak with an advisor.
Helpful Resources On Accidents At Work
In addition to the information provided above, please find some additional resources you may find useful to your unique circumstances.
Gov UK
Health and safety tips from the Government website for major road schemes.
Citizens Advice For Accidents At Work
If you were injured from an accident at work, you might find this guide useful.
- Claiming compensation for an accident at work
- Accidents at work caused by tiredness and fatigue
- Claim compensation for slipping at work and hurting your back
- How to make an NHS accident at work claim
- How to claim compensation for an accident at work during your probationary period
- Why is it important to report accidents in the workplace?
- Find out how to claim if the company has dissolved
Compensation For A Self-Employed Accident At Work FAQs
Could I make a personal injury claim myself?
You could certainly do this if you wanted to. But it’s highly recommended to speak to a personal injury lawyer before trying to handle a claim. That’s because their support and experience could make a huge difference in you receiving an appropriate settlement figure.
Must I accept the first offer of compensation?
No. As a matter of fact, it’s a rarity for people who suffer serious injuries at work to accept the very first offer. The opening offer is just that; an opening with room for negotiation on both sides. So, be mindful of this when you first receive a settlement offer.
Should I hire a lawyer for work injury?
This is something that you may wish to consider. You don’t specifically have to hire a lawyer who primarily handles injuries at work. But it helps to have legal representation who understands workplace injuries and, more importantly, how to win compensation claims in such scenarios.
Could I get a lump sum from workers compensation?
This is unlikely because it doesn’t cover any pain and suffering stemming from injuries suffered at work. But you may be able to claim for permanent impairment as a result of the injury. And this is a lump sum that does compensate you for the impact on your life from the injury.
Guide by HS
Edited by REG
Thank you for reading our guide about compensation for a self-employed accident at work.