Have a question? Call us on 0800 1979 345
This article was published on February 7th, 2023
Accidents can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere – even when you are working for yourself. If you’ve been injured in an accident at work as a self-employed individual, it’s likely you’ll be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the steps you need to take. You might also be wondering if you’re even eligible to make a claim, and if so, what kind of compensation you are entitled to. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about self-employed injury claims.
There is a common misconception that as a self-employed person, you cannot make a personal injury claim because there is no one to claim against. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Whilst your statutory rights are not the same as those of permanent employees, it is still possible to claim under certain conditions. For example, even though as a self-employed individual you are responsible for your safety, an injury can still occur due to the action or inaction of someone else.
Under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, every employer in the UK has a duty of care to ensure that the working environment is safe and free of hazards. This means that they need to provide the same protection for all of their employees, whether they are self-employed or not. Therefore, if you have been injured because of a lack of duty of care, you could be entitled to make a claim.
The first thing you should do after an injury is to seek medical attention. Once you have done this you should file a medical report detailing your injuries and any evidence you have obtained. This will help if you choose to file a personal injury claim at a later date.
If you’ve been injured at work, and you think you may be eligible to file a claim against your employer. One of the first things you should do is contact a personal injury solicitor that specialises in self-employed claims. They will then be able to advise you on the validity of your case and how best to proceed.
For a successful claim, you will need to prove that your injuries were sustained as a result of negligence or lack of care from the employer with that you were working. We can offer you legal guidance on all elements of your claim including information on employment-related concerns and advice on the level of compensation for your injuries.
Here at Thorneycroft Solicitors, we have an experienced team of personal injury solicitors that have dealt with a variety of successful claims for self-employed contractors. We are happy to offer you a free no-obligation consultation to provide you with legal advice for your case. Once we have assessed your claim we will help you to gather evidence to support your case.
To speak to a member of our experienced personal injury team about your claim, please call 0800 1979345 or fill out our simple enquiry form