Things Not To Do While Filing Accident At Work Claims
Accidents at work claims are filed every day in UK but many of these claims are instantly rejected since claimants make mistakes that can be avoided. This article will elaborate on a few things that must not be done while filing work accident claims.
#1 – Never avoid opting for medical treatment even if you feel that the injury is not serious. To be eligible for work accident compensation the claimant has to prove that he suffered a personal injury. Medical papers and doctor’s note prove that the claimant suffered a personal injury while bills and receipts prove that the claimant suffered a financial loss due to the accident. If you are injured seriously and you cannot attend work due to your injury then you may also be eligible for lost wages compensation if you have enough proof that the injury caused you to miss work.
#2 – Never stage a work accident since staged accidents can easily be identified through a medical exam. Staging a work accident will not only lead to loss of job but also penalty in some cases. Only submit accident at work claims that occurred due to the employer’s negligence and due to no fault of your own. In certain cases if the claimant is partly at fault then the claimant will be compensated with a reduced sum of money.
#3- Never ask a co-worker to act as a witness if he was not present at the scene of the accident. Witnesses are asked a series of questions and if the witness cannot answer the questions or if the witness’s story does not tally with the claimant’s story then the accident at work claim will be rejected. Always find a witness who was present at the work related accident scene and if possible ask for a written statement with a signature. Remember that small discrepancies in the witness’s story can lead to a claim being rejected so make sure that the witness and you are on the same page.
#4 – Do not attempt to file an accident at work claim on your own if you do not know the right procedure. Do not attempt to settle out of court if you do not have a personal injury solicitor. Claimants who settle out of court without a solicitor are often given a very low compensation amount since there is no one to negotiate on behalf of the claimant. Hiring a personal injury solicitor is not expensive since personal injury solicitors in UK offer certain free services like no win no fee services and no obligatory services. No win no fee services give claimants the right to get free legal help while no obligatory services give claimants the right to get free legal advice without committing to hire a solicitor.
Tags: accident at work